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Courses - Spring 2025
PLCY
Public Policy
Open Seats as of
11/12/2024 at 09:30 PM
PLCY100
Foundations of Public Policy
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, P-F, Aud
GenEd: DSHS
A survey course, focusing on public policy institutions and analytical issues as well as on overview of key public policy problems. Students will be introduced to public policy as a discipline, with a brief overview of the actors and institutions involved in the process, and familiarize themselves with the kinds of problems typically requiring public action. The course will examine these problems from a multijurisdictional and multisectoral perspective. Specific policy areas examined include education policy, health policy, economic and budgetary policy, criminal justice policy, environmental policy, and national and homeland security policy. The course should permit students to have broad foundational exposure to the field that will give them a solid base for more advanced courses.
PLCY101
Great Thinkers on Public Policy
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, P-F, Aud
GenEd: DSHS, SCIS
Great ideas in public policy, such as equality, efficiency, sovereignty, liberty, bureaucracy, democracy and security are explored through the lens of great thinkers. An introduction to the intellectual foundations of public policy, from ancient theories on collective public action through the more contemporary development of public policy as a discipline. This may start as early as the ancient Greek philosophers and their views on public action through contemporary classics of public policy. At the conclusion of the course, students will have read classic works in the field and will master the key themes that have dominated the intellectual debates about public policy over its history. Emphasis will be on the interdisciplinary foundations of public policy, through examining core disciplinary contributions from economics, political science, management, philosophy, and other relevant disciplines.
PLCY201
Public Leaders and Active Citizens
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, P-F, Aud
GenEd: DSHS or DSSP, SCIS
Credit only granted for: PLCY201 or PUAF201.
Formerly: PUAF201.
Aims to inspire, teach and engage students in the theory and practice of public leadership from the local to the national to the global level. Students will learn and apply diverse approaches to leadership in a multicultural society while developing an understanding of key frameworks and practices necessary to foster collective action across private, public, and nonprofit sectors. This course will allow students to become informed citizens able to reason critically and persuasively about public matters Students will also explore and assess their own personal values, beliefs, and purpose as they develop their leadership potential.
PLCY203
Liberty and Justice for All: Ethics and Moral Issues in Public Policy
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, P-F, Aud
Students will broaden their understanding of the moral dimensions of public policy as well as their own individual moral perspective. Discussions will include the ideal of a just society, and the place of liberty and equality in it, while focusing on contemporary theories of ethics and justice. It will develop students' appreciation of the ethical challenges unique to the public service sector while building their skills in ethical analysis and decision-making. We will explore the increasing ethical challenges in a world in which technology, global risks, and societal developments are accelerating faster than our understanding can keep pace. A framework for ethical decision-making underpins the course.
PLCY213
Foundations of Nonprofit Leadership and Social Innovation
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, P-F, Aud
Through discussions of contemporary trends, challenges and issues, this course provides an introduction to the nonprofit and NGO sectors, social innovation, and the leadership and management skills required to achieve social impact. The course will explore the history, theories, and roles of philanthropy, the nonprofit sector, and social innovation in societies and cultures. Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the process and principles of social entrepreneurship and social innovation. Additionally, the course will introduce students to topics in leadership, social innovation, resource development, community mobilization through networks, the role of policy-making in creating change, project management, and overall strategies for achieving social impact. The course will include mini hands-on learning experiences that allow them to apply key learning outcomes.
PLCY215
Innovation and Social Change: Creating Change for Good
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg
GenEd: DSSP
Credit only granted for: PLCY215 or PUAF215.
Formerly: PUAF215.
A team-based, highly interactive and dynamic course that provides an opportunity for students to generate solutions to a wide range of problems facing many communities today. Students in the iGIVE Program will deepen their understanding of entrepreneurship and innovation practices by creating and implementing projects or ventures that address an issue of their choosing while learning topics such as communications, project management, teamwork, leadership, fundraising, project sustainability and next steps in social change.
PLCY240
Ethical, Policy and Social Implications of Science and Technology
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, P-F, Aud
GenEd: DSSP, SCIS
Restriction: Must be in the Science, Technology, Ethics and Policy minor.
