Policy Review @ Berkeley is a peer-reviewed, undergraduate journal at the Goldman School of Public Policy (GSPP). It was founded in 2017 as a direct response to the absence of a dedicated policy journal for undergraduates at the University of California, Berkeley. While graduate students had platforms to publish and share their work in public policy, undergraduates lacked a similar space. This gap led a group of motivated undergraduates to establish an avenue where their voices and research in public policy could be cultivated and showcased. Policy Review @ Berkeley created this platform dedicated to publishing undergraduate public policy research and to making policy discourse more accessible to undergraduates.
Following the journal’s establishment, the founders introduced a Democratic Education at Cal course, commonly known as a “DeCal.” This course, taught by fellow undergraduates and hosted by GSPP, was designed to complement the journal. It offers students credit toward a minor in public policy and covers various aspects of public policy fields. The course includes an introduction to policy writing, guest speaker sessions, and stimulated policy debates. Students participating in the course have the opportunity to have their op-eds considered for publication in the online journal. This provides a practical outlet for students to apply what they learned and gain real-world experience in policy analysis and writing.
Policy Review @ Berkeley, through its journal and associated DeCal course, has since played a pivotal role in nurturing and showcasing undergraduate talent in the field of public policy at UC Berkeley. It stands as a testament to the initiative and capability of undergraduates to contribute meaningfully to policy discourse.