Meeting the Challenge
Promoting a just and peaceful world through research and teaching on the world’s most pressing economic, political and social policy challenges.
J. Brian Atwood honored with Henrietta Fore Development Award
The Human Toll of the Gaza War
#BrownCurious: Is the American Dream still alive?
John N. Friedman, the inaugural dean of the Watson School, has been working with big data for the past 15 years to figure out how children can grow up to achieve a better standard of living than their parents. He explains why opportunity has faded for Americans over time, and proposes solutions to this growing opportunity gap: policy and education reform.
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#BrownCurious is a social media series that features Brown University’s community of experts answering the world’s most searched and discussed questions.
Academics and Research
Home to a rigorous Master of Public Affairs (MPA) program, a thriving undergraduate concentration, a Military Fellows program, and a postdoctoral research program, the Watson School is driven by the conviction that policy solutions informed by rigorous research can change systems and societies for the better.
Master of Public Affairs
The Watson School is home to a rigorous Master of Public Affairs program, which prepares students to be public policy leaders, analysts and advocates in government, politics, and the nonprofit, and private sectors, both in the U.S. and abroad.
Student Experience
The Watson School houses several undergraduate and graduate programs that take an interdisciplinary, comparative approach to policy-relevant learning in the social sciences. Our programs are designed to inspire today's engaged scholars and creative thinkers to become tomorrow's leaders in international and public affairs.
“ As a mid-career professional, I appreciated the MPA program's practical focus and its one-year timeline. It felt like the right time to pivot, and Brown's program was the perfect fit to help me shift my career in a more personally fulfilling direction. ”
Centers, Initiatives and Programs
The Watson School is home to several region or topic-focused centers, initiatives and projects that are dedicated to research, teaching and outreach. These entities also serve as conveners, sponsoring informative events that inspire dialogue among scholars, students and the public.
learn more about our centersDiscover Our Research
The Watson School serves as a home for faculty who conduct research in a global, comparative context with expertise in vital areas, including global security, growing geopolitical competition, international economic development, border security, humanitarianism and development, economic and social inequality, democratic institutions, and energy and climate policy.
From Our Social Channels
Follow the Watson School of International & Public Affairs at Brown University on social media to learn more about the latest research, insights from faculty, stories from our community, and upcoming events.