Cross-listed with: ENES240.
Credit only granted for: ENES240 or PLCY240.
Asks students to think about how society should manage complexity, transformation, and uncertainty with an eye on developing a broader sense of ethics and social responsibility. Introduces analytical frameworks, concepts, and data collection techniques that interdisciplinary scholars use to map relationships among science, technology and society and generate important questions about the future of society.
PLCY288A
Introduction to Public Policy Topics; 21st Century Racial Justice and Gender from the Bullhorn to the Ballot
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, P-F, Aud
The intersection of gender and racial justice movements of the past two decades. Students will examine the representation and complication of gender within police reform, voting rights and environmental justice movements, among others. Particular attention will be given to the role gender has played as these issues and related policies have evolved in the modern era.
PLCY288F
Introduction to Public Policy Topics; The Contested Terrain of Education Policy: The Fight for Educational Equity
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, P-F, Aud
Provides an introduction to K-12 education policy, policy processes, and school governance in the United States. We will examine the multiple and sometimes conflicting goals that animate education debates and the various lenses and conceptual tools that can help us understand the contested terrain of education policy. In this course, students learn the vari ous ways policies and educational systems fight or perpetuate education inequity. The course will emphasize a critical analysis of these educat ional inequities and the different policy solutions that have been implemented to respond to these inequities. We will analyze and understand the diverse approaches to solving education challenges and their impact onmarginalized communities. Using role-play with classmates and professionals, students will explore real case studies and challenges in K-12 education policy.
PLCY288J
Introduction to Public Policy Topics; America Abroad:Debating US Foreign Policy Yesterday and Today
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, P-F, Aud
Examines historical and conceptual debates over the United States of America s role in international affairs in order to assess contemporary concerns surrounding American foreign policy. Topics covered include therole of alliances, ideology/democracy promotion, military power, and foreign intervention in creating a safe and secure world in which the United States can operate. By engaging both primary and secondary sources, students will emerge from the course able to apply historical evidence and theory to contemporary discussions, thus allowing them to directly contribute to US foreign policy debates today.
PLCY288W
Introduction to Public Policy Topics; Global Action and Problem Solving
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, P-F, Aud
Today's most pressing problems do not stop at national borders. Meeting these challenges requires a range of state and non-state actors to work together. In this course, students gain familiarity with key actors in the global system and how they approach today's most intractable problems, including violent conflict, human rights, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, migration, trade, climate change, and global health. How do countries, international organizations, multinational corporations, and nongovernmental organizations find ways to cooperate when their interests and capabilities sometimes differ drastically? What barriers exist that impede such cooperation? This course can be taken as a stand-alone class for those interested in issues of global cooperation and problem solving and will also prepare students in the GAPS focus area for more advanced electives.
PLCY300
Governance: Collective Action in the Public Interest
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: PLCY100.
Restriction: Must be in a major in PLCY-School of Public Policy.
Examination of societal responses to public problems, including actions by government, non-profit and private sector actors, as well as civil society. Students will examine the roles of these various actors, as well as the nature of civic responsibility. The course will examine the various stages of the policy process, asking the following questions: How does something get defined as a problem that requires a public policy response? How do we think about what the options are for this response, and how do we choose among them? What are the factors that contribute to successful policy implementation? How do we evaluate the success of public policies? These questionswill be addressed using examples of current public policy problems, and students will be expected to engage in individual and collaborative work to design responses to those problems.
PLCY301
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, P-F, Aud
Cross-listed with: AGNR301.
Credit only granted for: AGNR301, PUAF301, or PLCY301.
Formerly: PUAF301.
Designed for students whose academic majors would be enhanced by the complementary study of a widely shared but hard-to-operationalize aspiration: that present choices should preserve or improve future options rather than foreclose or degrade them. How should we understand sustainability? How might we achieve it? How would we know if we had achieved it? And how could sustainability activists of a rising generation lead by example?
PLCY302
Examining Pluralism in Public Policy
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, P-F, Aud
GenEd: DVCC
Credit only granted for: PLCY302 or PUAF302.
Formerly: PUAF302.
