John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies
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| John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies | |
|---|---|
| Name | John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies |
| Established | 1950s |
| Type | Public graduate school |
| Parent | University of Massachusetts Boston |
| City | Boston |
| State | Massachusetts |
| Country | United States |
John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies is a public graduate institution located in Boston, Massachusetts, affiliated with the University of Massachusetts Boston. The school offers multidisciplinary graduate education in public policy, international affairs, and urban affairs, and maintains partnerships with local, national, and global institutions such as the Massachusetts State House, United Nations, and World Bank. Its programs serve midcareer professionals and recent graduates seeking careers in public service, diplomacy, and advisory roles across organizations like the Department of State, United States Agency for International Development, and Non-Governmental Organization networks.
History
The school traces origins to graduate offerings in public administration at the University of Massachusetts Boston during the postwar expansion era paralleling institutions such as the Harvard Kennedy School and Tufts University Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. Named after John W. McCormack, the former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the school developed through the late 20th century alongside urban policy initiatives in Boston and collaborations with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Massachusetts General Hospital, and civic organizations like AARP. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s it expanded curricula responding to events such as the end of the Cold War, globalization trends highlighted by the World Trade Organization formation, and regional economic transitions influenced by policymakers in Massachusetts and federal reforms tied to legislation like the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Academic Programs
The school awards graduate degrees including the Master of Public Policy (MPP), Master of Public Affairs (MPA), Master of Science in International Relations, and doctoral and certificate programs, drawing comparisons with programs at Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs, Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, and Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. Curricula integrate case studies involving institutions such as the Federal Reserve, Center for Strategic and International Studies, and analysis of treaties like the North Atlantic Treaty. Students pursue specializations in areas connected to actors including the Environmental Protection Agency, United Nations Development Programme, and municipal bodies such as the Boston City Council.
Research Centers and Institutes
Research units host interdisciplinary work across centers focusing on topics evident in partnerships with the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Pew Research Center, and Brookings Institution. Centers address issues linked to the Sustainable Development Goals, refugee dynamics studied by the International Organization for Migration, public health collaboration with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and transportation policy intersecting with the Federal Highway Administration. Affiliated institutes publish analyses used by entities including MassHousing, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and advocacy groups like Human Rights Watch.
Faculty and Administration
Faculty include scholars and practitioners with prior appointments at organizations such as the National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, International Monetary Fund, and universities including the University of California, Berkeley, Yale University, and Boston University. Administrative leadership has engaged with policy communities connected to the Council on Foreign Relations, American Political Science Association, and local governance networks in Suffolk County. Visiting fellows and adjuncts have included former officials from the United States Congress, diplomats from Embassy of France in Washington, D.C., and analysts from Amnesty International.
Student Life and Admissions
The student body comprises domestic and international students from countries represented at the United Nations General Assembly and professional sectors including alumni working at the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Peace Corps, and consulting firms like McKinsey & Company. Admissions criteria mirror peer schools with requirements paralleling guidelines from the Council of Graduate Schools and standardized testing history involving the Graduate Record Examinations. Student organizations collaborate with civic groups such as City Year, advocacy coalitions like Sierra Club, and professional networks including the American Society for Public Administration.
Partnerships and Public Engagement
The school maintains partnerships with governmental agencies like the United States Environmental Protection Agency, international organizations such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, philanthropic foundations including the Ford Foundation, and private sector partners like BSR (Business for Social Responsibility). Public engagement includes policy forums featuring speakers from The World Bank, panels tied to events like the United Nations Climate Change Conference, and collaborative projects with municipal initiatives of Boston and regional bodies such as the Metropolitan Area Planning Council.
Campus and Facilities
Located on the Columbia Point campus of the University of Massachusetts Boston, facilities include seminar rooms, research labs, and centers proximate to landmarks like the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum and transit links to the Morrissey Boulevard corridor and John F. Kennedy/UMass transit station. The campus environment supports joint programming with nearby institutions including UMass Medical School affiliates, research libraries comparable to holdings at the Boston Public Library, and resources used by visiting delegations from corps such as the United States Agency for International Development.