History of the MIP Program

The Ford Dorsey Master’s in International Policy (MIP) celebrates its 40th anniversary. Established in 1982 to prepare the next generation of leaders for public and private sector careers in international policymaking and implementation, it is unique for its location on the West Coast, its small class size, and its ethos of innovation and interdisciplinarity. Each cohort has 25-30 students from approximately 10-15 countries with an average work experience of 4.5 years. As of 2022, there are 939 graduates.  

 

The program was created to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to analyze and address complex global challenges in a rapidly changing world. It aims to prepare students for leadership careers in international policy, diplomacy, development, and business.

 

The program curriculum effectively draws upon Stanford and the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies’ (FSI) world-class faculty and multidisciplinary culture, breadth of teaching across theory and practice, and interdisciplinary research capacity. The program offers its master’s students a unique education to examine, understand, and solve complex real-world problems.

 

Originally, it was established as a one-year Master of Arts degree program known as International Policy Studies. The program was administered in the Lou Henry Hoover Building by a faculty committee, including Elie Abel (Communication), Walter Falcon (Food Research), Steve Krasner (Political Science), Robert Ward (Center for Research in International Studies), and John Wirth (History).  

 

Beginning in 1987, Barton J. Bernstein (History) assumed the directorship of the program when it moved into the Main Quadrangle, Stanford’s oldest part of campus and the hallmark of the university. Professor Bernstein directed the program for almost a decade and at some point the acronym “IPS” took hold. Judith Goldstein (Political Science) guided the program into its next phase, directing it from the late 90s into the early 00s, followed by Norman Naimark (History). In 2005, the newly established Division of International, Comparative and Area Studies (ICA) and FSI assumed joint responsibility for IPS. Judith Goldstein returned as co-director along with Coit Blacker (FSI).  

 

In 2006, the program received a generous endowment from Susan Ford Dorsey. Stephen Stedman (FSI) became the director and was tasked to lead the redevelopment of the newly titled Ford Dorsey Program in International Policy Studies into a two-year degree. He guided significant innovations that highlighted the value of a two-year course of study, including a practical experience capstone, a study trip, and areas of specialization that aligned with the programs and centers at FSI. Additionally, Professor Stedman established joint degrees with the Stanford Law School and the Public Policy Program. IPS welcomed its first two-year cohort in September 2007, so this year also marks the 15th anniversary of the Ford Dorsey Program.  

 

In 2010, Kathryn Stoner (FSI) assumed directorship. She leveraged FSI to provide more opportunities for students, in particular research assistantships with FSI faculty and engagement in FSI programming and events. Additionally, Professor Stoner collaborated with the Graduate School of Business to formalize a dual degree with the MBA program. During this time IPS received a generous donation from Susan McCaw to establish the Stanford-Vienna Academic Exchange with the Vienna School of International Studies.  

 

In 2017, Michael McFaul, Director of FSI, led the process of moving IPS into the institute as part of his goal to increase FSI’s teaching and learning mission. McFaul noted, “Our home at Stanford ensures that FSI is ideally positioned to address the next generation of global problems and prepare the next generation of problem solvers for decades to come.” 

 

With FSI as the program’s new administrative home, Professors McFaul and Stoner, director and deputy director respectively, established a faculty committee to redesign the curriculum and rename the program. At the time, Professor Stoner noted, “We are meeting the demands of the shifting policy landscape with innovative new courses and graduates who dare to think differently. In this sense the program is quintessentially Stanford.”

 

Highlights of the newly-titled Ford Dorsey Master’s in International Policy (MIP) include the two-quarter “Policy Change Studio” capstone course which incorporates a fully-funded field research trip, a new area of specialization in cyber policy and security, and a curriculum comprising both hard and soft skills. The Master of Arts degree continues to be granted by the School of Humanities and Sciences.

 

Francis Fukuyama became the director beginning in the 2019-20 academic year. He and Jeremy Weinstein (Political Science) developed the MIP Problem-Solving Framework, an innovative, multi-disciplinary, and iterative guide for solving public policy problems in the real world. Students learn and use the framework as a guide when working in small teams with external partner organizations to solve real world problems during the capstone. As Professor Fukuyama stated, “We aim to teach students to be good policy analysts and changemakers – leaders who are able to take policies and make them happen.

 

In late 2019, MIP moved into a remodeled, multifunctional space in Encina Hall. MIP also established a formal dual degree with the Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources.

 

The MIP program continues to evolve and adapt to the changing global landscape, with a commitment to providing students with the skills and knowledge necessary to address the most pressing international policy challenges of our time. 

 

A celebration was held for alumni, students, and the broader MIP and FSI community on May 8, 2023, featuring a directors panel, a conversation on geopolitics, and a reception.