Each student must receive prior written approval from his or her first reader before formally beginning work on the Professional Report. It is the responsibility of the student to discuss with the first and second readers and have approved the proposed topic, methodology, and work schedule for the report. While students may develop their topics and collect data for their reports in internships and other classes, the report must be completed independently, under supervision of faculty readers. A student may not receive credit for the Professional Report unless he or she has received faculty approval for and supervision of the work. Students are required to participate in a policy research project during their first year.
Most students choose to take a second policy research project.
Mid-career and joint program students are required to participate in only one policy research project. An attempt is made to involve faculty from different disciplines and, within the constraints of student preferences, to select students with a diversity of academic backgrounds and experience. Ten or more projects are conducted each year on a range of topics selected according to the knowledge needs of clients, the fields of competence of the School's faculty, and the policy interests of both faculty and students. Students participate in all phases of the research project, including helping to define its objectives and methodology. Through its emphasis on interdisciplinary research on real policy problems, the policy research project enables students to develop and integrate their analytical and quantitative research skills, experience the realities of the administrative and legislative processes, feel the impact of political pressures and conflicts, and learn the requirements for effective oral and written communication with nonacademic practitioners.