Harvard Kennedy School

About us

The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a graduate and professional school that brings together students, scholars and practitioners who combine thought and action to make the world a better place.

We believe that smart public policy and inspired public leadership can make people’s lives safer, more prosperous, and more fulfilling. Harvard Kennedy School teaches current and future leaders the skills they need to be effective in the private, public and nonprofit sectors. Our renowned faculty and trailblazing research centers pioneer bold new ideas. And as the most international school at Harvard, we convene an intellectual exchange among global leaders in the forum, visiting experts in the classroom and our diverse HKS community.

You can be part of this endeavor. Explore and learn more about Harvard Kennedy School.

History

It seems only fitting that the idea of a school of public affairs at Harvard came about during the Great Depression.

After all, if there was ever a time the government and its leaders needed to step in and make changes to the social contract, it was the Great Depression. (Indeed, you could hold it up as the ultimate case study for what public policy and public administration are all about.) That’s the environment in which the Harvard Kennedy School was created.

A new kind of institution

As the government grappled with historic challenges both domestic and international, Harvard alumnus Lucius N. Littauer backed his vision of a school for a new professional governing class with an unprecedented $2 million gift. At the time, it was the largest single gift from an individual donor ever given to a university.

Since then, HKS has stayed faithful to its mission of training and preparing bright, dedicated public servants whose goal is to improve the way the world works and the way it helps others.

Along the way we’ve built a campus, changed our name (twice), hosted countless world leaders, and made our mark in society through the tens of thousands of people who have graduated or earned certificates from HKS. Other notable facts:

We are one of the world’s most eminent social science research institutions—housing 15 research centers and institutes and more than 30 executive education and degree programs.

More than 46,000 HKS alumni reside in more than 200 countries and territories and serve in a wide range of positions in the public, private and nonprofit sectors.

Now more than ever

As nations struggle with poverty, corruption, hunger, human trafficking, environmental disasters and a host of other issues, the need for HKS graduates has never been more urgent. We equip people to solve the most wrenching problems, to untangle seemingly intransigent issues and to find answers where none are thought to exist. It is a proud legacy, one we that hope you will consider being a part of.

Student Life

Energy and activity, forward momentum and enthusiastic exchange. Our students are at the heart of it.

They are remarkable for their diversity of background, experience and thought—enriched by their differences and connected by a commitment to make the world a better place.

As an HKS student, you will be welcomed into a vibrant community representing some 100 countries and territories and every corner of the United States to form an intellectually curious and globally-minded cohort. Getting involved in the active life of the school is one of the surest ways to feel at home here. As a student at HKS, you can participate in more than 80 student-run organizations, ranging from the Student Public Service Collaborative to the Rowing Club. You can be part of eight student-led conferences, contribute to any of our 11 student publications, or commit to serving the HKS community through the Kennedy School Student Government.

Education

Master Program

The master’s programs at Harvard Kennedy School will inspire and prepare you to make a difference in the world by equipping you with the skills you need to improve public policy, pursue powerful ideas and advance your capacity to lead.

Harvard Kennedy School is the place to transform your desire to do good in the world into real, life-changing action.

Mid-Career Master in Public Administration

The one-year MC/MPA Program elevates the abilities of established professionals like you with real-world experience to take on bolder challenges.

Joint & Concurrent Degrees

As an MPP, MPA/ID or MPA student, you can explore how the world’s challenges can be addressed at the intersection of business, law, medicine, design or other fields.

Doctoral Program

You see today’s most compelling global issues as complex, interrelated and urgent. You believe that fresh ideas—and research to carry them through—are critical to building stronger communities and a more just world.

In collaboration with Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Harvard Kennedy School immerses you in rigorous learning that bridges academic disciplines and draws from leading faculties across the university’s graduate schools. When you pursue a doctoral degree at HKS, you are among extraordinarily bright minds, you’ll work with committed faculty members who are leaders in their fields, and you’ll have unparalleled access to resources across Harvard University.

Prepare yourself for a career in academia or policy making that demands advanced knowledge of economics, political science and social policy. Translate your ideas into action that can untangle our world’s unprecedented challenges.

Executive Education

Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education convenes thinkers and doers from around the globe who are committed to advancing the public interest. Our executive programs—most one week or less—are developed with you in mind and offer the opportunity to step outside of your day-to-day routine to focus on global issues and sustainable solutions. Reach beyond your current knowledge and skills, expand your thinking, strengthen your ability to lead and reenergize your drive to make a difference.

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