Graduate Program

Korea Development Institute (KDI) Scholars Program

In January 2001, the Bloustein School entered into a partnership to accept students from the School of Public Policy and Management of the Korea Development Institute (KDI) into the Master of City and Regional Studies (MCRS) degree program.  In 2016, the school began accepting applicants into its Master of Public Affairs and Politics (MPAP) degree in public policy as well.

The KDI School of Public Policy and Management was established in 1998 to meet the educational needs of government and business leaders in a globalizing world economy. The school is a collaborative effort between the Korea Development Institute, founded 30 years ago as Korea’s premier policy research organization, and the Korean government. Classes at the KDI School, which attracts students from Asia and around the world, are conducted in English. Approximately 40 percent of the student body is comprised of international students. As part of their two‐year masters course, KDI School students are required to spend one year at an overseas university.

Rutgers and the Bloustein School are very well known in Korean academic and planning/policy circles, and offer KDI students an excellent opportunity to broaden their knowledge and practical skills through the combination of coursework and professional internship. Approximately 8-15 students arrive each spring to spend a year at the Bloustein School and immerse themselves in the MCRS and/or MPAP degree programs.

 

Degree Program Admission/Student Selection

KDI school students apply to the Bloustein School’s Master of City and Regional Studies (MCRS) or Master of Public Affairs and Politics (MPAP), a one‐year program of study in planning and policy development and in public policy. The  purpose of the programs are to offer selected students at KDI the chance to study policy, public affairs, city and regional planning and development, obtaining a  master’s degree and concentrate in a field of interest.

Scholars apply to the program on an annual basis and will be selected based upon standard admission criteria. Scholars are admitted to the spring term semester to begin the program and continue for one calendar year, taking courses in the summer and fall terms as well.

Applications to the MCRS and MPAP degrees must be completed ONLINE and all hard copies of supporting documents sent to:

KDI-EJB Scholars Program
Steve Weston
Assistant Dean for Student and Academic Services
Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
33 Livingston Avenue, Suite 100
New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901-1958, USA

DO NOT POST MAIL MATERIALS ANYWHERE ELSE. 

Please note the application requirements:

  1. Application (online)
  2. Credit Card Payment/Application Fee (online)
  3. Three (3) Letters of Recommendation (online or post)
  4. Certification of Funds for International Students (post)
  5. Resume/Vitae (online or post)
  6. Personal Statement of Interest (online)
  7. All Available Transcripts (post and online)
  8. TOEFL Score (online or post)

Of special note: GRE’s are WAIVED and not required.

Contact Information

Courtney Culler

Associate Director for Graduate Student Services
courtney.culler@rutgers.edu

Greg Marrero

Student Counselor for Graduate Student Services
greg.marrero@rutgers.edu

Sophia Jung

KDI Program Assistant
sophia.jung@rutgers.edu

Stephen Weston

Assistant Dean for Academic Admission
sdweston@rutgers.edu

Mailing Address

Applications to the MCRS and MPAP degrees must be completed ONLINE and all hard copies of supporting documents sent to:
Steve Weston

Assistant Dean for Student and Academic Services

Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
33 Livingston Avenue, Suite 100
New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901-1958, USA

DO NOT POST MAIL MATERIALS ANYWHERE ELSE.

Graduate Faculty

Typical Program Path

Master of City and Regional Studies (MCRS) (30 Credits)

The degree offers a basic understanding of planning in a variety of areas and also provides a chance to take several courses in a concentrated area, similar to a specialty. They include Design and Development/Redevelopment, Environmental and Land Use, International Development, Transportation Policy and Planning, Community Development and Housing.  Sub-interest areas also include Finance, Economics, and Management.

Typical program “flight paths” include:

  • 34:970:501 History and Theory of Planning (3)
  • 34:970:509 Urban Economy and Spatial Patterns (3)
  • 34:970:515 Methods of Planning Analysis I (3)
  • 34:970:516 Methods of Planning Analysis II (3)
  • Additional methods course (3)
  • Elective Courses (9)
  • Transfer Credits from KDI (6)

Total Credits for the MCRS (30)

Note: If able to waive out a requirement, alternative course placements are made.

Master of Public Affairs and Politics (MPAP)

The degree offers a basic understanding of public policy in a variety of areas and also provides a chance to take several courses in a concentrated area, similar to a specialty. They include Budget and Finance, Economics, Education, Environment, Health, Labor and Workforce, Management, Methods, Non-Profit Management, Political Processes and Institutions, Social Justice and Advocacy, Social Policy and Urban Policy and Community Development.

Typical program “flight paths” include:

  • 34:833:686 KDI Policy Formation (3 credits)
  • 34:833:515 Basic Quantitative Methods (3 credits)
  • 34:833:530 Research Design (3 credits)
  • 34:833:543 Economics and Public Policy (3 credits)
  • 4 Elective Courses (12 credits)
  • 2 KDI Transfer Courses (6 credits)

Total Credits for the MPAP (30 Credits)

Note: If a course requirement is waived, it is replaced with an elective.