Serra Project Partners with USC

Academic study benefits both

Los Angeles, CA, March 15, 2003—Each year, graduate students from the University of Southern California's School of Policy, Planning and Development venture out into the community to fulfill their degree requirements. At the master's level, this means combining theory with practice and experiential with professional learning by studying a policy or an organization up close.

As one of the host clients for the Policy Analysis Practicum—the capstone course for the Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree—The Serra Project has been honored to participate in just such a study. The practicum requires students to analyze various complex policy problems requiring both technical expertise and political and organizational reasoning. Supervised by Dr. Juliet Musso, the three-month-long project, which began in January, will conclude with a detailed report that will assist us in our strategic planning process.

The School of Policy, Planning and Development is involved in areas ranging from health care management, policy analysis and public sector management to urban planning, sustainable communities and real estate and urban development. It was established in 1998 when USC merged its School of Public Administration with Urban Planning and Development.

This project is just one way The Serra Project connects with the community for the mutual benefit of each. We look forward to a continuing partnership with USC.