This program was developed for Master of Science students in the Friedman School who are interested in ways that food policy fits into broader areas of public policy, especially community development, and for students in the Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning who want to apply their policy skills to agricultural, food system and nutrition issues. The program requires three years of full-time study (or the equivalent if taken part-time). On completion, the student earns a Master of Arts degree from UEP and a Master of Science degree from the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy.
Students must complete all course requirements of both degrees, plus a field internship and a thesis (as required by UEP). A minimum of 23 credits is required. This is 7 credits fewer than what would be required if the two degrees were pursued separately (16 for FSNSP and 14 for UEP). This is possible because certain courses can fulfill a requirement of each program. For example, UEP 207 (Environmental Law) serves as a UEP elective and also meets the Environmental Policy requirement for the Friedman School's AFE program. The thesis is supervised by a UEP faculty member and counts as two (2) credits. Dual-degree candidates are assigned an academic advisor from each program. Most complete their Friedman School requirements through the AFE program, but the dual degree can also be completed through FPAN.
Students interested in the combined degree must submit and complete two separate application packets for the UEP program and the Friedman School. Transcripts, letters of reference and GRE scores should be sent by the applicant to both programs. A student already in one program who decides to pursue the combined degree must apply to the second program by the beginning of the third full-time semester of study.