This course seeks to make students sensitive to and articulate about the ways in which moral and political values come into play in the American policy process, particularly as they affect non-elected public officials who work in a world shaped...
The Applied Policy Seminar (APS) (now called Strategic Public Policy Consulting or SPPC) is an opportunity for students to conduct a semester-long faculty-supervised group consulting project for a real-world policy...
Policy seminars are open only to undergraduates enrolled in the Ford School. These small, interdisciplinary courses will focus on particular public policy issues as reflected in the title of the...
Policy seminars are open only to undergraduates enrolled in the Ford School. These small, interdisciplinary courses will focus on particular public policy issues as reflected in the title of the...
Detroit was the nation’s most important city in the Twentieth Century because of the the auto industry, the emergence of the blue collar middle class and development of the New Deal. Now it is the most negatively stereotyped city in the...
In this course, and largely borrowing on the experience of the professor as Trade Minister in a small, middle-income country, we will discuss the practical links between trade policy and the variety of issues that challenge poor societies in...
Is Congress too partisan? Can Congress fulfill its legislative and oversight functions? Do the executive and judicial branches effectively control public policy formulation? Have the State Legislatures become the true "laboratories of...
The main idea that we want to get across is implicit in the title: Systematic thinking - largely from the social sciences, but with the application of scientific methods and knowledge more generally - can make a significant difference in the way...
This course is designed to immerse students in a major research project of their own design. By the end of the two-semester course, students will be required to produce a polished paper, which can later be incorporated into their...
During the twentieth century, the U.S. both saw the development of a social welfare system to serve nonelderly families and a subsequent dramatic overhaul of the cash welfare part of that...
“Utopia” in Greek means both “good place” and “no place”—a paradise existing only in our imaginations. But no matter how theoretical or fanciful utopias may be, people still try to implement them, often with tragic...
The purpose of this course is to expose students to various perspectives on state and local policy in the U.S. through the lens of one especially topical policy area: development...
US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg joins the Ford School for a conversation on the Biden-Harris Administration’s record in transportation. January, 2025.
U-M faculty experts hold an election debrief and discussion, with whatever results are available, with J. Alex Halderman, Barbara L. McQuade, Vincent Hutchings, Javed Ali, and Mara Ostfeld. November, 2024.
Chuck Rocha looks at Latinx voting and how the 2024 presidential election and many down ballot races will rely heavily on this important voting population. October, 2024.
In a time of profound division, embracing diverse perspectives becomes a catalyst for meaningful change. How do we transcend boundaries to cultivate an environment committed to fostering honest, caring, and courageous conversations?
Two former governors, one Republican and one Democrat, considered moderates in their respective parties, discuss ways in which to have civil and civic discourse in an era of political divisiveness. October, 2024.
Recognizing the damage of such divisive posturing, Walsh and Guttenberg converse from opposite ends of the political spectrum and find common ground on contentious issues through respect, understanding, and a willingness to listen and learn.
This event explores the FBI's evolving role in safeguarding U.S. elections, focusing on the agency’s efforts to counter cyber threats, disinformation, and terrorism. September, 2024.
Experts will discuss the design and potential benefits of state-based single payer health insurance systems along with their economic and political challenges. September, 2024.
Voting rights activist Stacey Abrams addresses the challenges to American democracy, her work to guarantee voter access, and other civil rights battles facing the United States in 2024. April, 2024.
Five successful academicians from a variety of disciplines will discuss their work and perspectives regarding racial justice and public policy. April, 2024.
National social policy leader Cecilia Muñoz, in conversation with Ford School Dean Celeste Watkins-Hayes will reflect on her eight years in the Obama administration and domestic policy work on the Biden transition team. April, 2024.
