This course introduces the study of public policy and the professional practice of policy analysis. Policy analysis, unlike program evaluation that emphasizes the evaluation of an existing program, focuses on providing analysis for policy actors who are making choices about what policies to promote, pass and implement. You will learn ways we justify policy interventions, including rational and ‘irrational’ perspectives, as well as rights-based approaches. You will also learn how to: 1) define a policy problem 2) describe policies and policy alternatives 3) develop an analysis framework, or a set of goals and outcomes 4) use evidence to effectively analyze existing and proposed policy alternatives. The class is designed to improve your analytical thinking, information gathering, and writing for effective communication in policy professions.
