GPS’s curriculum is rooted in data analysis, equipping international affairs and public policy students with the skills that top employers are looking for
Having the skills needed to work with data is no longer a “nice-to-have” at work — it’s a necessity.
Especially as artificial intelligence develops a larger footprint in workplaces and elsewhere, it’s becoming more important than ever for employees to remain adaptable and ask the right questions. Though the job landscape is evolving rapidly, one skill will remain invaluable: working with data.
UC San Diego’s School of Global Policy and Strategy (GPS) has focused on developing quantitative skills for its students since its inception, yet its curriculum continues to evolve as new technologies and methods of analyzing policy become available.
Only at GPS will you find that data is at the core of every aspect of study, from political science to economics.
Other graduate programs for international affairs and public policy might include some courses on quantitative analysis, but only at GPS will you find that data is at the core of every aspect of study, from political science to economics.
As a student, you’ll be equipped with a unique combination of analytical tools and policy knowledge, allowing you to add value wherever you go on to work, whether in the public, private and nonprofit sectors.
Anyone can describe a problem, but few people know how to back up their solutions with data. At GPS, you’ll learn how to stand out from the crowd.
Asking the right questions
In order to solve a problem, the most important first step is to ask the right questions.
Victor Shih, a professor of political science, explained that GPS helps students frame issues across the realms of public policy and international relations correctly by learning their historical background and how different theories have been put forward.
“Instead of just talking about an issue, our students are much better equipped than those in other programs to uncover what the right policy or approach is to a problem.”
Victor Shih, Professor of political science
“However, in addition to that, they also learn how to assess whether a particular theory would apply to a real-world situation by collecting data and testing hypotheses,” Shih said. “Instead of just talking about an issue, our students are much better equipped than those in other programs to uncover what the right policy or approach is to a problem.”
Solving problems
To prepare students for a world driven by numbers, GPS’s curriculum uniquely teaches students how to use a wide variety of software to understand, parse and visualize data. All students learn R, for instance, which allows them to do statistical modeling. In addition, students can learn to master Python, QGIS and Google Earth Engine.
Many of these tools are used to visualize data with respect to geography — a skill sought after by employers. To make sure that students are prepared to work with these types of situations, GPS (true to its name) offers a certificate in spatial analysis, which is awarded to graduate students who attain three cutting-edge sets of skills: manipulation and analysis of geospatial data, satellite remote sensing and data science methods for spatial data.
“These tools are an increasingly important lens through which to understand the world and model policy design and impact,” said Gordon McCord, an associate teaching professor and the associate dean for student affairs. “GPS is unique among policy schools in offering such depth in geospatial analysis.”
At GPS, students learn the fundamentals of these tools in the classroom, and they put them to work on real problems even before they graduate. For example, Shih explained that in the Master of Chinese Economic and Political Analysis (MCEPA) degree, the capstone project is centered on original problem solving, data collection and analysis, all aimed at designing policies that can have a real impact.
Communication is key
Even the best analysis needs strong communication. Students learn to present their insights clearly so their work can advance beyond theory and shape real-life policy.
Lauren Silver, a second-year student in the Master of Public Policy (MPP) program, said that the papers she wrote for her Quantitative Methods courses — two of which are taken by all GPS students, with additional courses available — provided her with data-focused writing samples, which she was then able to share with employers as evidence of her abilities.
“I was specifically chosen at my previous internship due to my experience of integrating data into policymaking,” she said. “The synthesis of data and policy sets GPS aside from other schools.”
Bringing ‘analytical firepower’ to your career
Working with numbers and addressing problems with data is more sought-after by employers than ever.
“With all these tangible data analysis skills that they pick up in the curriculum, GPS alumni and alumnae are ready to add analytical firepower to their future professional teams,” McCord said. “Students also work on individual research or policy projects that deepen their mastery of these tools in thematic areas of their professional interest.”
“I was specifically chosen at my previous internship due to my experience of integrating data into policymaking. The synthesis of data and policy sets GPS aside from other schools.”
Lauren Silver, Master of Public Policy Student
Silver, who also serves as a teaching assistant, added that the ability to work with numbers opens doors in virtually any field, even if a student chooses another path beyond the realms of policymaking or international affairs.
“Being able to understand, clean and work with data is one of the most marketable skills that we gain at GPS, even if the job itself is not directly a data analysis role,” she said.
Our degree programs in international affairs and public policy are the first step to launching or taking your career to the next level. Discover which degree is right for you today.