Understanding pluralism and how groups and individuals coexist in society is an essential part of the public policy process. This course will examine the ways in which the diverse experiences of race, gender, ethnicity, class, orientation, identity, and religion impact the understanding of and equitable delivery of public policy. The examination of how identity development shapes our understanding of society and influences the decision-making process is central to students' shaping policy that is truly for the people. This course will equip students with the skills needed to analyze pluralism and draw conclusions about the application of various theories to public policy issues.
PLCY303
Public Economics Raising and Spending the People's Money
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: ECON200.
Restriction: Must be in a major in PLCY-School of Public Policy.
Applied course in public finance, including introductions to resource mobilization (including taxation), macroeconomic policy, key public expenditure policies, and government budgetary processes and politics. The course will build on the foundations from ECON 202 to address the specific application of public finance principles to solving public problems. The course will focus on the principles of welfare economics (including market failure), economic principles as applied to particular spending programs and tax choices, and issues and institutions involved in the allocation and management of resources both at a national and subnational level. The focus of the course is on these issues from both a domestic and global perspective.
PLCY304
Evaluating Evidence: Finding Truth in Numbers
Credits: 4
Grad Meth: Reg
Prerequisite: STAT100.
Restriction: Must be in a major in PLCY-School of Public Policy.
Enables students to understand the research done by others with a sufficiently skeptical eye to allow them to determine whether the findings of the research are valid given the assumptions made and methods used. This will involve, in part, thinking about the various problems in research design or conduct that could lead to faulty conclusions. It will also involve being able to differentiate between credible sources of information and those that are not objective. At the conclusion of the course, students should be able to differentiate objective evidence from political argumentation.
PLCY306
Public Policy Analysis in Action
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, P-F, Aud
Restriction: Must have earned a minimum of 60 credits; and must be in a major in PLCY-School of Public Policy.
Utilizes our unique location in the Washington, D.C. region to create a laboratory within which to analyze local, regional, national and international policy problems. Students will be put into teams and assigned to real and timely policy cases. The course will include meetings and field trips with local leaders in the field, ideally connected to the cases. Student will then expand and apply their use of policy analysis and evaluation skills to define those problems, analyze alternative responses, devise appropriate strategies for implementation, and evaluate the success of the proposed policy and implementation. The course will conclude with team presentations to local leaders and faculty. This distinctive course will serve to prepare students for their client- based senior capstone course.
PLCY309
(Perm Req)
Internship in Political Institutions: State and Local
Credits: 3 - 6
Grad Meth: Reg, P-F
PLCY310
Nonprofit Leadership and Social Innovation in Action
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, P-F, Aud
Prerequisite: PLCY 213.
Furthers students understanding of topics in leadership, social innovation, resource development, community mobilization through networks, and the role of policy making in creating change. This course will further students understanding of the creation and leadership of nonprofits, social ventures, governance and boards; strategic planning and partnerships; advocacy and public policy processes; community outreach; working in teams, effective communications, and cross-sector approaches to scaling up social impact.
PLCY313
Advocacy in the American Political System
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, P-F, Aud
Credit only granted for: PUAF313, PLCY313 or PUAF359C.
Formerly: PUAF359C.
Introduces students to the creation of law through the legislative process with a special focus on the Maryland General Assembly.
PLCY380
Innovation and Social Change: Do Good Now
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, P-F, Aud
GenEd: DSSP, SCIS
Credit only granted for: ARHU380, BSOS388B, PLCY388D, or PLCY380.
Formerly: PLCY388D.
Introduces students to the concept of social innovation while exploring the many mechanisms for achieving social impact. It is team-based, highly interactive and dynamic, and provides an opportunity for students to generate solutions to a wide range of problems facing many communities today. Deepens the students understanding of entrepreneurship and innovation practices by guiding them through the creation and implementation process as applied to a project idea of their choice.
PLCY388A
Special Topics in Public Policy; Child and Family Policy Impact
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, P-F, Aud
Cross-listed with FMSC498P. Credit only granted for PLCY388A or FMSC498P.

