wws.princeton.edu | [email protected] | 609. 258. 4836CECILIA ELENA ROUSE
Dean
Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International A airs
Princeton UniversityIn the Nation’s
Service and the
Service of Humanity
What’s unique about the Woodrow Wilson School’s
approach to policy?
Our distinctive course of study strikes a balance between
theory and practice. Ninety-two full-time faculty mem-
bers teach at the school, most with dual appointments,
representing eleven different departments. International
relations scholars combine expert analysis of a shifting
world order with insight into how history infl uences
today’s geopolitical landscape. Our faculty conduct
innovative research; provide policymakers, nonprofi ts,
and research centers with expert, nonpartisan policy
analysis; and provide students with the tools and
knowledge needed to tackle important policy issues.
Students select one of four fi elds of concentration and
can deepen their knowledge in specifi c areas of study
through certifi cates in health and health policy, urban
policy, or science, technology, and environmental policy.
All students receive an education focused on rigorous
quantitative and qualitative analysis—an adaptable
“policy toolkit” that allows them to excel in any fi eld,
domestically or internationally.
How do Woodrow Wilson School students apply
classroom lessons to real-world policy challenges?
We believe that learning extends beyond the class-
room. Formal coursework is enriched with public
lectures and informal talks with policymakers and
advocates working on the important issues of the
day. We send students all over the world to learn in
the fi eld—required summer internships for Master in
Public Affairs students, policy workshops to analyze a
complex issue and present recommendations to a real
client, or fi eldwork to supplement formal studies. The
result: students are able to learn about any policy topic
from various vantage points.
How does the school support students’ career goals
and objectives?
We take the view that the school should invest in the
students so they can focus on their studies and pursue
careers in public service without worrying about fi nanc-
ing their graduate education. Generous fi nancial aid
is offered to all graduate students covering full tuition
and required fees for everyone, as well as fi nancial sup-
port for travel to complement policy workshops, for
language training, and for summer internships. Our
career services team is dedicated to helping launch
students’ careers, providing coaching, guidance, and
resources for the lifecycle of their careers.How does the Woodrow Wilson School engage in for-
eign a airs and foreign policy, especially as the rules of
international a airs seem to be changing?
For a school our size, we offer remarkable range in this
regard. Our faculty and practitioners study international
relations, politics, and economics, and our twenty
centers and programs focus on policy issues ranging
from climate change and forced migration to security
studies, health, and fi nance. We are a home for the
study and debate of national and international policy
and support a variety of educational, research, enrich-
ment, and outreach activities. Opportunities abound
for students to gain the skills necessary to become the
next generation of strategic thinkers and decision-
makers. Recognizing the ways in which advancements
in information technology are affecting global relation-
ships, we invest heavily in IT policy studies. In addition
to our eighty-plus tenured faculty, we regularly host
visiting leaders and diplomats. Ambassadors Daniel
C. Kurtzer and Ryan Crocker, both of whom have led
crisis decision- and policymaking processes, teach at
the school and engage with our community.19SPONSORED SECTION