The Center for Values and Social Policy was founded in 1980 in order to bring the resources of philosophical analysis to bear on matters of social philosophy. The Philosophy Department, through the Center, offers B.A, M.A., and Ph.D. degrees with a concentration in values and social policy. These programs are designed to help students acquire both the philosophical skills and the broad understanding of public issues required to participate effectively in policy discussions and social research. The Center also conducts research; sponsors lectures, conferences, and has a visiting fellows program; publishes working papers and a newsletter; and collaborates with professionals from other departments and institutions. The concerns of the Center include both theoretical and applied topics in moral, social, political, and legal philosophy. The Center is unique among ethics centers in that it is tied directly to the philosophy department and so encourages robust debate not only on the applied questions, but also on foundational metaethical concerns.