For poor and low-income families, federal programs such as Medicaid, Child care, SNAP and child nutrition programs are a lifeline every day. Some programs also have policies that consider more than income eligibility, such as number of hours of work, disability, and immigration status. Budget choices have a significant impact on policy intentions. Students will learn about and analyze the major federal programs and federal budgets for these policy areas; understand from data the impact of such programs and policies; and be introduced to significant advocacy effortsand considerations that shaped these policy decisions.
PLCY388C
Special Topics in Public Policy; Fundamentals of Cybersecurity for Policy Makers
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, P-F, Aud
Jointly offered with INST467. Credit only granted for PLCY388C or INST467. Students will explore the key issues facing policy makers attempting to manage the problem of cybersecurity from its technical foundationsto domestic and international policy considerations surrounding governance, privacy, risk management, and operational orchestration. It is designed for students with no background in information technology, and will provide the principles to understand the current debates shaping a rapidly evolving security landscape.
PLCY388F
Special Topics in Public Policy; Contemporary Issues Under the Rule of Law
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, P-F, Aud
Considers the impact of contemporary issues and public policy of the Courts through the examination of current issues under deliberation. Students will evaluate and opine on the competing legal and policy arguments in class and in papers as if they were the empowered judicial authority. Issues covered include: the growth of opinion-based news reporting versus factual news, "Fake news," and freedom of the press; voter photo ID laws, redistricting and political gerrymandering; continued racial segregation; holding public officials accountable for egregious constitutional violations; regulation of social media; and socioeconomicinequality. The course also provides a broad overview of the ways American courts function as well as interactive speakers and hands on experiences.
PLCY388G
Special Topics in Public Policy; Cracking the Code: AI, Race, Gender & Policy Innovation for a 21st Century World
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, P-F, Aud
Explores the interplay between race, gender, science, technology, and public policy. In an era where science and technologies increasingly impact various aspects of society, it is crucial to understand how these fields can reinforce or mitigate existing disparities related to race and gender. Drawing from diverse disciplines that include politics,science,and ethics, students will explore how these interconnected fields are shaped by our society, institutions, and policymaking processes. Through critical examination, students will analyze ethical, social, and policy dimensions of science and technological development.
PLCY388J
Special Topics in Public Policy; Special Topics in Public Policy: State and Local Government
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, P-F, Aud
This class will use applied learning strategies while focusing on policy issues at the state and local government level. We will also explore the often complex relationship among governments at the federal, state and local levels and the differing levels of government authority over various policy issues. While we will focus on the specific structure of Maryland's executive branch, legislative branch and judicial branch of government, we will compare and contrast other state models as well. We will study the contemporary actions of all three branches of state government and grapple with a wide range of policy conundrums. Those conundrums may include: should we elect or appoint judges? Is an elected or appointed school board best? Or a mix? How do we ensure mail-in voting is secure? Should undocumented immigrants be able to buy health insurance or get a Maryland driver's license? When there is a vacancy in the legislature, what is the best way to fill it? An appointment or an election? How do we recruit younger employees to work in government and public service? At some point during the semester, and part of a graded assignment, students will have to testify at an actual public hearing at the local or state level.
PLCY388R
Special Topics in Public Policy; Nuclear Security Policy
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, P-F, Aud
Students are introduced to major themes and debates in the contemporary study of nuclear security, from historical, theoretical, practical, and international perspectives. This course will provide students with the technical and conceptual tools needed to understand the role nuclear weapons play in international politics. It will include a historical overview of the nuclear age, including a discussion on the evolution of nuclear strategy and the introduction of a new nuclear lexicon, the global nuclear arms race, and the development of the international nuclear nonproliferation regime. The course will cover a wide range of contemporary nuclear challenges, including nuclear security/terrorism, non-state actor nuclear challenges, international momentum behind nuclear disarmament (particularly, the evolution of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons), and the role of nuclear weapons in international politics, paying particular attention to future U.S.-Russia/U.S.-China relations, and India-Pakistan-China relations.
PLCY399B
(Perm Req)
Directed Study in Public Policy; Policy Ambassadors
Credits: 1
Grad Meth: Reg, P-F
PLCY399R
(Perm Req)
Directed Study in Public Policy; Independent Research
Credits: 1 - 3
Grad Meth: Reg, P-F
Contact department for information to register for this course.
