These nationally and internationally known research centers provide students with jobs, internships, and other types of assistance. The program presently enrolls about 60 active students. Both faculty and students come from a diversity of backgrounds. About one third of enrolled students are African-American, Asian American or Latino, and half are women. About ten percent of our students are international.
Students come primarily from work in government and non-profit organizations.
Areas of substantive interest include community development, health, labor, education, and social services. Through the program's internship, students work on a policy project and apply relevant theory and technical skills to a public policy issue. Students with substantial prior public policy work experience may choose to complete additional elective coursework instead of an internship, or to prepare a substantive analysis of some prior policy experience, rather than undertaking a new experience. With Boston's urban setting offering a broad array of educational, professional, and cultural resources, faculty in the Public Policy Program are able to put students in touch with prominent faculty at local academic, health care, governmental, and community organizations. These provide not only placements for conducting policy internships but also sources of dissertation data, financial support for research, and employment opportunities upon graduation.