All MSCAPP students complete a common set of courses in computer science and policy analysis—see the overview below. Courses marked with an [H] are taught by the Harris School of Public Policy; courses marked with a [CS] are taught by the Computer Science department.

	Fall	Winter	Spring
Year 1	Computer Science with Applications 1 [CS]	Computer Science with Applications 2 [CS]	Databases for Public Policy [CS]
	Statistics I [H] – Standard option – Advanced option	Statistics II [H] – Standard option – Advanced option	Program Evaluation [H]* OR Elective
	Political Economy I [H]	Machine Learning for Public Policy I [CS]	Machine Learning for Public Policy II [CS]
Summer	Internship
Year 2	Microeconomics I [H] – Standard option – Advanced option	Microeconomics II [H] – Standard option – Advanced option	Program Evaluation [H]* OR Elective
	Elective	Elective	Elective
	Elective	Elective	Elective

* Program Evaluation is typically offered in the Spring, and in some years it may also be offered in other quarters.

In the first year, students complete a core set of classes in computer science, statistics, and policy analysis. Further, students study the mathematical fundamentals necessary for more advanced coursework and then engage with critical technical skills in their databases and machine learning courses. In the second year, students complete a core set of classes in economics and can choose electives to deepen their understanding in econometrics, data science, applications development, and policy research. Advanced options and waivers are available for students with prior training. 

Electives and Customizability

Students have the flexibility to take a wide range of electives from The Harris School of Public Policy and the Department of Computer Science, as well as other departments and schools at the university (except courses at the Graham School for Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies). Students often take courses in the following departments/schools:

• Booth School of Business
• Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice
• Department of Economics and Other Departments in the Division of Social Sciences 
• Department of Statistics
• Law School
• Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago (TTIC)
• Applied Data Science Program 

Students also have the opportunity to engage in experiential learning coursework, further developing their skills by helping partner organizations with real world problems. Such courses include:

• CAPP’s Data Science Clinic
• Harris Policy Labs

Sample Electives

For insight into the wide variety of interests students pursue in their second year, a comprehensive list of elective courses that CAPP students have taken in past academic years can be found here: Sample CAPP Student Electives

Please note this is not an exhaustive list of courses that are offered (courses change from year to year), and is not an endorsement of these courses.

You can also check out the Harris Blog, in which recent MSCAPP alumni share their favorite electives and those that have been most useful for their careers.

Certificates

The University of Chicago offers a number of optional certificates, which give MSCAPP students the opportunity to specialize in particular areas of inquiry. Some relevant certificates of interest to CAPP students include:

• The Graduate Program in Health Administration and Policy (GPHAP)
• A variety of specializations offered in the Harris School of Public Policy.
• Note: The Specialization in Data Analytics is not open to MSCAPP students due to overlap with MSCAPP Core Requirements
• Other certificates outside of the Harris School of Public Policy

Waiver and Placement Exam Information

Waivers are available for a range of the core coursework for students who have a strong academic background in certain subjects. You can read about waiver opportunities in detail on this page.

Degree and Program Requirements

Curriculum requirements

The MSCAPP degree requires completion of 18 graduate-level courses (1800 units of credit), including a minimum of seven Harris courses (six core courses + one elective) and six Computer Science courses (five core courses + one elective). 

What counts as a Harris Public Policy elective:

Only PPHA-coded courses count as Harris electives. Courses cross-listed in PPHA, regardless of the home department, count as Harris electives. All MSCAPP students must take at least one Harris elective. There are a small number of PPHA courses not open to CAPP students due to overlap with the CAPP Core curriculum.

What counts as a Computer Science elective:

Courses coded as CAPP, CMSC, MPCS or TTIC count as Computer Science electives. Further, computer science-focused courses from other programs may count, subject to approval by an MSCAPP academic adviser. All MSCAPP students must take at least one Computer Science elective.

Practical Experience Requirement

Harris requires all students to complete a practical experience during their program of study. The practical experience requirement can be fulfilled in a variety of ways, including an internship, research assistantship, practical experience course, policy competition, or waiver. Read more about the ways to fulfill this requirement here.

Harris School of Public Policy Math Exam

The Harris Math Exam is taken during orientation week, and all students must pass it in order to graduate. See the Harris Admitted Student website for more details.

Other Requirements

• A cumulative GPA of 2.7, based on a 4.0 scale
• A grade of C- or better for the eleven core courses (six Harris courses and five Computer Science courses)
• No more than 2 reading/research, independent study, or internship courses
• No more than 2 courses taken Pass/Fail (core courses cannot be taken pass/fail)
• Courses with grades of F(ail), I(ncomplete), W(withdrawn), or with no reported grade do not apply toward the 18-course requirement for the program.

MSCAPP Specific Policies

MSCAPP Enrollment Limit Policy

Students may only be enrolled in three courses at any given time. In cases where another program requires immediate registration upon approval of an enrollment request, advisors may temporarily over-enroll a student to allow them to claim their seat. Students are given a 24-hour grace period to choose a course to drop to get them back down to three courses. If a student does not make a decision within that time frame, they will be dropped from the most recent course added to their schedule. Students who need to enroll in a fourth course to remain on track to graduate must request a waiver of this policy from the Academic Director in writing.

Per Quarter Limit on Computer Science Courses 

Degree requirements for the MSCAPP program include successful completion of six Computer Science (CS) courses. Students may also choose to take additional CS courses to fulfill general elective requirements; courses coded as CAPP, CMSC, MPCS, or TTIC can count as a CS elective. Computer science-focused courses from other programs may count, but will be subject to approval by the MSCAPP Academic Director for CS.

While students must complete at least six Computer Science (CS) courses, and may take additional CS courses if they choose, students must obtain permission from the MSCAPP Academic Director for CS to enroll in three CS courses in the same quarter.

For the full list of Harris School policies, please visit the Student Policies page on their website.