Joint Degree

MACSS offers a joint degree option for currently enrolled Master of Arts Program in the Social Sciences (MAPSS), International Relations (CIR), or Harris School of Public Policy students looking to deepen their computational training. This is a fantastic opportunity for students already working towards a certificate in CSS or students with some background in Python. 

Curricular Requirements

Students accepted to the joint degree will complete their prior MA coursework, and then the following year (Year 2 for MAPSS, CIR, and Harris MA students; Year 3 for Harris MPP students) will complete remaining MACSS General Track requirements. Students will receive two degrees. 

Students enrolling in this option will need to fulfill the requirements of the MACSS program, including:

  • Computational Math Camp and Computing Fundamentals Boot Camp
  • 6 social science electives
  • 3 course Perspectives sequence (Perspectives on Computational Analysis, Perspectives on Computational Modeling, and Perspectives on Computational Research)
  • 3 course core computing sequence
  • 3 computational methods electives
  • Weekly participation in the Computational Social Science Workshop
  • Thesis with a clear computational component, with supervision from a MACSS preceptor

Prior coursework can count towards any of the requirements, meaning in the joint MACSS year a student would only need to complete boot camps, 9 courses to complete any remaining MACSS requirements/electives, the workshops, and the MACSS thesis. 

Application Requirements

Applicants must have completed at least two quarters of graduate registration at the University of Chicago to apply. Applicants in the first two quarters of their program are welcome to submit their application earlier, but the application will not be reviewed until two quarters are completed.

Requirements include:

  • A completed application
  • Current UChicago transcripts (unofficial)
  • Unofficial transcripts for prior undergraduate and/or graduate institutions
  • 2-4 page candidate statement outlining your research interest, relevant training, prior academic accomplishments, career plans, and why MACSS is a good program to advance those.
  • Writing sample of at least 15 pages.

The recommended deadline to apply is April 1, the final deadline to apply is June 1.

Considerations for International Students on a Student Visa

International students planning to apply for OPT should wait to apply until they receive their decision regarding the joint degree, as the OPT application fee is non-refundable. We recommend students in this situation apply by April 1 at the latest.

Questions about the program? Contact Associate Senior Instructional Professor Jean Clipperton (clipperton@uchicago.edu) or Associate Dean of Students Lindsey Weglarz (lweglarz@uchicago.edu).