Mission Statement

The Choices Program is a national education program designed to introduce substantive international content into the secondary school curriculum. It is a core program of the Watson Institute for International Studies at Brown University, a research institute that was established in 1985 to analyze contemporary global problems and develop initiatives to address them.

The Choices Program seeks to empower young people with the skills, habits, and knowledge necessary to be engaged citizens who are capable of addressing international issues through thoughtful public discourse and informed decision making.Our work grows out of the conviction that to fulfill our responsibility as citizens in a democratic society we must be cognizant of our nation’s relationship to the world around us, and the impact we have on that world. We believe that public participation shapes the policy decisions that define America’s role in the global society.

Our mission is to empower young people with the skills, habits, and knowledge necessary to be engaged citizens who are capable of addressing international issues through thoughtful public discourse and informed decision making.

Creating a bridge between the university and secondary education

All Choices programs engage students in exploration of complex international issues—both past and present—from multiple perspectives. Our resources and programs bring ground breaking research on critical turning points in history and pressing issues of today to secondary classrooms. In order to ensure high quality, balanced, and accurate materials and programs, Choices draws on the content expertise of scholars at the Watson Institute, Brown University, and a range of other universities and research institutions.