School of Public Policy (UC Berkeley)
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| School of Public Policy (UC Berkeley) | |
|---|---|
| Name | School of Public Policy |
| Established | 2019 |
| Type | Public professional school |
| Parent | University of California, Berkeley |
| Dean | Henry E. Brady |
| City | Berkeley, California |
| Country | United States |
School of Public Policy (UC Berkeley) The School of Public Policy at University of California, Berkeley is a professional school offering graduate education and research in public policy, public administration, and policy analysis. Located on the Berkeley Highlands near San Francisco Bay, the school connects with a wide range of institutions including Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, California State Legislature, World Bank, and United Nations. It emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches drawing on faculty and partnerships from College of Letters and Science, Haas School of Business, School of Law (Berkeley), and College of Engineering.
History
The school's creation followed policy education traditions at University of California, Berkeley that trace to programs influenced by figures associated with New Deal, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and postwar policy initiatives linked to George Marshall and Harry S. Truman. Its establishment in 2019 built on predecessor entities with roots connected to Institute of Governmental Studies (IGS), which had collaborations with California Governor's Office, Congressional Research Service, and National Academy of Public Administration. The school expanded through partnerships with organizations such as Ford Foundation, Carnegie Corporation, Rockefeller Foundation, and regional entities like San Francisco and Oakland. Growth was shaped by policy crises involving 2008 financial crisis, Great Recession, COVID-19 pandemic, and climate challenges related to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessments.
Academic Programs
The school offers professional degrees including the Master of Public Policy linked to curricula using methods from RAND Corporation, Brookings Institution, and analytical tools taught in conjunction with Department of Economics, UC Berkeley, School of Information (Berkeley), and the Energy and Resources Group (ERG). Programs feature coursework on public finance referencing legislation such as Tax Reform Act of 1986 analysis, regulatory frameworks informed by Securities and Exchange Commission precedents, and program evaluation drawing on methods practiced at National Bureau of Economic Research and American Enterprise Institute. Joint and dual-degree options connect with Haas School of Business MBA, School of Law (Berkeley) JD, and degrees coordinated with Goldman School of Public Policy (historical program context), while executive education engages agencies like California Environmental Protection Agency and NGOs such as Oxfam and World Resources Institute.
Research Centers and Institutes
Affiliated centers expand the school's policy research capacity, including collaborations with Institute of Governmental Studies, Berkeley Energy and Climate Institute, Center for Effective Global Action, and partnerships with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Other affiliated entities include centers working on housing and urban policy tied to Urban Land Institute, immigration policy research reflecting work with Migration Policy Institute, and health policy projects coordinated with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Kaiser Permanente. Research topics intersect with initiatives by United Nations Development Programme, World Health Organization, Federal Reserve Board, and think tanks such as Center for Strategic and International Studies and Resources for the Future.
Faculty and Administration
Faculty draw from diverse backgrounds, including scholars who have served at institutions like U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Treasury, Environmental Protection Agency, National Institutes of Health, and international bodies including International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group. Administrators and senior fellows include former officials from California State Senate, advisors who worked with Presidency of the United States, and experts with prior appointments at Harvard Kennedy School, Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, Yale School of Management, Stanford Graduate School of Business, and London School of Economics. Visiting scholars have included researchers affiliated with Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Columbia University, University of Chicago, Duke University, and Johns Hopkins University.
Admissions and Student Life
Admissions standards reflect comparisons with peer programs at Harvard Kennedy School, Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, Columbia SIPA, University of Michigan Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, and Syracuse Maxwell School. Students engage in practicum placements with employers such as California Governor's Office of Planning and Research, San Francisco Mayor's Office, Oakland City Council, U.S. Congress, California Public Utilities Commission, and NGOs including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. Student organizations coordinate with networks like Public Policy Student Association, regional chapters of Young Professionals in Energy, and partnerships with alumni groups tied to Association of Public Policy Analysis and Management and American Political Science Association.
Alumni and Notable Graduates
Alumni serve in roles across local and international institutions, including elected offices in California State Assembly, senior civil service positions in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, leadership posts at World Bank, policy roles at International Monetary Fund, and executive positions at NGOs like Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Clinton Foundation. Graduates have also taken leadership roles in technology policy at firms such as Google, Facebook, Apple Inc., and OpenAI; in energy and utilities at Pacific Gas and Electric Company and Tesla, Inc.; and in advocacy organizations including Sierra Club and Natural Resources Defense Council.