University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy

University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy
Name	Harris School of Public Policy
Established	1988
Type	Private graduate school
Parent	University of Chicago
City	Chicago
State	Illinois
Country	United States
Campus	Hyde Park

University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy

The Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago is a graduate professional school offering master's and doctoral programs in public policy and related fields. Founded in 1988 and renamed following a benefaction in 2011, the School operates within the University of Chicago's Hyde Park campus and engages with a broad network of scholars, practitioners, and institutions across Chicago, Washington, and international policy communities. The School emphasizes quantitative methods, policy analysis, and interdisciplinary links to fields such as economics, political science, and law.

History

The School originated as the Committee on Public Policy Studies within the University of Chicago, drawing on intellectual traditions associated with Milton Friedman, George Stigler, Ronald Coase, Herbert A. Simon, and Robert Fogel. In 1988 it was formally established as the Center for Policy Studies before becoming the Harris School after a gift from Ken Griffin and Agnes Gund supporters and benefactors, with the 2011 renaming recognizing a substantial endowment from Irving B. Harris. Its development has intersected with landmark University initiatives involving the Booth School of Business, the Law School (University of Chicago), and the departments of Economics (University of Chicago), Political Science (University of Chicago), and Sociology (University of Chicago). Over time the School has hosted visiting scholars from Brookings Institution, RAND Corporation, National Bureau of Economic Research, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund, and has contributed to policy debates involving figures such as Barack Obama, Rahm Emanuel, Janet Yellen, and Paul Volcker.

Academic programs

Harris offers a portfolio of degrees including the Master of Public Policy (MPP), Master of Science in Computational Analysis and Public Policy (MSCAPP), Executive Master of Public Policy (EMPP), and PhD in Public Policy. Coursework links to methodologies advocated by scholars associated with John von Neumann, Kenneth Arrow, Amartya Sen, Gary Becker, and Daniel McFadden. Joint and dual-degree pathways exist with the Booth School of Business, the Law School (University of Chicago), the Pritzker School of Medicine, and partnerships with institutions such as London School of Economics, Sciences Po, and National University of Singapore. Core curricula emphasize econometrics, program evaluation, and cost-benefit analysis drawing from literature connected to James Heckman, Angus Deaton, Joshua Angrist, Guido Imbens, and Dale Mortensen. Professional concentrations align with policy arenas referenced by organizations like United Nations, World Health Organization, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and Inter-American Development Bank.

Research and centers

Harris houses research centers and initiatives that collaborate with the University’s interdisciplinary institutes, including projects aligned with the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology model of cross-disciplinary research. Notable centers engage topic areas linked to actors such as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Environmental Protection Agency, Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations Development Programme, and African Development Bank. Research outputs often inform public deliberations involving Chicago City Council, Illinois General Assembly, U.S. Congress, and municipal offices of Mayor of Chicago. Faculty and affiliates have produced work cited by Supreme Court of the United States, Congressional Budget Office, Federal Reserve Board, and European Commission analyses. Collaborative projects have included partnerships with Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Harvard Kennedy School, Yale School of Management, Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, and Stanford University.

Faculty and administration

Faculty at Harris include scholars trained or affiliated with institutions such as Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton University, Stanford University, Yale University, Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania, Duke University, and University of California, Berkeley. Administrative leadership has featured deans and directors who previously served at Brookings Institution, Council on Foreign Relations, U.S. Department of the Treasury, U.S. Department of State, and international organizations like United Nations agencies. Visiting fellows and lecturers have included professionals from McKinsey & Company, Goldman Sachs, The World Bank Group, International Monetary Fund, and public figures who once worked with White House staffs or global NGOs such as Oxfam, CARE International, and Mercy Corps.

Student life and admissions

Student cohorts are drawn from domestic and international pools with backgrounds that include graduates of Amherst College, Williams College, Swarthmore College, Haverford College, University of Michigan, University of California, Los Angeles, University of Texas at Austin, Georgetown University, Howard University, Northeastern University, and international institutions like University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, University of Toronto, Tsinghua University, Peking University, National University of Singapore, and Australian National University. Extracurricular organizations include student chapters of professional groups tied to American Economic Association, American Political Science Association, Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management, and practitioner networks connected to Chicago Council on Global Affairs and Civic Consulting Alliance. Admissions criteria consider GRE or other standardized tests, prior study, work experience at entities such as Teach For America, Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, and internships with United Nations, World Bank, and state governments; financial aid and scholarships often cite fellowships sponsored by Ford Foundation, Gates Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, and Fulbright Program.

Alumni and notable people

Alumni have gone on to positions in elected office, civil service, academia, and international institutions; examples include professionals at White House, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Labor, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Chicago Board of Education, Mayor of Chicago offices, World Bank Group, International Monetary Fund, United Nations Development Programme, and multinational firms such as McKinsey & Company and Goldman Sachs. Graduates have pursued doctoral study at Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton University, Stanford University, and University of California, Berkeley or professional careers with NGOs like CARE International, International Rescue Committee, and Amnesty International. The School’s community includes visiting practitioners, fellows, and speakers from institutions such as Brookings Institution, Council on Foreign Relations, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Urban Institute, and the National Academy of Sciences.

Category:University of Chicago