Public Policy Sequence

1. Quantitative Requirement (1 course)

One course selected from:

• ECON120 CM - Statistics
• ECON125 CM - Econometrics
• GOVT055 CM - Introduction to Research Methods in Political Science
• Another college-level statistics course with permission of the sequence director

2. Analytical Requirement (1 course)

One course selected from:

• ECON097 CM - Public Policy Analysis / GOVT097 CM - Public Policy Analysis  
• ECON186 CM - Public Economics and Welfare

3. Process Requirement (1 course)

One course on the public policy process, including problem identification, agenda setting, policy formation, budgeting, implementation, evaluation, and the roles of various institutions and political actors in policymaking, selected from:

• GOVT101 CM - The United States Congress
• GOVT116 CM - Public Policy Process
• GOVT118 CM - The Processes of Environmental Policymaking / ECON 118 CM - The Processes of Environmental Policymaking  
• GOVT126A CM - Federal Budget Process
• GOVT126B CM - Problems in Public Policy
• GOVT149 CM - Foreign Relations of the United States
• GOVT150 CM - U.S. National Security Policy

4. Breadth Requirement (1 course)

One approved policy-related elective .

5. Capstone Requirement (1 course)

• GOVT100 CM - Policy Lab

6. Experiential Requirement

• GOVT030 CM - Washington Internship (Washington, D.C. Internship Program course)

• or

• An approved CMC internship with the permission of the sequence director; both the organization’s mission and the nature of the student’s work must relate to public policy

Learning Goals

In this sequence, students will learn to:

• Apply tools and concepts from economics and political science to the analysis of policy issues,
• Use quantitative and qualitative evidence to develop policy recommendations,
• Communicate complex ideas clearly and persuasively in written and oral forms, and
• Develop other professional skills including project management and teamwork.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the sequence, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the public policy process, including problem identification, agenda setting, policy formation, budgeting, implementation, evaluation, and the roles of various institutions and political actors in policy-making;
• Evaluate the ways in which policies make trade-offs among competing values and the extent to which they arise from and fulfill differing conceptions of justice and the common good;
• Demonstrate a detailed understanding of applied economic concepts related to policy analysis such as market failure, moral hazard, and adverse selection;
• Gather policy information, create data sets, and produce clear visualizations to convey quantitative information;
• Use, and critically evaluate others’ use of, quantitative and analytical tools including statistical inference, regression analysis, program evaluation, and cost-benefit analysis;
• Compose written policy reports and memoranda, and deliver oral presentations, to a professional standard; and
• Manage complex projects, communicate professionally with clients, and work collaboratively in teams.

Evaluation Methods

Students will demonstrate mastery of the above subjects through:

• Exams that test understanding and application of quantitative skills, economic concepts, political process, and substantive policy;
• Individually producing and presenting policy reports and memoranda from independent research to a professional standard; and
• Demonstrating applied policy analysis skills in working with policy practitioners, through both an internship and the Policy Lab.