P POL 501 Introduction to Policy Analysis Models of policy analysis, defining
policy problems and policy analysis questions, overview of courses and their
interaction.
P POL 502 Policy Process Models of public policy making, interaction
of politics and policy making institutions, political contexts in which policy
analysis takes place.
P POL 505 Normative Theories of Policy Analysis Alternative norms and
values used in making policy choices; policy analysis and public philosophies
and theories of the role of government in society and the scope of policy
making.
P POL 599R Internship A substantive policy related internship,
usually during the Spring/Summer terms following the first year. Syllabus
P POL 603 Data Analysis I Introduction to descriptive and
inferential statistics, hypothesis testing, distribution theory, linear
regression techniques, research design, and issues of sampling and data
collection relevant to policy analysis. (Students having taken Econ 388
or Plsc 328 can waive this requirement).
P POL 604 Data Analysis II Quantitative data collection and
analysis, use of statistical software packages, spreadsheets, and other
analytic tools.
P POL 611 Policy Analysis I Introduction to applied cost-benefit
analysis and methods of measuring economic values such as indirect market measures,
hedonic indices and contingent valuation, limitations of standard techniques as
well as the incorporation of cost-benefit measures within a broader policy
making context which includes policy evaluation under different social norms
and under alternative assumptions about the objectives of individual policy
makers; policy evaluation under conditions of uncertainty.
P POL 612 Policy Analysis II Advance techniques of policy analysis,
such as decision theory, game theory, optimization models, and other social
choice methods.
P POL 613 Field Experience Design and implementation of a policy
analysis project in consultation with a local governmental or nonprofit agency
or organization, using a variety of policy analysis tools and methods.
P POL 615 Graduate Seminar Continuation of Field Experience project; preparation and presentation of final report.
All students must complete an economics proficiency requirement
consisting of the following courses:
1. Econ 380 (Intermediate
Microeconomics, part 1)
2. Econ 381 (Intermediate
Macroeconmics) or Econ 382 (Intermediate Microeconomics, part2)
3. Econ 475 (Public
Economics) or P MGT 622 (Government Finance)
These courses are required for completion of the master's degree, but are not counted towards the 48 total hours, although Econ 475 and P MGT can be counted as an elective with prior approval. Students are encouraged to begin completing these courses before enrolling in the graduate program, and these courses may be applied towards completion of a bachelor's degree. D credit in these courses will not be accepted.
Students must complete an emphasis of
4-6 classses that is approved in advance by the Graduate Director.
Currently approved emphases include
1. Education Policy
2. Health and Aging Policy
3. Natural Resource and Environmental Policy
4. Family and Social Policy
5. International Development
6. Policy Research Methods
7. Public Economics