Friday, August 8, 2025
Science
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • HOME
  • SCIENCE NEWS
  • CONTACT US
  • HOME
  • SCIENCE NEWS
  • CONTACT US
No Result
View All Result
Scienmag
No Result
View All Result
Home Science News Climate

MIT expands access to graduate education for nontraditional learners in Data, Economics, and Design of Policy program

May 13, 2024
in Climate
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0
66
SHARES
601
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are announcing an expansion of their jointly administered Master’s Program in Data, Economics, and Design of Policy (DEDP), housed in the MIT Economics Department. This expansion adds a new Public Policy Track to complement the existing International Development Track, opening up new avenues for student learning and research.

Meet students in MIT's Master's in Data, Economics, and Design of Policy

Credit: J-PAL

ADVERTISEMENT

The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are announcing an expansion of their jointly administered Master’s Program in Data, Economics, and Design of Policy (DEDP), housed in the MIT Economics Department. This expansion adds a new Public Policy Track to complement the existing International Development Track, opening up new avenues for student learning and research.

Designed to tackle poverty alleviation and other pressing policy challenges in the United States and other high-income countries, the curriculum of the new track spans a diverse set of issues, from domestic concerns like minimum wage and consumer welfare to global matters including trade, climate change, and immigration. Applications for the Public Policy Track will open in fall 2024, with the inaugural cohort set to arrive on MIT’s campus in spring 2026. 

The DEDP program, led by J-PAL co-founders and Nobel Laureates Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo along with professors Sara Fisher Ellison and Benjamin Olken, was established with the mission of equipping diverse cohorts of talented professionals with the knowledge and skills to tackle poverty using evidence-based approaches. The new master’s degree track will support this mission while also underscoring the program’s commitment to addressing a broad array of critical challenges in the fight against poverty worldwide. 

“The DEDP program has proven successful on many dimensions, and we are enthusiastic about leveraging its successes to address a broader set of social challenges,” said Sara Fisher Ellison, a faculty lead for the program. “The Public Policy Track will enable us to apply evidence-based methodology to poverty alleviation and other related issues in the context of high-income countries, as well. Given increasing levels of wealth and income inequality in these countries, we feel that the timing is opportune and the need is great.”

The DEDP program distinguishes itself with an innovative admissions model that prioritizes demonstrated ability and motivation over traditional credentials, such as standardized tests and recommendation letters. To be eligible to apply to the master’s program, candidates must have earned their DEDP MicroMasters credential by passing five of the DEDP online courses. The courses are completely free to audit. Those who wish to earn a course certificate can pay a fee, which varies by the learner’s ability to pay, to take the proctored exam. While applications are reviewed holistically, performance in these classes is the primary factor in admissions decisions. 

This approach democratizes access to higher education, enabling students from typically underrepresented backgrounds to demonstrate their potential for success. Notably, the program has welcomed many students from nontraditional backgrounds, such as a student who enrolled directly from high school (and who is now a second year PhD student in economics at MIT), reflecting the ambition of its faculty directors to make higher education more accessible.

Sofia Martinez, a graduate of the class of 2023 and now co-founder of Learning Alliance, shared, “Without the MicroMasters paving the way, applying to MIT or any similar institution would have been unthinkable for us. Initially, my aim in taking the online courses wasn’t to pursue the residential program; it was only after witnessing my own progress that I realized the possibility wasn’t so distant after all. This sentiment resonates with many in our cohort, which is truly humbling.”

Since its launch in 2020, the DEDP Master’s program has conferred degrees to 87 students from 44 countries, showcasing its global reach and the success of its admissions model. Upon arriving on campus, students embark on an accelerated master’s program. They complete a full course load in the spring, followed by a capstone project in the summer, applying the theoretical knowledge and practical skills gained through the program at research and policy organizations.

Applications for the Public Policy Track of the Master’s in Data, Economics, and Design of Policy will open in fall 2024. For more information, visit the DEDP website or contact us. 

##

About J-PAL: The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) is a global research center working to reduce poverty by ensuring that policy is informed by scientific evidence. With a network of more than 900 researchers at universities worldwide, J-PAL conducts randomized impact evaluations to answer critical questions in the fight against poverty. Through partnerships with governments, NGOs, and donors, J-PAL shares this knowledge, scales up effective programs, and advances evidence-informed decision-making. Founded in 2003 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, J-PAL has regional centers in Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa, North America, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Learn more at www.povertyactionlab.org. 



Share26Tweet17
Previous Post

Team studies factors related to a sense of economic insecurity in older adults

Next Post

Plant virus treatment shows promise in fighting metastatic cancers in mice

Related Posts

blank
Climate

Navigating Energy Transition Amid Minerals Constraints

August 7, 2025
blank
Climate

Warming Speeds Up Arctic Ocean Deoxygenation

August 3, 2025
blank
Climate

Marine Heatwaves Favor Heat-Tolerant Reef Corals

August 3, 2025
blank
Climate

Satellite-Era Sea Surface Temperature Trends Vary Widely

August 3, 2025
blank
Climate

Thermal Adaptation in Ecosystems Reduces Carbon Loss

August 3, 2025
blank
Climate

Antarctic Phytoplankton Shift with Changing Sea Ice

August 3, 2025
Next Post
Plant virus treatment shows promise in fighting metastatic cancers in mice

Plant virus treatment shows promise in fighting metastatic cancers in mice

  • Mothers who receive childcare support from maternal grandparents show more parental warmth, finds NTU Singapore study

    Mothers who receive childcare support from maternal grandparents show more parental warmth, finds NTU Singapore study

    27531 shares
    Share 11009 Tweet 6881
  • University of Seville Breaks 120-Year-Old Mystery, Revises a Key Einstein Concept

    943 shares
    Share 377 Tweet 236
  • Bee body mass, pathogens and local climate influence heat tolerance

    641 shares
    Share 256 Tweet 160
  • Researchers record first-ever images and data of a shark experiencing a boat strike

    507 shares
    Share 203 Tweet 127
  • Warm seawater speeding up melting of ‘Doomsday Glacier,’ scientists warn

    310 shares
    Share 124 Tweet 78
Science

Embark on a thrilling journey of discovery with Scienmag.com—your ultimate source for cutting-edge breakthroughs. Immerse yourself in a world where curiosity knows no limits and tomorrow’s possibilities become today’s reality!

RECENT NEWS

  • Czech Validation Confirms Accuracy of OGD-Q Tool
  • Ultrasound Advances in Pediatric Tonsil Pathology
  • “Nutrient Supply from Fish Enhances Coral Growth and Resilience”
  • SNU Researchers Unveil Innovative Wearable Blood Pressure Monitor Designed for Real-Time Continuous Monitoring, Attachment Similar to a Bandage

Categories

  • Agriculture
  • Anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Athmospheric
  • Biology
  • Bussines
  • Cancer
  • Chemistry
  • Climate
  • Earth Science
  • Marine
  • Mathematics
  • Medicine
  • Pediatry
  • Policy
  • Psychology & Psychiatry
  • Science Education
  • Social Science
  • Space
  • Technology and Engineering

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 4,859 other subscribers

© 2025 Scienmag - Science Magazine

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • SCIENCE NEWS
  • CONTACT US

© 2025 Scienmag - Science Magazine

Discover more from Science

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading