Global Policy and Strategy, School of - graduate program

School of Global Policy and Strategy (GPS)

[ program | faculty ]

All courses, faculty listings, and curricular and degree requirements described herein are subject to change or deletion without notice.

Courses

For course descriptions not found in the UC San Diego General Catalog 2019–20, please contact the department for more information.

Core Courses

The courses listed below are the core courses for all of the GPS master’s degree programs (MIA, MPP, MCEPA, MAS-IA). This should not be understood to imply all master’s students must complete each course on this list. Students are advised to refer to the “Program” section (link at the top of the page) or the GPS website, to see which courses are required for their degree program. Please speak with a student affairs or faculty adviser to be certain of the degree requirements.

GPCO 400. Policy-Making Processes (4)

This course is designed to teach students how to “read” a country’s political and economic system. The course will examine how the particular evolution of institutional frameworks in the different countries of the Pacific region influences the way that political choices are made. Renumbered from IRCO 400. Students may not receive credit for GPCO 400 and IRCO 400. Prerequisites: GPS students only or consent of instructor.

GPCO 401. Microeconomics for Policy and Management (4)

This course introduces microeconomics, emphasizing applications to public policy. We examine tools such as marginal analysis and game theory to understand markets, the behavior of individuals and firms, and what role policy plays when markets fail to maximize social welfare. Renumbered from IRCO 401. Students may not receive credit for GPCO 401 and IRCO 401. Prerequisites: GPS students only or consent of instructor.

GPCO 403. International Economics (4)

The theory and mechanics of international economics. Included will be such topics as real trade theory, international movements of capital, the effects of trade and capital flows on domestic economies, and policies toward trade and foreign investment. Renumbered from IRCO 403. Students may not receive credit for GPCO 403 and IRCO 403. Prerequisites: GPS students only or consent of instructor.

GPCO 404. Market Failures and Policy Interventions (4)

Builds on GPCO 410, Microeconomics for Policy and Management. Applies economic reasoning to public issues, policies, and programs with a focus on the logic of when and how policy makers intervene in the market. It considers incentives and organizations; models of economic behavior, including markets, the absence of markets, and interventions; the price system; policy objectives and instruments. Renumbered from IRCO 404. Students may not receive credit for GPCO 404 and IRCO 404. Prerequisites: GPS students only or consent of instructor.

GPCO 405. Policy and Political Decision-Making in the U.S. (4)

This course studies the structure of American government and the political dimensions of policy problems. Emphasis will be on the study of institutions and the influences and constraints on decision-making, interaction between branches of government, government and society, and the international context in which US policy makers must work. Attention will be given to considering the United States with a comparative perspective. Renumbered from IRCO 405. Students may not receive credit for GPCO 405 and IRCO 405. Prerequisites: GPS students only or consent of instructor.

GPCO 406. Public Finance and Taxation (4)

This course introduces principles of taxation and expenditure analysis, public budgeting, and assessment of budget priorities. It will introduce students to concepts related to how public finance affects the private economy, how governments raise funds (and account for their expenditures to the public, foreign investors, and international organizations), and the major public policy tools for governing public finance. Renumbered from IRCO 406. Students may not receive credit for GPCO 406 and IRCO 406. Prerequisites: GPS students only or consent of instructor.

GPCO 407. Policy Analysis and Decision Theory (4)

This course introduces students to the methods of policy analysis and decision-making theory, including methods to assemble panel data to capture the impact of new policy on observable data, decision-making theory, uncertainty, decision criteria, expected utility, and risk. Renumbered from IRCO 407. Students may not receive credit for GPCO 407 and IRCO 407. Prerequisites: GPS students only or consent of instructor.

GPCO 410. International Politics and Security (4)

Development of analytic tools for understanding international relations with applications to contemporary problems such as the environment, nuclear proliferation, human rights, humanitarian interventions, and the roots of conflict and cooperation among countries. Renumbered from IRCO 410. Students may not receive credit for GPCO 410 and IRCO 410. Prerequisites: GPS students only or consent of instructor.

GPCO 412. Globalization, the World System, and the Pacific (4)

This course examines globalization and other economic and political factors that shape the international relations of the Pacific Rim. Specific topics include financial market integration, state cooperation and intervention, and case studies of individual countries. Renumbered from IRCO 412. Students may not receive credit for GPCO 412 and IRCO 412. Prerequisites: GPS students only or consent of instructor.

GPCO 415. Accounting and Finance for Policy Makers (4)

This course covers basic knowledge and skills of accounting and finance necessary for policy makers in for-profit, nonprofit, and public sectors. Topics include basic financial accounting, time value of money, and risk with applications to personal, corporate, and public finance. No credit will be allowed for GPCO 415 if a student has taken IRCO 420 and/or IRCO 421. Renumbered from IRCO 415. Students may not receive credit for GPCO 415 and IRCO 415. Prerequisites: GPS students only or consent of instructor.