PLCY399T
(Perm Req)
Directed Study in Public Policy; Undergraduate Teaching Assistant
Credits: 1 - 3
Grad Meth: Reg, P-F
Contact department for information to register for this course.
PLCY400
(Perm Req)
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg
Prerequisite: PLCY306.
Restriction: Permission of PLCY-School of Public Policy; and must have earned a minimum of 90 credits.
Public Policy students will take the skills and knowledge gained through their curriculum and apply them through their senior capstone course. Students will work in teams on problems and issues presented by outside clients, with guidance from faculty facilitators and interaction with the clients. Each team will work with the client to address a particular problem and produce a mutually agreed upon outcome. These hands on projects will advance students' understanding of the analytical, leadership, communication and problem solving skills necessary to address today's policy problems while allowing them to gain professional level experience that could contribute to their success in their post UMD endeavors. The course will conclude with an event that allows all teams to present their findings and outcomes to their client while being evaluated by faculty and public policy professionals.
PLCY401
Contemporary Issues in Public Policy
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, P-F, Aud
Restriction: Must have earned a minimum of 90 credits.
An integrative course that allows policy students to explore the complexities of the policy-making process from the perspective of specific policy topics. They will learn about and discuss subject- based issues in a seminar format led by faculty and policy experts. Site visits to federal agencies, guest speakers, and round table sessions ensure that students receive a variety of real-world perspectives on their chosen policy area.
PLCY610
Quantitative Aspects of Public Policy
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, Aud
Restriction: Must be in a major in PLCY-School of Public Policy; or permission of PLCY-School of Public Policy.
Credit only granted for: PLCY610 or PUAF610.
Formerly: PUAF610.
Introduces statistical methods needed for evaluating and choosing among policy options. Topics include probability; decision-making under uncertainty; the organization, interpretation, and visual display of complex data; prediction and inferences about causality; hypothesis testing; and linear and multiple regression. Develops analytical skills and the ability to apply theory to complex, real-world problems.
PLCY611
Quantitative Analysis of Policy Issues
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, Aud
Restriction: Must be in a major in PLCY-School of Public Policy; or permission of PLCY-School of Public Policy.
Credit only granted for: PLCY611 or PUAF611.
Formerly: PUAF611.
Study of a series of problems and the development of quantitative techniques to describe or evaluate the problem. The organization and interpretation of complex data and its use for prediction and inference about casual effects. The definition of objectives, trade-offs among objectives, and allocation of resources to meet objectives. Sensitivity of outcomes to changing conditions.
PLCY630
Normative and Political Dimensions of Public Policy
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, Aud
Restriction: Must be in a major in PLCY-School of Public Policy; or permission of PLCY-School of Public Policy.
Credit only granted for: PLCY630 or PLCY688E.
Formerly: PLCY688E.
Explores the normative and political dimensions of governance--or policymaking--at the domestic (focusing on the US) and global levels. Policymaking involves a myriad of public and private actors at the local, national, transnational, and global levels that have competing aims and values. Their interaction produces formal and informal policies that affect the international order, interstate relations, subnational dynamics, and individuals. Drawing on theory from multiple disciplines and case examples, the course examines governance at these interrelated levels. Students learn core concepts, debates, and actors involved in policy making, develop tools to identify the causes and consequences of different policies, and build skills to influence public governance. Students also critically analyze how the actors, institutions, and scholarship covered perpetuate systemic racism and other inequities based on gender, class, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, dis/ability, etc.
PLCY631
Governance: Leadership, Management and Accountability
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, Aud
Restriction: Must be in a major in PLCY-School of Public Policy; or permission of PLCY-School of Public Policy.
Credit only granted for: PLCY631 or PLCY688G.
Formerly: PLCY688G.
Emphasizes that regardless of technical specialization, public policy practitioners are required to lead people and organizations, manage resources and processes, and be held accountable for their actions. Provides knowledge, insights, skills, and abilities to successfully participate in and contribute to the policy process and lead and manage in line with democratic norms and values. Shows the need to pursue efficiency, effectiveness, and speed while also prioritizing justice, equity, procedural fairness, and due process. Focuses on the "people" side of organizational life, ethical decision-making, and the ability to communicate effectively.
