The goal of public policy education at William & Mary is to provide individuals with the intellectual tools needed to improve the quality of policymaking in the United States and abroad. Students who graduate from the Thomas Jefferson Program will have a knowledge of economics, statistics, politics, law, ethics, and substantive policy domains that will equip them to be effective participants in the policy process, whether in government agencies, non-profit organizations, or private sector firms. The Thomas Jefferson Program offers a two-year Master in Public Policy degree (MPP) and a Bachelor of Arts degree with a concentration in Public Policy. The MPP program emphasizes developing strong analytical skills as well as expertise in particular policy areas. It is an applied program, involving internships and work with real-world clients.
"Named after President Thomas Jefferson, the Jefferson Program provides students with the intellectual tools needed to improve the quality of policymaking in the United States and abroad. It is an interdisciplinary major that focuses on analytical decision making to study diverse subjects ranging from the processes of making, implementing and evaluating government policies to the ethical evaluation of contemporary social problems." (Undergraduate Catalog)
The Program in Public Policy became an official program in 1989 although different aspects of public policy were taught in government and economics.
References
- 2008-2009 Undergraduate Course Catalog, William & Mary, Special Collections Research Center, Earl Gregg Swem Library, William & Mary.
- Public Policy Program folder, University Archives Subject File, Special Collections Research Center, Earl Gregg Swem Library, William & Mary.