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MDR/MPP Joint Degree Policy Seminar (Capstone)

The Policy Seminar in the final semester permits students to develop and present a major public program design and implementation plan using a real situation in an actual agency, either global, national, state, or local. Students develop a clearly focused mission, a strategic plan for the undertaking, and an implementation plan which acknowledges various interest groups who must "buy in" for the project to be successful. This requires personnel planning, a budget plan, and a clear method for securing approvals from all interested parties whose "ownership" is critical for its success. The results are presented to a board of visitors which includes academics and real-world agency leaders. Students are expected to be able to identify, verbalize, and experience in an authentic way clearly stated personal values as well as technical expertise.

The Capstone project was designed to provide an integrative experience through student efforts in developing an actual program or public policy. The students assumed all aspects of completing the policy paper, from selecting the topic, dividing the task to research and writing of the policy solutions. To develop leadership skills further, this project was completed as a team exercise that was reviewed and evaluated not only by faculty, but also by government officials and key representatives of constituencies affected by the policy.

All projects are in Adobe Acrobat format.

2007 PROJECTS

Deliberative Democracy

Economics of Criminal Justice Reforms

Education Policy

U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East

2006 PROJECTS

Education Reform in the 21st Century

National Security in the Middle East

Saving Lives in Disaster: Improving the Integration of Faith Communities in Disaster Response in Los Angeles

Science Technology Policies: Exploring the Widespread Impact on American Society

2005 PROJECTS

A United States National Security Strategy for Eurasia

Higher Ed in the Red: Preserving Access to California's Community Colleges

National Security Strategy for Europe

The Past, Present, and Future of Malibu Housing

The United States Security Strategy for Asia

Title IX and Intercollegiate Athletics: Mitigating the Unintended Consequences of the Three-part Test

2004 PROJECTS

Crisis in California: Reforming Workers' Compensation

Federal Options for Increasing the Quality of Housing Available To Low Income Households

Malaria Interdiction In Kenya

Preventing Humanitarian Disaster In China-Combating HIV-AIDS in Yunnan China

Project Relief-Alleviating Federal Severely Distressed Public Housing

Three Years After the California Energy Crisis-A Plan to Avoid Future Shortages

2003 PROJECTS

Rescuing California's Troubled Schools: Can Contracting Address the Problems Facing California's Failing Schools?

Recapturing Voter Intent: The Nonpartisan Primary in California

One Nation Under Threat: Securing the United States from the Entry of Terrorists

Finding Permanent Homes for Adoptable Children: Removing the Barriers to Interstate Adoption

2002 PROJECTS

Stem Cell Research-Looking Ahead

Reshaping California's Character Education Code

On the Origin of Controversies: Improving California Science Standards for K-12 Education

Reigning in Iran: Reducing the State Sponsorship of Terrorism in the Mideast

Emerging Opportunities: A Freetrade Framework for ASEAN and China

2001 PROJECTS

A Blueprint for NAFTA: The United States, Chile and the Future of the North America Free Trade Agreement

Two Cheers for Charitable Choice: Navigating the Pitfalls of Faith Based Partnerships with Government

Alleviating U.S. Dependence on OPEC

Energy Crisis in California: Options for the Future

2000 PROJECTS

Ending the War on Tobacco: Moving Toward a Tolerant Public Policy

Rethinking Cuba: The Maturation of United States Foreign Policy

1999 PROJECTS

E-Commerce and Taxation: A Plan for California