26/02/2009 | Choosing a Graduate Program, Choosing a Grad School

View from the Top: The West Coast View on Public Policy

By: Tim Rogers

Pepperdine University celebrated its 70th birthday in 2007 and, in a relatively short period of time for a research-active university, has developed an international reputation in a number of areas, not least in the newest of the University’s five schools, the School of Public Policy. Located in the idyllic Californian beach suburb of Malibu, Pepperdine combines excellent academic programmes with a modern and, according to many, one of the most beautiful campuses in the world. Dr James R Wilburn, Dean of Pepperdine School of Public Policy, talks to topgradschool.com

The School of Public Policy at Pepperdine prides itself in its unique approach to studying one of the most interdisciplinary academic areas in today’s internationalized higher education environment. By placing the graduate student at the centre of the learning process, the School aims to equip its students with the conceptual and economic tools of analysis that are necessary for a successful career in the broad field of public policy. Where the curriculum additionally differs from other internationally renowned universities offering similar programmes is the emphasis Pepperdine places on the lives and ideas of history’s great thinkers. By incorporating what might be thought of as a more intellectual approach to what are often very practical problems, Pepperdine develops graduates who are highly sought after by the public and private sector alike.

“At Pepperdine, serious and searching students can find roots that will nourish them through a lifetime of service."

Dr James Wilburn, Dean of the School of Public Policy, firmly believes that placing the student at the heart of graduate education is one of the clearest ways of ensuring that what is taught in the classroom and the lecture hall actually makes a difference to people in their careers: “At Pepperdine, serious and searching students can find roots that will nourish them through a lifetime of service. Students with the analytical tools, the strength of moral purpose and clearly defined values that set them apart as leaders are the ones who can inspire and design organizations which create value for those they serve and make meaning for those that lead.”

An important part of the work undertaken by the School of Public Policy is the relationship the academic programme has with what might be termed the ‘real world’. Because of the nature of many of the careers that graduates go on to develop, such as those in government at all levels, volunteer organizations, not-for-profit organizations, business and the law, the academic curriculum is developed in such a way that students have the opportunity to meet leaders from various sectors to test their academic and intellectual knowledge with the reality of everyday situations. Dean Wilburn reflects that bringing students together with their future employers and colleagues is an increasingly important part of the role a successful graduate school has to play: “We have many potential employers visit our classes to discuss their areas of expertise and provide first-hand insights into life in the real world. Many recruit here, but beyond that, many are eager to share their expertise and to mentor our students, including international students, to give them a better idea of what may await them.”

International graduate students are particularly welcome at Pepperdine. With an increasing number of students from all parts of the world choosing to read their Masters and PhD programs in Malibu, the internationalization of the campus is a subject Dean Wilburn is particular passionate about: “From my own professional life I have friends on every continent who have been students with whom I have worked in the United States. But I continue to respect deeply the students I meet each Fall who have only been off the plane for a few hours on their first trip to the US and already are willing to risk and explore. They not only grow, but I always learn something from them as well. One of my closest friends was exiled from his homeland, required to flee for his life, but now is back under better circumstances as a leader in business and political affairs, with the new tools gained in his graduate degree in the US.”