Harris Public Policy Launches Evening MA with 1871

The University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy today announced the launch of the Harris Public Policy Evening Master’s Program at 1871. Students who enroll in this four quarter, part-time degree program will earn an MA in Public Policy, gaining a solid foundation in the fundamentals of data analytics, economic analysis, leadership and the strategic foundations of public policy. Classes start in January 2018 and will be taught by Harris faculty at 1871, Chicago’s center for entrepreneurship and technology.

“Never has there been a more interesting time to be in policy; the challenges may be complex, but our tools to solve them are more powerful than ever,” said Kerwin Charles, interim dean at Harris Public Policy. “As demand grows for the kind of evidence-based approach for which Harris is known, we’re excited to offer this new degree program to emerging leaders in Chicago who are looking to lead their organizations and make a measurable impact on our city—and the world.”

To mark the launch of the new Evening Master’s Program, Harris Public Policy will host a variety of events at 1871 as part of its Summer of Social Impact Series, exploring the vital role data and analytics play in making a social impact on issues facing Chicago—from crime and policing to education, health, municipal finance and more. 

“Harris and 1871 share an entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for innovative thinking, data and technology, making this an ideal partnership and location for the Evening Master’s Program,” said Misho Ceko, chief operating officer at Harris. “By combining our world-class faculty with 1871’s dynamic facility, students will gain access to the latest technology and social science methods to design policies that work for society.”

The Harris Public Policy Evening Master’s Program at 1871 is an ideal fit for mid-career professionals in the policy sphere who want to sharpen their analytical toolkit or for those in related fields, such as business or law, who may already have a graduate degree and want to gain a policy perspective as they take on more leadership responsibility. Classes take place on nights and weekends, making the program adaptable to work, family and other responsibilities. Students are able to complete their degree in four quarters of study while working full-time. Classes are taught at 1871, and students receive a membership to the innovative tech hub as part of the program, offering access to state of the art resources and unique networking opportunities.

1871 is home to hundreds of companies, many of which are focused on making a social impact through technology solutions. Social impact is built into the membership experience at 1871; the tech hub routinely hosts panels and workshops on a variety of topics that engage important social issues and consistently seeks to foster inclusion and diversity throughout Chicago’s tech community.

“1871 is the perfect home for this innovative MA program from Harris Public Policy,” said 1871 COO Tom Alexander. “An environment as diverse and future-focused as 1871 provides an interesting and vibrant setting for public policy studies, and we are thrilled to partner on this endeavor. Educational programs and training have grown into a major part of the 1871 business model, and we look forward to welcoming the students, making connections and creating opportunities together. ”

Future students may now begin applying to the Harris Evening Master’s Program. Interested candidates are encouraged to meet with Harris and network with other emerging leaders in Chicago at one of our upcoming events at 1871.  

For more than 25 years, the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy has been redefining what it means to be a public policy school, shifting the conception of public policy from an ideology, reliant on politics and pedigree, to a science rooted in data and impact. Today, Harris Public Policy is the intellectual home to more than 3,000 alumni who are part of a global network of data-minded leaders who are making a social impact across the public, private and nonprofit sectors. 1871 is committed to offering programming that contributes to democratizing education at all levels. Recently, CEO Howard A. Tullman taught entrepreneurship to ninth graders at Walter H. Dyett High School for the Arts—a model for spreading entrepreneurship to high school students throughout the city—and the company was awarded a grant from the Blackstone Charitable Foundation to support sharing its programming and educational content digitally throughout Chicago.

To learn more about the Harris Public Policy Evening Master’s Program at 1871 or to refer a candidate, please visit harris.uchicago.edu/eveningprogram. 

About Harris Public Policy

Driven by the belief that there’s a science to social impact, Harris Public Policy is home to fearless thinkers who want to turn their passion for doing good into measurable results. We question the status quo and face the facts of the world’s most complex challenges—gathering and understanding the data of how things are, in order to make things better. Combining real-world engagement in Chicago and beyond with the latest technology and social science, we empower a new generation of leaders from all sectors to make smarter, data-driven decisions and drive positive change throughout our global society.

About 1871

1871 is the home of nearly 500 early-stage, high-growth digital startups and more than 1,500 members supported by an entire ecosystem focused on accelerating their growth and creating jobs in the Chicagoland area. Visit www.1871.com for more information. Located in a 150,000 square-foot space over four floors in The Merchandise Mart, 1871 has more than 400 current mentors available to its members, as well as more than 80 partner corporations, universities, education programs, accelerators, venture funds and other organizations that make its extensive matrix of resources possible. For more on our partners, visit www.1871.com/about/partners, or become a partner by reaching out to contact@1871.com.