Chicago, Illinois
The Harris School of Public Policy and the Department of Political Science are integral academic units within the University of Chicago, located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. While the Harris School functions as a professional graduate school focused on policy analysis and data-driven research, the Department of Political Science operates within the Division of the Social Sciences, concentrating on the study of political systems, theory, and international relations. Both entities are situated on the University of Chicago’s main campus in the Hyde Park neighborhood, benefiting from the university’s broader research infrastructure, library systems, and interdisciplinary academic environment.
The Harris School of Public Policy was established in 1988, building upon a long history of policy research at the University of Chicago. It offers several graduate degree programs, including the Master of Public Policy (MPP), the Master of Science in Computational Analysis and Public Policy (MSCAPP), and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Public Policy. The curriculum emphasizes quantitative methods, microeconomics, and statistical analysis, requiring students to apply rigorous analytical tools to contemporary social and economic issues. The school maintains several research centers, such as the Center for Health Policy and the Energy Policy Institute at Chicago (EPIC), which facilitate faculty and student research on specific policy challenges.
The Department of Political Science at the University of Chicago has a history dating back to the university's founding in 1890. It provides undergraduate and graduate instruction, offering a Bachelor of Arts (BA), a Master of Arts (MA), and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Political Science. The department’s academic structure is divided into several subfields, including American politics, comparative politics, international relations, political theory, and formal theory. The faculty engage in research ranging from historical political development to modern electoral behavior and institutional design, maintaining a focus on methodological diversity and theoretical inquiry.
Facilities for these academic units are integrated into the University of Chicago’s campus. The Harris School is primarily housed in the Keller Center, a facility designed for collaborative research and teaching that features classrooms, faculty offices, and meeting spaces. Students in both the Harris School and the Department of Political Science utilize the university’s library system, which includes the Joseph Regenstein Library and the Mansueto Library. These facilities provide access to extensive collections, digital archives, and specialized research support, which are central to the university’s commitment to academic inquiry and scholarly output.
The University of Chicago, including its constituent schools and departments, is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). This accreditation ensures that the institution meets established standards for educational quality, governance, and financial stability. As a professional graduate school, the Harris School of Public Policy also adheres to the standards set forth by professional associations in the field of public policy and administration. The department of Political Science operates under the institutional accreditation of the university, ensuring that its degree programs align with the broader academic requirements of the university’s graduate and undergraduate divisions.
A primary strength shared by both the Harris School and the Department of Political Science is an emphasis on empirical rigor and analytical training. The Harris School is characterized by its integration of economic theory into policy analysis, often referred to as the "Chicago approach" to public policy. This involves using mathematical modeling and data analysis to evaluate the impact of policy interventions. The Department of Political Science similarly focuses on the development of formal models and systematic empirical testing, encouraging students to ground their political analysis in well-defined theoretical frameworks and verifiable evidence.
The relationship between the Harris School and the Department of Political Science is marked by interdisciplinary collaboration. Many faculty members hold joint appointments across these units and other departments within the University of Chicago, such as the Department of Economics or the Law School. This structure allows for shared research interests, particularly in areas like political economy, where the study of markets and government institutions overlaps. Students often have the opportunity to take courses across different departments, fostering a comprehensive understanding of how political processes and policy decisions intersect within domestic and global contexts.
The educational model at these institutions is designed to prepare students for careers in government, academia, non-profit organizations, and the private sector. By combining theoretical training with practical application, the Harris School and the Department of Political Science provide students with the skills necessary to analyze complex societal problems. The academic environment is structured to promote critical thinking, independent research, and the objective evaluation of data, ensuring that graduates are equipped to contribute to the professional and academic fields of public policy and political science.
