Course Descriptions

• Core Courses

  Core Courses

   3 credits each

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  Public Policy Analysis and Evaluation

  This course concentrates on the strategies and methods of public policy analysis and evaluation. Students debate the merits of proposed solutions to various policy issues and discover the political constraints on the policy making process. Skills stressed in the course include cost-benefit analysis, program evaluation, and basic microeconomics.

  Introductory Statistics

  This course acquaints students with statistics. It begins with the basics of applied statistical analysis, including probability and hypothesis testing, and builds to simple regression analysis. Requires use of computer packages.

  Intermediate Statistics

  This course utilizes multiple regression analysis and explores violations of the linear model. Requires use of computer.

• Example Elective Policy Courses

  Example Elective Policy Courses

  3 credits each

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  State and Local Public Budgeting and Finance

  This course develops the rationale for public taxation and spending programs with a focus on state and local governments. It examines the role of public finance in the economy, and explores the use of program and functional budgets, capital and operating budgets, intergovernmental expenditures, etc.

  Behavioral Economics & Public Policy

  People often behave in ways that deviate from classical economic theories. This course helps students learn about these deviations and to construct public policies around such empirical regularities

  Survey Research Methods

  This course studies the techniques of survey research and their application in the development of public policies. Topics include survey design, survey population sampling, use of survey data to frame policy choices and attitudes towards existing policies.

  Administrative Law for Policy Analysts

  This course examines the role of administrative law in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of public policy. The role of legislation such as the Administrative Procedures Act is explored. Actual cases are analyzed, as well as the broader set of precedents that have emerged in federal, state, and local administrative law proceedings.

  Regional Planning

  This course addresses the planning process as a decision-making tool in the implementation of public policy in housing, land-use, transportation, and environmental management. The course also investigates intergovernmental relations and the impact of citizen participation on policy changes.

  Environmental Politics and Policy

  Federal environmental policies, such as the National Environmental Policy Act, the Coastal Zone Management Act, and the Federal Pure Waters Management Act are examined in this course. The policies, politics and administrative activities of federal, state, and local levels are considered. Finally, the interaction of the public sector, the private sector, and citizen groups in the implementation of environmental policy is discussed.

  Health Economics

  The course provides an overview of general economic principles, an understanding of how markets function, and why markets fail in order to understand the effects of economic principles on health care and the effect of health policy and economic forces on the health care delivery system. Students will be taught to use economic concepts to analyze health policy in its ability to improve the delivery of health care services.

• Capstone Experience

  Capstone Experience

  6-credit internship or thesis 

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  Capstone Preparation Seminar 

  This course introduces students to the various paths students may take to complete the M.A. in Public Policy (MAPP) program. This course is a prerequisite for POL 597 and POL 598.

  One credit.
  
  

  AND

  Capstone Internship in Public Policy

  This course is an applied internship in a public, not-for-profit, or private sector organization that deals with public policy. The student works in the organization and prepares a daily journal of activities, as well as a paper at the conclusion of the course, applying program knowledge to the internship activities.

  6 credits.
  
  

  OR

  Capstone Thesis Project in Public Policy

  This course is primarily for students already employed in related field. In lieu of internship, student completes a Master's project which goes beyond their normal employment duties to apply theory and methods to a particular policy issue.

  6 credits.