McCourt School of Public Policy
As a student in Georgetown’s McCourt School of Public Policy, you’ll become a rigorously trained, ethically grounded leader with the cutting-edge skills you need to make a positive impact. Studying on the Capitol Campus brings you closer than ever to the center of the policy world and decision-makers, just steps from some of the most influential institutions across domestic and international policy, and connects you with the people whose lives are transformed when policy serves the common good.
Human-Centered, Data-Driven
From day one at McCourt, you develop a strong foundation in the quantitative and analytical tools needed to design and measure the effectiveness of policy solutions. You also learn how to become an ethical and empathetic leader who can bridge differences and communicate with people with different perspectives.
Our Programs
The McCourt School of Public Policy offers five master’s degree programs, nine dual degrees, global learning opportunities in a range of destinations, and certificate and other executive education programming. McCourt also offers a joint undergraduate degree in public policy with the College of Arts & Sciences.
Public Policy is a Bridge
Effective policymaking brings people together across differences to exchange experiences and ideas. The McCourt School is designed to forge those connections — between researchers and policymakers; between students of policy, law, health, business and sustainability; and between those who study policy and those whose lives are impacted.
A Testimonial
We designed this space to be a new front door to public policy in Washington, DC. … We envisioned new collaborations that are possible here, new partnerships, engagements with local, national and global leaders who are just footsteps away.
City of Possibilities
“I’m really interested in alternatives to car dependencies, such as bike shares and e-bikes. The opportunities to explore statistics and data science both inside and outside of McCourt have been invaluable.”
“The chance to learn from seasoned ambassadors, alongside talented professors and classmates of diverse backgrounds and experiences in the Art of Diplomacy course was an opportunity I couldn’t miss. In my upcoming role at the Pentagon, this class seemed like the perfect tool to enhance my understanding of U.S. relations with the nations we engage with.”
“I chose McCourt because the Joint Program in Public Policy offers an ideal balance between the Georgetown college experience with two years on the hilltop and the connection to public policy education in downtown D.C. At McCourt, I look forward to joining policy-focused student organizations, using McCourt’s resources to identify public policy advocacy internships, and enjoying the quick commute to the Capitol and internships.”
Connected to the World
The McCourt School building in downtown DC invites the outside in as much as it encourages you to make DC a part of your academic experience. Features designed by renowned artist and architect Maya Lin reflect this openness — including three new installation works that “map our place in the world.”
3 Favorite McCourt Gathering Spaces
Students from across the Capitol and Hilltop Campuses can connect at the McCourt School at 125 E St. Take a look at a few favorite spots for studying and socializing, according to the school’s public policy students.
Love working in your local coffee shop for its communal vibe? Grab a coffee from the Commons Cafe and gather here for a collaborative project. You’ll find plenty of places to plug in.
The McCourt School Connector Commons bridges the public policy school and the Capitol Campus’s 500 First Street building, where you can collaborate on policy solutions with people working in the fields of health, climate, technology, education and human rights.
This living artwork — an outdoor garden patio designed by Maya Lin — connects you to the DC region’s natural ecology and urban surroundings. Its intentional sense of place invites the Georgetown community to gather, contemplate or just take in the view of the U.S. Capitol.
McCourt School in Action
Select graduate student leaders at Georgetown’s McCourt School of Public Policy will benefit from expanded professional development, enhanced networking resources and advanced training in equity-centered leadership, coaching and community-building.
Since 2014, the McCourt School of Public Policy’s competition has introduced graduate students across disciplines to the policymaking process.