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About the Harris School
View the 2007 Aims of Public Policy Address
Choose High bandwidth | Low Bandwidth to see the address, given by Kerwin Charles, Steans Family Professor. The video may take a few minutes to load because of length and requires windows media player
(Download here: PC Install | Mac Install)
Making a difference in the world
The mission of the Harris School is to understand and influence public policies by conducting
policy-relevant research and preparing talented individuals to become leaders and agents of social change.
The Harris School of Public Policy Studies prepares
men and women to solve some of society’s most complex problems – issues
in the economy, public finance, the environment, education, family well
being, health care, welfare reform, international relations. Students
come to the Harris School because they want to make a difference in the
world. They leave with the tools necessary to accomplish their goals.
Part of a world-class educational community
As one of six professional schools at the University of Chicago, the Harris
School of Public Policy Studies is part of a world-class intellectual community
that continues the University's tradition of scholarship intended to address
real world problems. Established in 1988, the Harris School emerged from
an interdepartmental Committee on Public Policy Studies. Influential founding
supporters include educational sociologist James Coleman, urban sociologist
William Julius Wilson, and the 2000 Nobel laureate economist James Heckman.
From its inception, the Harris School has sought to enhance the University's
role in shaping and understanding public life by conducting policy relevant
research and preparing talented individuals to become leaders and agents
of social change.
The University of Chicago Tradition
The University of Chicago is one of the world's preeminent research universities.
It is home to internationally renowned scholars, researchers, and intellectual
pioneers. In the last century, the University produced more than 70 Nobel
laureates in fields of study that include medicine, economics and physics. Founded in 1890 with a gift from John D. Rockefeller, the University
embodies the vision of its first president, William Rainey Harper, a pioneer
in education who believed in the strengths of an institution that blends
an American-style liberal arts college and a German-style graduate research
program. Following that model, the University of Chicago has for more than
a century been recognized as a place where great minds gather and put knowledge
to work for the common good. The University's motto, crescat scientia,
vita excolatur (let knowledge increase so that life may be enriched)
remains at the heart of its mission.
Degree Programs
The Harris School offers a range of degree programs in public policy and
in conjunction with related fields.
An exciting and challenging place to learn
The Harris School's model of public policy training
reflects the University of Chicago's tradition of research and
teaching – meticulous scholarship,
open inquiry, and cross-disciplinary critical thinking. Faculty
members come from diverse academic backgrounds and lend their individual
expertise to a rigorous, collaborative curriculum. Students develop the
analytical skills they need to understand the nature of social problems
and the impact of public policy. They become conscientious consumers of
social science research and are able to evaluate information to make informed
policy choices. Beyond the classroom, the Harris School provides opportunities
for students to apply their critical thinking and analytical approach in
the real world. Most students work with mentors and in internships with
leading policy practitioners to gain firsthand experience in the public,
private and non-profit sectors. These opportunities help to enrich students’ educational
experience, expand their network among community leaders, and, at the same
time, lend their expertise to local, national and international
organizations.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
The University of Chicago is a world-class center of innovative and groundbreaking research. Interdisciplinary collaboration plays a vital role in its mission.
In keeping with that mission, the Harris School fosters a spirit of cooperation
among students, faculty, public policy professionals and others to address
societal concerns. The School actively seeks new partnerships that can further
the goals of its students and the community.
The Hyde Park Community
The Harris School and the University of Chicago
are located in the Hyde Park community, just seven miles from downtown
Chicago on Lake Michigan’s
south shore. Hyde Park is known for its excellent bookstores, its
variety of restaurants and cultural events, and for its celebrated architectural
landmarks, museums and parks. Downtown Chicago and other city neighborhoods
are easily accessible from campus by car or by public transportation.
The City of Chicago
Chicago is an education in itself. It is the birthplace
of community organizing. It is a center of international finance and trade.
It is also home to numerous national and international foundations, policy
research centers, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and businesses.
In the Loop, the heart of downtown Chicago, key decisions are made affecting
the welfare and economic health of people worldwide. One of the world's
great cities – with
a world-renowned symphony and arts community, a spectacular waterfront,
a rich architectural heritage, and an unparalleled selection of restaurants
and vibrant neighborhood culture – Chicago is a dynamic training ground
for public policy. It is a blend of big city and small town, tradition
and innovation, history and progress. Chicago offers endless options for
discovery.
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