Harvard Kennedy School facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Harvard Kennedy School

Coat of arms
Motto	Ask what you can do
Type	Private nonprofit public policy school
Established	1936; 89 years ago (1936)
Parent institution	Harvard University
Endowment	$1.7 billion (2021)
Dean	Douglas Elmendorf
Academic staff	250
Postgraduates	1,100
Location	Cambridge , Massachusetts , United States 42°22′17″N 71°07′19″W / 42.37139°N 71.12194°W / 42.37139; -71.12194
Campus	Urban

The Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) is a special school at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It's officially called the John F. Kennedy School of Government. This school teaches people how to work in government and solve big problems in the world.

Students at HKS can earn different master's degrees. These degrees help them learn about public policy, which is how governments make decisions. They also learn about public administration, which is how governments are run. Some students focus on international development, which means helping countries grow and improve. The school also offers special programs for leaders.

HKS does a lot of research. They study politics, how governments work, how countries interact, and economics. Many people who graduate from Harvard Kennedy School become important leaders. This includes 21 heads of state or government leaders from around the world. That's more than any other graduate school!

The main campus is in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It's near the Charles River and not far from the main Harvard University area.

History of the School

The Littauer Center, the first home of Harvard Kennedy School from 1936 to 1978

The new Littauer Center at Harvard Kennedy School, built in 1978

The Belfer Building at Harvard Kennedy School

How it Started

The school began in 1936. It was first called the Harvard Graduate School of Public Administration. A man named Lucius Littauer gave $2 million to start it. He was a Harvard graduate and a former U.S. Congressman.

The school's shield, which is like its symbol, was made to look like the U.S. shield. This showed the school's goal to serve the nation. The first teachers came from Harvard's other departments. The first students started in 1937.

The school's first building was the Littauer Center. It's now used by Harvard's Economics Department. The first students were called Littauer Fellows. They took a one-year course. This course later became the school's program for mid-career professionals. In the 1960s, the school started its main public policy degree program.

New Name and Location

In 1966, the school changed its name. It was renamed in honor of John F. Kennedy. He was a U.S. President and a Harvard graduate. He had been assassinated three years earlier.

Also in 1966, the Harvard Institute of Politics was created. It has been on the school campus since 1978. This institute hosts programs and speeches for students. It also holds the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum.

By 1978, the school's programs and research centers moved to the current campus. The first new building opened in October 1978. The campus still has a building called Littauer, named after the original donor.

Modern Changes and Growth

In 2007, the school started calling itself Harvard Kennedy School. This was to make its connection to Harvard clearer. It also helped avoid confusion with other places named after Kennedy. Senator Edward M. Kennedy, John F. Kennedy's brother, supported this change.

In 2012, Harvard Kennedy School announced a big plan to raise money. Part of this money was used to make the campus much larger. They added new classrooms, a dining area, offices, and study spaces. The construction started in 2015 and finished in 2017. The new campus opened in December 2017.

From 2004 to 2015, David T. Ellwood was the dean of the school. In 2015, Douglas Elmendorf became the new dean. He used to lead the U.S. Congressional Budget Office.

What Students Learn

Degrees Offered

Harvard Kennedy School offers four main master's degree programs.

• The two-year Master in Public Policy (MPP) program teaches students about analyzing policies. They also learn about economics, management, and how to negotiate.
• There are three Master in Public Administration (MPA) programs. One is for professionals who have worked for many years. Another is for those who have an advanced degree and are newer to their careers. The third is a two-year program focused on economic development.

Many students in the mid-career MPA program are called Mason Fellows. They are leaders from developing countries. This group of students is very diverse. It's named after Edward Sagendorph Mason, a former dean of the school.

Besides master's degrees, the school also has three doctoral programs. These are for students who want to do advanced research. They can earn Ph.D. degrees in public policy, social policy, or health policy.

Studying at Other Schools

Harvard Kennedy School has programs that let students earn degrees from more than one school. Students can study at other Harvard schools. These include Harvard Business School and Harvard Law School. They can also take courses at MIT Sloan School of Management.

Courses at HKS

The school has six academic divisions. Each division has a faculty chair. Students can choose courses from many different areas. They can also take classes at other graduate schools at Harvard.

MPP students choose a main area of focus, called a Policy Area of Concentration (PAC). In their second year, they work on a big research project. This project is called a Policy Analysis Exercise. It's like a master's thesis.

School Rankings

Harvard Kennedy School is often ranked as one of the best public policy schools in the world. U.S. News & World Report has ranked it very highly. For example, it's been ranked as the best for social policy and health policy. It's also ranked high for public policy analysis.

The school's programs in foreign affairs are also highly rated. Foreign Policy magazine often lists them among the top international relations programs.

Student Life

Harvard Kennedy School's women's rowing team on the Charles River

Students at Harvard Kennedy School have many activities. There are student groups based on interests. There's also a student government called KSSG. Students can write for policy journals like Kennedy School Review. They also have a student newspaper called The Citizen. There are even student sports groups.

Students can also join the Harvard Graduate Council. This is the main student government for all of Harvard's graduate schools. It helps students share their ideas with university leaders. It also organizes events for all graduate students.

Research Centers

Harvard Kennedy School has 14 different research centers. These centers focus on many important topics. Some examples include:

• Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation (about democracy)
• Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs (about science and global issues)
• Carr Center for Human Rights Policy (about human rights)
• Center for Public Leadership (about leadership)
• Institute of Politics (about politics)
• Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy (about media and politics)

Most of these centers offer special research opportunities. Fellows can work on projects and share their experiences with students.

Awards and Recognition

The Robert F. Kennedy Award for Excellence in Public Service is given to a graduating student. This award recognizes students who have done amazing work in public service. Other awards are also given out each year.

Famous People at HKS

Notable Faculty

Many well-known people teach at Harvard Kennedy School. They include experts in politics, economics, and international affairs. Some have worked in government or advised leaders.

Notable Alumni

Over 63,000 people have graduated from Harvard Kennedy School. Many of them have become famous leaders around the world. They work in government, business, and other important fields.

Heads of Government and State

Many HKS graduates have become presidents or prime ministers of their countries.

Government Officials

Many graduates work in high-level government jobs.

Elected Federal Officials

Some alumni become members of their country's parliament or congress.

State and City Officials

Graduates also serve in state and local governments.

Academia

Many alumni become university presidents, deans, or professors.

Arts

Some graduates have careers in the arts.

Business

Alumni also lead major companies and organizations.

Media

Some graduates become journalists or authors.

Military

Many HKS alumni have served as high-ranking military officers.

Non-profit Organizations

Graduates also lead non-profit groups that work for good causes.

Science

• Susan C. Gardner, Environment scientist

See also

In Spanish: Escuela Harvard Kennedy para niños

• List of memorials to John F. Kennedy
• Public policy school