Interdisciplinary Curriculum

Students work on a policy game in class

Photo by Diane Baldwin/RAND Corporation

Pardee RAND students follow a rigorous, interdisciplinary program curriculum. The required courses are designed to provide our Ph.D. and M.Phil. students with a broad and solid base from which they may then tailor their academic experience. Woven through each of the courses, and the program overall, are a focus on social justice and racial equity, communications, ethics, and a global perspective.

Elective Courses

Students explore their particular interests and passions through a range of electives, policy design studios, and tutorials with Pardee RAND faculty and RAND research staff. M.Phil. students complete a minimum of 6 units of electives, plus 3 units of Experiential Learning Tutorials. Ph.D. students complete 9 units of electives, including Policy Engagement Stream requirements. (One unit is the equivalent of a 10-week course; a half-unit course is usually 5 weeks long.)

Through their electives and experiential learning, PhD. students fulfill their policy specialization. Additionally, some Ph.D. students choose to pursue an analytic concentration.

Elective course content is demand-driven based on student interest and is updated each year. Courses are generally offered every other year and are subject to change.

Click on a button below to see courses that have been offered in each area.