The Watson School of International and Public Affairs is home to a vibrant network of faculty and policy practitioners, leading educational programs, and a growing number of research centers and initiatives that foster globally-focused research and support extensive programming. As Brown University’s new policy school, it serves as the central home on campus for teaching, research, and public engagement around the world’s most complex policy challenges. The school builds on research strengths in security, governance and development, established by Brown’s Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs and the Center for International Studies that preceded it. 

The Watson School is uniquely embedded within a university ecosystem dedicated to innovative education and exceptional research. With jointly appointed faculty across a growing number of disciplines, Watson faculty produce research that is cutting edge in their respective fields, yet transcends traditional academic boundaries through their involvement with the Watson School. Every day, Watson community members participate in a collaborative process, discussing and debating pressing global issues, ranging from security to international development and economic inequality, while drawing upon multiple perspectives informed by a diversity of ideas and experiences. 

The Watson School is dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge and understanding through hands-on, policy-focused learning experiences that enable students to develop professional skills and expertise. Home to a rigorous Master of Public Affairs (MPA) program, a thriving undergraduate concentration, a Military Fellows program, a postdoctoral fellows program, and opportunities for Brown Ph.D. students, the Watson School is driven by the conviction that policy solutions informed by rigorous research can change systems and societies for the better.