CURRICULUM

The IPS curriculum begins with the assumption that all policy analysts, whether they are of domestic programs, foreign policy initiatives, or international organizations, need a shared set of skills and training. Stanford’s new graduate program in public policy describes well the kinds of understandings central to today’s policy analysis:

“Economics and quantitative analyses are central to modern public policy analysis, but not sufficient. Political science, law, philosophy, organizational behavior, and cognitive psychology are among other necessary disciplinary perspectives. Political philosophy and ethics form the basis for the “ought” of public policy. Political science offers insights to the decision-making process and information needs of a democracy. Organizational behavior focuses on the many decisions made outside the market environment in hierarchies, bureaucracies, and teams. Nearly all public policy is formulated by law, and economic analysis of legal rules and institutions is key to effective implementation of policy decisions.”

Policy Skills Courses

IPS students must be able to communicate their analyses clearly and succinctly, in writing and in rhetoric. Communication to policy audiences is a skill that can be taught. IPS students are required to take one seminar on writing and rhetoric from a menu of specially designated seminars. These classes will focus on key current policy dilemmas and issues, and students will be expected to write short policy memos and make short policy presentations.

Writing and Rhetoric Courses

Beyond what any policy analyst needs, IPS students need an understanding of international dynamics. IPS students must take one course in international economics, as well as two newly created IPS core courses. Of these two courses, the first is a one-unit course that introduces IPS students to Stanford’s policy research centers, and the cutting edge analysis of current global issues. The second three-unit course on managing global complexity introduces IPS students to major concepts and theories of international relations, and then focuses on issues and places where several policy concerns are at play simultaneously. The goal is to understand that much of what we study today is marked by trade-offs among various goods that we seek to promote; that globalization and interdependence creates opportunities for creative solutions to problems, while sometimes creating negative unintended consequences for policy solutions.

Core Courses

With their policy skills and tools, IPS students will choose to specialize in a major international issue area. Each specialization will require a gateway class that guarantees that all students in the subfield have baseline knowledge in the issue area. Beyond the gateway class, students are required to take five elective courses in the specialization.

Concentration Courses

• International Political Economy
• Democracy, Development and Rule of Law
• International Security and Cooperation
• International Negotiation and Conflict Management
• Energy, Environment and Natural Resources
• Global Health
• Global Justice

The final building block of the curriculum is a 10 unit group based practicum that requires students to work together with 3 or 4 peers to solve a real world policy problem.

Practicum