GPCO 453. Quantitative Methods I (4)

This course is designed to provide proficiency in quantitative methods that are used for optimization and decision making. The use of spreadsheets is applied to data analysis and problem solving. Statistical theory and regression analysis are introduced. Renumbered from IRCO 453. Students may not receive credit for GPCO 453 and IRCO 453. Prerequisites: GPS students only or consent of instructor.

GPCO 454. Quantitative Methods II (4)

The course introduces the theory and application of econometric regression for policy analysis. Students will learn the underlying mathematical formalism, basic data management and coding skills, and appropriate interpretation and meaningful presentation of results. Renumbered from IRCO 454. Students may not receive credit for GPCO 454 and IRCO 454. Prerequisites: GPS students only or consent of instructor.

GPCO 462. Public Policy Capstone (4)

The capstone paper should demonstrate mastery of the three components of a public policy program: 1) development of the methodologies for rigorous data collection and policy analysis; 2) an in-depth understanding of the regulatory and legal politics and processes surrounding the student’s chosen policy area; and 3) mastery of the details of the particular issue area and policies intended or that were intended as solutions. Paper may focus on policy interest of the student or of a client. Letter grades only. Renumbered from IRCO 462. Students may not receive credit for GPCO 462 and IRCO 462. Prerequisites: MPP students only or consent of instructor.

GPCO 463. Strategy and Negotiation (4)

Using class exercises, this capstone class introduces the fundamentals of business strategy, based on case studies requiring market and corporate analysis, and the principles of negotiation. Students apply analytic problem-solving skills in a strategy consulting project with a real-world client company. Renumbered from IRCO 463. Students may not receive credit for GPCO 463 and IRCO 463. Prerequisites: GPIM 474. GPS students only.

GPCO 466. Real World Projects in Energy and the Environment (4)

The course will emphasize real world application of theories and methods of policy analysis to projects with real clients in the area of energy and the environment. The class will include case studies and seminar-style discussions of topics such as project finance and management of regulatory risk. Most of the class will be devoted to work in small teams with clients seeking strategic guidance. Students are expected to produce final projects suitable for senior management and governing boards. Prerequisites: GPCO 400 and GPPS 428 or consent of instructor.

GPCO 467. Policy Responses to Global Problems (4)

This capstone is designed to test the analytic skills of students, using them to explain complex real-world problems: security, persistent recurring conflict, persistent inequality and intergenerational debt, women’s rights, environmental change, energy/resource systems, and financial contagion. Emphasis will be placed on determining the nature and dimension of the problem, exploring a range of solutions and assessing the capacity of public institutions. Renumbered from IRCO 467. Students may not receive credit for GPCO 467 and IRCO 467. Prerequisites: GPS students only or consent of instructor.

GPCO 468: Evaluating Technological Innovation (4)

This capstone is intended as a culminating intellectual experience for students, particularly those in economics-oriented tracks. Students will learn to analyze “what works,” integrating a technical understanding of innovation with rigorous statistical analysis. The first half of the course focuses on building a set of science/engineering tools, and the second half on building statistical tools of analysis. Renumbered from IRCO 468. Students may not receive credit for GPCO 468 and IRCO 468. Prerequisites: GPEC 446 or consent of instructor.

GPCO 470. Master of Chinese Economics and Political Affairs Capstone (4)

This is the first quarter of a two-quarter requirement. The capstone paper must demonstrate: mastery of the development of the methodologies for rigorous data collection and analysis; an in-depth understanding of the historical regulatory, political and/or economic processes surrounding the chosen “problem” for analysis; mastery of the working details of the “problem” at the center of the research; and a requisite level of research proficiency in Mandarin Chinese. Topic to be approved. Prerequisites: GPS students only or consent of instructor.

GPCO 471. MCEPA Capstone Part II (4)

Students will work closely with the faculty of record and a GPS professor who specializes in the research who are chosen for the capstone project. This required second quarter will be focused on writing, developing a presentation, and presenting the work to either a real-world client or a panel of faculty. Prerequisites: GPCO 470 or consent of instructor.

GPCO 481. The Politics of International and National Policy Making (4)

This course provides an introduction to the international political economy of the Pacific Rim. The course covers important international developments, such as regionalism, as well as domestic decision-making processes. Renumbered from IRCO 481. Students may not receive credit for GPCO 481 and IRCO 481. Prerequisites: MAS-IA students only.

GPCO 482. Economies of the Pacific Rim (4)

This course studies major economies of the Pacific region by combining standard tools in economics with institutional background on each economy. Special attention is given to the challenges that economic globalization poses on the economic relations among those economies. Renumbered from IRCO 482. Students may not receive credit for GPCO 482 and IRCO 482. Prerequisites: MAS-IA students only.

GPCO 483. Workshop on Policy Issues in the Pacific Rim (4)

Capstone class: Students collaborate on long-term projects analyzing important political, economic, and business issues in the Pacific regions using the tools acquired through other courses at GPS. Renumbered from IRCO 483. Students may not receive credit for GPCO 483 and IRCO 483. Prerequisites: GPCO 481 and GPCO 482 or consent of instructor.

