BA in International and Public Affairs - Development in Providence United States | Brown University

The International and Public Affairs concentration prepares students to become informed global participants through comprehensive knowledge and practical skills. This program features three specialized pathways: Development, Policy & Governance, and Security. Students complete a foundational sequence of five core courses, starting with thematic introductory lectures (recommended for first or second years), progressing through mandatory junior and senior seminars (with an honors thesis option for qualifying students to fulfill the senior requirement). Participants select one specialization track: Development examines human progress across local and global contexts in both developing and industrialized regions; Security analyzes safety concerns at various scales; while Policy and Governance investigates public policy creation, execution, and assessment alongside the institutions that shape these policies.

All concentrators specialize in one track: Development, Policy & Governance, or Security. Each track requires an introductory course establishing key concepts, followed by five elective choices. Embracing the Open Curriculum philosophy, students have significant flexibility in selecting electives, allowing focus on specific nations, regions, or thematic areas (such as equity studies, humanitarian efforts, arms control, or economic growth). Track advisors offer structured curriculum recommendations to facilitate coherent knowledge building.

The Development Track focuses on enhancing living conditions, well-being, and economic advancement.