What are some of your school's core values and how do they come across in the courses and programs that you offer?
Northeastern University is committed to a higher education model that breaks the boundaries between disciplines, transcends borders, connects communities, and communicates its vision for change in a way that inspires action. The School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs delivers on these values through impact-focused research, the creation of collaborative communities, and global engagement for local change. Policy School programs and courses prepare leaders to address complex problems, serve communities and build a just, sustainable, and resilient world.
What types of programs do you offer?
- Master of Public Administration
- Master of Public Policy
- MS in Urban Informatics
- MS in Urban Planning and Policy
- MA in International Affairs
- MS in Environmental Science and Policy
- MS in Security and Resilience Studies
- PhD in Public Policy
How are you helping to prepare students for careers in public service?
By educating students in both theory and practice, Northeastern's School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs prepares them to become effective contributors to social, economic, and environmental change, in careers spanning the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, as well as academic research. The School trains its graduates to drive interdisciplinary thinking and problem solving on issues of pressing concern to society at local, state, national, and international levels – from transportation, housing, energy and community development to social and environmental justice, resilience and sustainability.
What opportunities are available to students to get work experience while learning?
Anchored in Northeastern’s commitment to experiential education, the Policy School blends real-world leaning with global opportunities. The School’s network of alumni provides valuable experiences for students, who benefit from a community-based partnership model embedded in the curriculum of every program. Students work alongside internationally recognized faculty on impact-focused research projects and can pursue co-op experiences in settings anywhere in the world. They can also explore their interests at the various centers and labs the School hosts, including the Boston Area Research Initiative (BARI), the Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional Policy, and the Social Impact Lab. Policy School graduates enter the professional world with significant hands-on experience already in their repertoires.
What is something unique about your institution?
Community engagement and experiential learning continue to distinguish the Policy School programs from those offered at similar institutions. No other public policy school in the U.S. offers a comparable co-op program. Flexibility represents another hallmark of Policy School programs. Students can customize their programs to develop an area of expertise and gain a certificate credential in a related field en route to the degree.
What advice do you have for prospective students?
Consider sharing the Policy School’s commitment to thinking globally and acting locally. Whichever pressing policy issues you want to focus on—whether public health, climate change, environmental challenges, or the justice system—know that the Policy School will engage you deeply in the challenges of building the world that you and future generations would like to inhabit.