Master of Social Policy Evaluation (MSPE) Degree

Program Learning Outcomes for the MSPE Degree

Upon completing the MSPE degree, students will be able to:

  1. Acquire analytical skills that can be applied to a broad range of policy evaluation questions.
  2. Design and conduct a program evaluation by constructing a logical model that uses appropriate data sources, data collection methods, and analytical techniques.
  3. Assess the social responsibilities of government, non-government organizations, and corporate policies in the 21st century.
  4. Communicate statistical findings in a clear and concise narrative that recognizes the positive and negative outcomes of potential policy solutions.

Requirements for the MSPE Degree 

The MSPE degree is a non-thesis master's degree. For university requirements, please see Non-Thesis Master's Degrees. For additional requirements, regulations, and procedures for all graduate programs, please see All Graduate Students. Students pursuing the MSPE degree must complete:

  • A minimum of 10 courses (30 credit hours) to satisfy degree requirements.
  • A minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate-level study (graduate semester credit hours, coursework at the 500-level or above).
  • A minimum of 30 graduate semester credit hours must be taken at Rice University.
  • A minimum of 24 graduate semester credit hours must be taken in standard or traditional courses (with a course type of lecture, seminar, laboratory, lecture/laboratory). 
  • A minimum residency enrollment of one fall or spring semester of full-time graduate study at Rice University.
  • A maximum of 2 courses (6 graduate semester credit hours) from transfer credit. For additional departmental guidelines regarding transfer credit, see the Policies tab.
  • A practicum.
  • A minimum overall GPA of 2.67.
  • A minimum program GPA of 2.67 in all Rice coursework that satisfies requirements for the non-thesis master’s degree.

The courses listed below satisfy the requirements for this degree program. In certain instances, courses not on this official list may be substituted upon approval of the program's academic advisor or, where applicable, the department or program's Director of Graduate Studies. Course substitutions must be formally applied and entered into Degree Works by the department or program's Official Certifier. Additionally, these course substitutions must be approved by the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Students and their academic advisors should identify and clearly document the courses to be taken.

Summary

Total Credit Hours Required for the MSPE Degree30

Degree Requirements

Core Requirements
SOPE 501INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC POLICY3
SOPE 503QUANTITATIVE METHODS FOR PROGRAM EVALUATION5
SOPE 505MICROECONOMICS FOR POLICY EVALUATION3
SOPE 512POLICY EVALUATION CODING AND SOFTWARE LAB1
Elective Requirements
Select 4 courses from the following:12
SOPE 502
APPLICATIONS OF PROGRAM EVALUATION – CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SOPE 504
APPLICATIONS OF PROGRAM EVALUATION – LABOR MARKETS
SOPE 506
APPLICATIONS OF PROGRAM EVALUATION – HEALTH
SOPE 508
APPLICATIONS OF PROGRAM EVALUATION – EARLY CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
SOPE 510 / SOCI 521
RESEARCH-PRACTICE PARTNERSHIPS
Practicum 1
SOPE 513SOCIAL POLICY EVALUATION PRACTICUM I3
SOPE 514SOCIAL POLICY EVALUATION PRACTICUM II3
Total Credit Hours30

Footnotes and Additional Information

 Proposed Plan-of-Study

The following plan-of-study represents the current lockstep three-semester (fall, spring, and summer) sequence in which students pursuing the MSPE degree complete the required coursework. Substitution of courses may be made on a rare, exception basis with permission of the program director.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
1st SemesterCredit Hours
SOPE 501 INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC POLICY 3
SOPE 503 QUANTITATIVE METHODS FOR PROGRAM EVALUATION 5
SOPE 505 MICROECONOMICS FOR POLICY EVALUATION 3
 Credit Hours11
2nd Semester
SOPE 512 POLICY EVALUATION CODING AND SOFTWARE LAB 1
Elective oneElective one 1 3
Elective twoElective two 1 3
Elective threeElective three 1 3
Elective fourElective four 1 3
 Credit Hours13
3rd Semester
SOPE 513 SOCIAL POLICY EVALUATION PRACTICUM I 3
SOPE 514 SOCIAL POLICY EVALUATION PRACTICUM II 3
 Credit Hours6
 Total Credit Hours30

Footnotes and Additional Information

Policies for the MSPE Degree

Social Policy Evaluation Graduate Program Handbook

The General Announcements (GA) is the official Rice curriculum. As an additional resource for students, Social Policy Evaluation publishes a graduate program handbook, which can be found here: https://gradhandbooks.rice.edu/2024_25/Social_Policy_Masters_Handbook.pdf.

Transfer Credit 

For Rice University’s policy regarding transfer credit, see Transfer Credit. Some departments and programs have additional restrictions on transfer credit. Requests for transfer credit must be approved for Rice equivalency by the appropriate academic department offering the Rice equivalent course (corresponding to the subject code of the course content) and by the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS). Students are encouraged to meet with their academic program’s advisor when considering transfer credit possibilities.

Program Transfer Credit Guidelines

Students pursuing the MSPE degree should be aware of the following program-specific transfer credit guideline:

  • No more than 2 courses (6 credit hours) of transfer credit from U.S. or international universities of similar standing at Rice may apply towards the degree.

Additional Information

For additional information, please see the Social Policy Evaluation website: https://socialpolicy.rice.edu/.

Opportunities for the MSPE Degree

Additional Information

For additional information, please see the Social Policy Evaluation website: https://socialpolicy.rice.edu/.