The BA Project Seminar (PBPL 29500) focuses on critical writing about public policy. In the seminar, students zoom into substantive policy questions, analyze them using the knowledge and tools developed throughout their studies in the major, and convey their conclusions in a capstone project. The capstone project may take the form of a policy memo, book chapter, blog posts, or other types of publications. This Seminar is recommended for students who want to hone their skills in policy communication.

The BA Project Seminar (PBPL 29500) is a one-quarter course. Students typically will complete the Project Seminar in their fourth year, though students are eligible for the Seminar beginning in the Spring quarter of their third year. Multiple sections of the BA Project Seminar are offered over the course of each year, and vary in the substantive topics they cover. The capstone project is due at the end of the quarter in which students take the BA Project Seminar and it is graded by the Seminar instructor.

Chicago Through a Policy Lens 2.0

In the fall of 2023, eight fourth-year Public Policy Studies majors at the University of Chicago came together for their Capstone experience, a Project that would entail (among other undertakings) each of them writing a professional quality policy essay with a connection to Chicagoland. For most of the participants, their chosen topic was new to them, but a few months later, they were experienced hands. We are pleased to present their resulting essays below:

View the complete volume (PDF, 1.5MB)

Why 2.0? Academic year 2023/2024 marked the second iteration of the Chicagoland Policy Capstone! 

Explore the initial 2022/2023 compilation.