This interdisciplinary course introduces the student to the key concepts of public policy, the policymaking process, the role of stakeholders and interest groups, and the basic dimensions policy analysis. Those concepts are then applied through a range of issues, such as the environment, clean energy, climate change, healthcare, cybersecurity, employment, privacy, telecommunications, and innovation, at local, state, federal and international levels.

This course focuses on the connections and interplay between personal and social values, ethics, and public policy. It explores how values and norms influence public policies and how the resulting expressions of values through public policies impact the implementation and effectiveness of policy choices. It also delves into how different countries make widely different policy choices based on their citizens’ values and social norms. The course also considers how new developments in science and technology influence the interplay between values, ethics, and policy across multiple issues. In addition, this course explores how to formulate values-based explanations of certain public policy preferences. Topics range across the policy issue spectrum.

Social policy is concerned with promoting the welfare of citizens, including issues such as poverty, health, housing, education, and unemployment, among others. Many contemporary social policies are justified on the grounds of equity, as well as other ethical considerations. In this class, we will look at policies that address social inequity, with a particular focus on socially disadvantaged and vulnerable populations. Special emphasis will be placed on understanding different dimensions of social equity in social policy debates at the federal, state, and local levels. We will utilize common ethical frameworks, such as justice, equality, fairness, and care, alongside other analysis tools, to examine these policies.Topics vary from year to year or term. Students may repeat the course, but may not repeat the topic. This course can be taken as part of the Public Policy minor and immersion or may be taken as an elective.

This project-based course represents the culminating educational experience for public policy degree students. In the course, students work to identify and analyze a real-world policy-related problem at the local, state, federal, or international level. Typically, projects are informed by, and delivered to, outside stakeholders or clients who work with the students to help formulate, structure, and/or carry out the project. Students work in a team environment under the guidance of a faculty adviser. Under special circumstances students may work individually with the approval of the program.

Allows examination of a special problem or topical area in the field of public policy. Topics and specific content and methods vary from year to year or term to term.

This course provides an in-depth look at key concepts in public management and governance. Starting with the basic structure of the U.S. Constitution, the course examines how the tensions facing public administrators and officials have changed over time in both public organizational theory and practice. Topics include public institution and organization theory, public budgeting, citizen engagement, e-government, public-private partnerships, collaboration and governance, and recent innovations in management practice. Class will include guest lectures from current public administrators.

The focus of this course is on evaluation of program outcomes and research design. Students will explore the questions and methodologies associated with meeting programmatic outcomes, secondary or unanticipated effects, and an analysis of alternative means for achieving program outcomes. Critique of evaluation research methodologies will also be considered.