General Courses

The courses are listed below by their disciplinary area, as noted by the course prefix. This should not be understood to imply that the course will or will not be allowed for a student’s specialization. Please speak with a student affairs or faculty adviser to be certain of your degree requirements. GPGN courses (for example, special topics or independent study courses) are at the end of the 400 listing.

Not all courses are offered each year.

GPEC: Economics

GPEC 406. Finance and Development (4)

This course analyzes the roles of money and financial institutions in the economy. The first part of the course focuses on microeconomics and the financial system. The topics include money, financial markets, financial intermediaries, banking regulations, and bank runs. The second part of the course focuses on the microeconomics aspects of financial institutions. The topics include financial development, financial liberalization, and their effects on the economy, especially economic growth and development. Renumbered from IRGN 406. Students may not receive credit for GPEC 406 and IRGN 406. Prerequisites: GPCO 403 and GPCO 415 or consent of instructor.

GPEC 409. Economic Policy in Latin America (4)

This course examines the economic policies implemented by Latin American countries over the last half century, focusing on their role in the process of economic development in the region, and considers the central role of politics in shaping policy. Renumbered from IRGN 409. Students may not receive credit for GPEC 409 and IRGN 409. Prerequisites: GPCO 401 and GPCO 403 or consent of instructor.

GPEC 411. Topics in China’s Development (4)

Why has China been growing so fast in the past few decades? Does the authoritarianism select competent leaders? How do firms and households behave in such a quasi-market economy? The course is designed to investigate these topical questions and provide students with a general overview of existing research on China’s development. May not receive credit for GPEC 411 and IRGN 490, Topics in China’s Development.

GPEC 412. Comparative Development of the East Asian Economies (4)

This course studies the economic development, current economic issues, and future prospects and challenges of East Asia, broadly defined as China, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia. The course focuses on the comparative development experience across the economies, regional economic integration, and economic interactions among the economies in the region. Renumbered from IRGN 412. Students may not receive credit for GPEC 412 and IRGN 412.

GPEC 414. The Economics of Energy Policy (4)

This course examines the theoretical and empirical questions around the supply and demand markets, and the use for energy in firms and households. We will consider the environmental consequences and regulations of use. The course emphasizes the application of economic theory to energy issues. Non-GPS graduate students may enroll with consent of instructor. Renumbered from IRGN 414. Students may not receive credit for GPEC 414 and IRGN 414. Prerequisites: GPS students only or consent of instructor.

GPEC 415. The Economics of Trade Policy (4)

This course explores the rationales and consequences of trade-related government interventions from an economic perspective. We will cover classical trade theory, “new” trade theory, the process of global multilateral trade integration, and the political economy roots of trade policy. Non-GPS graduate students may enroll with consent of instructor. Renumbered from IRGN 415. Students may not receive credit for GPEC 415 and IRGN 415.

GPEC 417. Microfinance (4)

This course will begin by examining financial systems in poor countries. We will investigate how microfinance contracts overcome problems which had previously barred the extension of business credit in many environments. Renumbered from IRGN 417. Students may not receive credit for GPEC 417 and IRGN 417.

GPEC 418. Green Technology (4)

The course looks at clean energy and related technologies, including a high-level understanding of the science, policy, and market forces governing innovation. Students will develop an understanding of the renewable energy sector and the market variability of new technology. Non-GPS graduate students may enroll with consent of instructor. Renumbered from IRGN 418. Students may not receive credit for GPEC 418 and IRGN 418.

GPEC 421. Financial Institutions (4)

This course studies how the financial system works to support economic growth most of the time, but also how it gets into crisis and puts the economy into a recession. Course emphasizes the importance and incentive problems inherent in financial transactions. Renumbered from IRGN 421. Students may not receive credit for GPEC 421 and IRGN 421.

GPEC 422. Multinational Corporations (4)

This course is devoted to studying the central player in the globalization process: the multinational corporation. From the perspective of both developed and developing countries, we will analyze the determinants of flows of multinational firms and foreign direct investment across countries; explore the incentives a firm has to become an MNC, particularly those to split production, and its consequences on a domestic economy; and the transfer of managerial abilities across countries. May not receive credit for GPEC 422 and IRGN 490. Knowledge of STATA is assumed.

GPEC 431. Fiscal and Monetary Policy (4)

Effects of fiscal and monetary policies on aggregate variables such as output, nominal and real interest rates, price level, and employment. Additional topics include the inflation/ unemployment trade-off, budget deficit, and economic growth. Renumbered from IRGN 431. Students may not receive credit for GPEC 431 and IRGN 431.

GPEC 432. Immigration and Immigration Policy (4)

.

The goals of the course are to help students acquire analytic skills used in the study of labor economics and international migration d from IRGN 457. Students may not receive credit for GPIM 457 and IRGN 457.

GPIM 461....