Plans for school of  social science, public policy taking shape

Toward its goal of becoming a top-tier national research university, Northeastern is planning to establish a school known as the School of Social Science, Urban Affairs, and Public Policy.

Strongly interdisciplinary and housed within the College of Arts and Sciences, the new school would build on the university’s existing social science departments and public policy centers and institutes.

To that already strong foundation, it would add new cross-department centers focused on such topics as quantitative methods in social science, Boston-area survey research, and geography and mapping. It would also forge a strong link with the School of Journalism, to create opportunities for academic cooperation between journalists and policymakers.

According to a proposal prepared by a faculty group led by Barry Bluestone, the director of Northeastern’s Center for Urban and Regional Policy, the school would aim to elevate the university’s social science programs to a point where they could help the university attain top-hundred standing in the U.S. News & World Report rankings.

The school’s proponents believe it could propel Northeastern to a leadership position in such areas as urban and regional development; labor studies; industry regulation; urban public health; urban education; environmental and science policy; international affairs; criminal justice; and race, ethnic, and gender equality.

“Northeastern could become the city of Boston’s premier university research partner,” the proposal states.

Many also believe the school would help the university attract top-ranked graduate social-science students and faculty, and forge stronger ties with surrounding neighborhoods and the larger Boston community.
Approved by Northeastern’s Faculty Senate in February, the plans await approval by the Board of Trustees.

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