Master of Dispute Resolution / Master of Public Policy
MDR/MPP
The Master of Dispute Resolution and Master of Public Policy (MDR/MPP) degree program is a joint program between the School of Public Policy and the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution of the Caruso School of Law.
The joint MDR/MPP degree program requires a total of 58 credit units: 20 units in dispute resolution courses and 38 credits in public policy. Normally, completing a Master of Dispute Resolution (MDR) and a Master of Public Policy (MPP) separately would require 32 and 58 credit units, respectively, or a total of 90 credit units. With careful planning, it is envisioned that MPP students could complete their MDR requirements in summer sessions and/or the winter intensive terms falling before, within, or after the two-year MPP program.
Applicants to the joint program must apply and be granted admission to both the School of Public Policy and the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution. The admission requirements for potential joint MDR/MPP students are identical to the admission requirements for the MDR and MPP degree programs if pursued separately.
With the concurrent approval of the deans of the Caruso School of Law and the School of Public Policy, the joint MDR/MPP degree may be pursued by a School of Public Policy student with advanced standing. Again, admission to the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution would have to be separately granted. In addition, with the concurrent approval of the deans of the Caruso School of Law and the School of Public Policy, the joint MDR/MPP degree also may be pursued by a Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution student with advanced standing. Again, admission to the School of Public Policy would have to be separately granted.
School of Public Policy at Pepperdine
At the School of Public Policy, graduate students prepare to affect change in the public and private sector through coursework built on time-tested concepts and values. Leadership skills are emphasized, as well as a broad understanding of the history and philosophy undergirding free institutions.
Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution
The internationally recognized Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution has led the nation in law-school-based conflict resolution and for over a decade, it has been ranked among the nation's best programs by U.S. News & World Report.