Technology Policy and Innovation
The Technology Policy and Innovation (TPI) Concentration develops the knowledge and skills necessary for private and public sector careers in technology, tech policy, innovation, and social impact.
The TPI Concentration offers rigorous and cutting-edge courses on a range of topics, including emerging technologies, ethical tech design, global media, AI for policymakers, solutions to online mis/disinformation, tech governance, and practical policy labs. TPI course offerings on innovation teach students how to start and grow social enterprises to solve global problems, identify funding sources, invest in and scale the ventures, and ensure financial profit with measurable social impact. The Concentration also provides tools and frameworks for evaluating social and societal impact and assessing relevant laws, norms, and regulations for their efficiency in facilitating transparency, accountability, and respect for digital rights.
The Concentration prepares students who plan to work in the private sector, government, nonprofits, international organizations, think tanks, or start their own NGOs or social enterprises. We prepare students to better understand the basics of emerging technologies and their effects, tech governance, and how innovative practices and new ways of thinking address entrenched social problems at the local and global level.
Who It’s For
TPI is right for students planning for careers in government, international organizations, the private sector, or looking to start their own NGOs or social enterprises. This Concentration is also ideal for students looking to work for think tanks or social and nonprofit sectors.
Curriculum and Courses
Our technology policy track includes essentials of emerging tech, AI for policymakers, solutions to online mis and disinformation, media policy lab, and practical skills courses.
Our innovation track focuses on three main areas — starting and growing new innovative social enterprises to solve global social problems, identifying innovative funding sources to invest in and scale the ventures while ensuring a double bottom line, and developing tools and frameworks for evaluating their social and societal impact.
Student Career Paths
Our students go on to work for governments, social media and tech companies (often in senior policy positions), in communications jobs, at think tanks, and in startups. Other alumni might start their own social ventures, work at impact investing funds or in innovative finance at large financial institutions. Additional possibilities include work in social impact measurement at foundations, NGOs, or in the public sector, or positions in ESG in the private sector.
Related Degree Programs
Designed for students looking to facilitate and lead international cooperation, the MIA equips students to understand international political and legal institutions, and develop the skills of conflict resolution, diplomacy, and inter-cultural competency necessary to achieve change on the worldwide stage.
Developed for students looking to lead the policymaking process, the MPA provides a data-rich analytical education, equipping students to understand policy challenges and to develop, implement, and evaluate policy solutions. The MPA is STEM-designated so that students in all policy domains will be eligible to apply for OPT extensions where relevant.
Contact Us
Sarah Holloway
Senior Lecturer in Discipline; Concentration Co-Director
IAB Room 803A | [email protected]
Anya Schiffrin
Senior Lecturer in Discipline of International and Public Affairs; Concentration Co-Director
IAB Room 1319 | [email protected]
Concentration Coordinator
TBA