Some faculty members at the University are trying to create a five-year master's degree program in public policy that would begin in fall 2007, said Education School Dean David Breneman, co-chair of the public policy committee.
"The program has not been approved yet," Breneman said. "The idea has been under consideration for some years. We are now at the stage where we hope to take the idea to the Faculty Senate and the Board of Visitors, so we're several steps from [the program] being official."
Politics Prof. Eric Patashnik, a member of the Public Policy Committee, said this program was approved by College Dean Ed Ayers but still has to be approved by the Board of Visitor's Academic Affairs Committee, the full Board and the full Faculty Senate.
Breneman said he envisions a five-year BA/MPP program which is modeled after the BA program in the Education School.
Public policy programs produce students who are in high demand by both the government and many organizations in the private sector, Patashnik said.
While other major research universities such as Harvard, Duke and Berkeley have separate schools or programs in public policy, the University lacks this particular kind of program.
According to Patashnik, students would begin public policy coursework in their fourth year and graduate with their class. Students would then be required to complete a public service internship and return to school for one more year of classes.
Patashnik said the program will be geared toward students from many different backgrounds such as politics, economics and humanities.
"Depending on how it goes and possible private fundraising, this [master's program] could eventually become a school of public policy for people here at U.Va.," Breneman said.
According to Breneman, the proposed program will be funded through tuition revenues and contributions from the University provost's office.
Breneman said this idea is widely supported by the faculty and especially University Provost Gene Block.
The proposed program will be very similar to the public policy programs at other universities with an emphasis on application and not theory, Breneman said.
"The way we would differentiate it would be to use more history and draw on Jeffersonian themes," he said.
Patashnik agreed, noting the uniqueness of the program's focus.
"Reflecting its Jeffersonian orientation, the five-year program seeks to create a new generation of public leaders who will possess the character, historical understanding and broader intellectual vision needed to tackle society's most important challenges," he said.
Patashnik said the program could create many practical opportunities for University students.
"The program will promote public service at a time when the nation faces many domestic and international challenges," Patashnik said.
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