Pathways to Public Service

This one-unit lecture series explores potential careers in public service, including roles in government as well as in many other organizations; such as nonprofits, foundations, corporations, and arts organizations that help shape public policy and civic life. Each week, a guest speaker will introduce students to his or her organization and role, describe some of the key intellectual issues and current policy challenges, discuss career paths and skills crucial for the job, and help students reflect on possible connections between this work and their studies at Stanford. In an interactive concluding session, students will participate in a career assessment activity, reflect on possible next steps, and learn about other opportunities to explore public service at Stanford. This course is open to all students, including not only those studying political science or public policy, but also the arts, humanities, sciences, and engineering. It is co-sponsored by the School of Humanities and Sciences and Stanford in Government (SIG).