W&M Public Policy Program

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W&M Public Policy Program The W&M Public Policy Program provides students with the intellectual tools needed to improve the quality of policymaking in the United States and abroad.

Located in historic Williamsburg, VA, William & Mary’s Master of Public Policy degree is a 2-year residential cohort model with many opportunities for customization along with its general quantitatively-focused curriculum. Students choose a track of core and elective courses toward either domestic policy, i.e. Public Policy Analysis, or International Development and Policy. Outside of its strong academics, the focus of the program is ‘policy in practice’ whereby students participate in collaborative, real-world projects, off-campus programming such as Policy Dialogues, and a required 10-week internship between the two academic years. The admissions deadline in any given year is January 15th for priority financial assistance consideration. Internship stipends and graduate assistantships are also available.

Meet Mary, a first-year BA+MPP student from Fairfield, Connecticut. Her policy interests include tax and economic develo...
10/15/2026

Meet Mary, a first-year BA+MPP student from Fairfield, Connecticut. Her policy interests include tax and economic development policy. Recently, she had the opportunity to intern in DC for a US Senator and in her district for a House Representative, which allowed her to explore the legislative and constituent service sides of policy. In her free time, she loves to bake, cross-stitch, and line dance!

This year, Mary looks forward to broadening her policy interests and gaining a better understanding of different policy areas, particularly law.

Meet Austin, a second-year MPP student from Rustburg, Virginia. His policy interests are centered on local government, e...
10/08/2026

Meet Austin, a second-year MPP student from Rustburg, Virginia. His policy interests are centered on local government, education, economic justice, and law. This summer, he interned at the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, the largest nonpartisan, interfaith advocacy organization in Virginia that advocates for economic, racial, and social justice. In his free time, Austin likes to read, write, spend time outside, and play bluegrass.

This semester, he is looking forward to developing his skills and seeing more of his peers!

In Professor Joosse and Houck’s fall class in the Global Scholars Program, students participated in a US-Canada bilatera...
10/02/2026

In Professor Joosse and Houck’s fall class in the Global Scholars Program, students participated in a US-Canada bilateral trade negotiation in class to wrap up their unit on global trade policy. Good news – they came to an agreement! Solving the world’s problems, one class at a time.

This Tuesday, the Public Policy Program celebrated Exploration Week with coffee and donuts at Chancellors Hall. It was w...
10/01/2026

This Tuesday, the Public Policy Program celebrated Exploration Week with coffee and donuts at Chancellors Hall. It was wonderful to have conversations with so many students and answer their questions about the program! ☕🍩

Meet Mai, a second-year MPP student from Midlothian, Virginia. Their policy interests include education policy, election...
10/01/2026

Meet Mai, a second-year MPP student from Midlothian, Virginia. Their policy interests include education policy, election policy, and environmental justice. This summer, they interned at the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter, which focuses on statewide environmental justice advocacy. On campus, Mai is a member of the Cheese Club, serves as Events Coordinator for Salsa Club, President of Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK), and Vice President MPP representative in the Graduate Student Association.

This semester, Mai is excited to explore as many policy and advocacy opportunities as possible!

Meet Francesca, a first-year BA+MPP student from Glastonbury, England. Her policy interests include health and foreign p...
09/24/2026

Meet Francesca, a first-year BA+MPP student from Glastonbury, England. Her policy interests include health and foreign policy. This summer, she had the opportunity to work for her local Member of Parliament in Bath, England. In her free time, she loves to play tennis (or any other sport) and is on the varsity tennis team at W&M!

This year, Francesca is looking forward to connecting with her cohort and to the great networking and career events that the program has to offer.

Meet Peerawut, a second-year BA/MPP student from Alexandria, Virginia (and Bangkok, Thailand). His policy interests incl...
09/17/2026

Meet Peerawut, a second-year BA/MPP student from Alexandria, Virginia (and Bangkok, Thailand). His policy interests include international development, national security, immigration, foreign assistance, higher education, and constitutional issues. This summer, he interned at the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Global Development Department. On campus, Peerawut serves as a Student Affairs Graduate Assistant, and he is also involved in Student Assembly and The Flat Hat.

This semester, Peerawut is excited to take international law at the W&M Law School!

The Global Scholars Program kicked off the year with the Global Policy and American Statecraft cohorts!W&M's Global Scho...
09/14/2026

The Global Scholars Program kicked off the year with the Global Policy and American Statecraft cohorts!

W&M's Global Scholars Program offers students a unique, cohort-based experiential learning opportunity that cultivates creative thinkers, principled decision-makers, and compassionate global citizens, and prepares them to become leaders in global policy and research roles across the government, non-profit, and private sectors.

Students from the Global Policy cohort will explore the intersection of academic research and public policy to tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Concurrently, the American Statecraft cohort will explore the past, present, and future of American statecraft, with a focus on coordination of the U.S. instruments of power.

Meet Kirsten, a second-year BA/MPP student from Alexandria, Virginia. Her policy background has primarily centered on en...
09/10/2026

Meet Kirsten, a second-year BA/MPP student from Alexandria, Virginia. Her policy background has primarily centered on environmental policy, but she’s looking forward to expanding her knowledge and learning more about other areas of public policy. This summer, she interned at the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. In her free time, Kirsten sings in an a ca****la group, goes on runs, and reads.

This semester, she is excited to explore new policy fields, particularly through her Policy Research Seminar project.

Check out the first episode of Civics Minute, 'A' is for Accountability! Civics Minute is a bite-sized series focused on...
09/09/2026

Check out the first episode of Civics Minute, 'A' is for Accountability!

Civics Minute is a bite-sized series focused on civic engagement, hosted by the one and only Prof. Paul Manna. Listen on WHRV (89.5) on Mondays at 7:31 AM and 4:32 PM, or at whro.org/civics.

Address

300 James Blair Drive, Chancellors Hall
Williamsburg, VA
23185

Telephone

+17572212368

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