PLCY640
Microeconomic and Policy Analysis
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, Aud
Restriction: Must be in a major in PLCY-School of Public Policy; or permission of PLCY-School of Public Policy.
Credit only granted for: PLCY640 or PUAF640.
Formerly: PUAF640.
Applies intermediate microeconomic theory to public policy issues: resource allocation by firms and consumers; the response of economic agents to changes in incentives; market allocations in competitive and non-competitive environments; and market failures and government remedies. Uses extended case studies of particular issues in such areas as the environment (acid rain), international trade (tariffs), industry regulation (cable TV), and the provision of public goods (highways).
PLCY641
Macroeconomics and Policy Analysis
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, Aud
Restriction: Must be in a major in PLCY-School of Public Policy; or permission of PLCY-School of Public Policy.
Credit only granted for: PLCY641 or PUAF641.
Formerly: PUAF641.
Studies the behavior of the economy as a whole: the level of national income, unemployment, and inflation; the vulnerability of the U.S. economy to external influences; possible federal influence over the level of economic activity; and the consequences for prices, employment and the U.S. trade deficit. Also examines possible U.S. policy responses to widespread debt crises in developing countries.
PLCY670
Public Budgeting & Financial Management
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, Aud
Restriction: Must be in a major in PLCY-School of Public Policy; or permission of PLCY-School of Public Policy.
Credit only granted for: PLYC670 or PUAF670.
Formerly: PUAF670.
Covers how governments raise, spend, borrow, and manage public funds. Reviews federal,state, and local budget processes and introduces analytical techniques including basic spreadsheet skills, evaluating alternative revenue sources, revenue and expenditure forecasting, cost allocation, capital budgeting, cost-benefit analysis, discounting and present value, bond analysis, cash management and intergovernmental finance.
PLCY680
Examining Social Identity and Pluralism in Public Policy
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, Aud
Restriction: Must be in a major in PLCY-School of Public Policy; or permission of PLCY-School of Public Policy.
Credit only granted for: PLCY680 or PLCY699D.
Formerly: PLCY699D.
Understanding how groups and individuals develop and coexist in society is an essential part of public policy. Using the classroom as a laboratory, students will explore identity development and how the intersections of race, class, gender, sexual orientation, and other identities shape perceptions that inform decision-making and policy development. From historical scholars to current day movement leaders, this course equips students with tools necessary to critically analyze pluralism, power, and identity; and the skills needed to shape meaningful and equitable public policy and working and civic environments for all.
PLCY688B
Topics in Public Policy; Economics of Education
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, Aud
Restriction: Must be in a major in PLCY-School of Public Policy; or permission of PLCY-School of Public Policy. Cross-listed with TLPL670. Credit only granted for TLPL670 or PLCY688B.

An introduction to the application of economic principles to the study of education policy. The course content revolves around issues of efficiency, equity, and freedom of choice. Specific attention is devoted to school finance litigation and reform, practices for raising and allocating resources, and education productivity issues.
PLCY688F
Topics in Public Policy; State, Local & Non-Profit Financial Management
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, Aud
PLCY689E
Public Policy Topics; Program Evaluation and Cost-Benefit Analysis
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, Aud
Restricted to PLCY majors or permission of instructor.
PLCY689L
Public Policy Topics; Science and Technology Policy
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, Aud
Jointly offered with PHYS798J. Credit only granted for PLCY689L or PHYS7 98J.
PLCY689X
Public Policy Topics; Performance Management and Leadership
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, Aud
For PLCY majors or permission of instructor.
PLCY689Y
Public Policy Topics; Nonprofit Fundraising
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, Aud
PLCY689Z
Public Policy Topics; Strategic Management for NonProfit and Public Organizations
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, Aud
PLCY698A
Selected Topics in Public Affairs; Poverty Measurement and Alleviation
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, Aud
For PLCY majors or permission of instructor.
PLCY698C
Selected Topics in Public Affairs; Intelligence and Policy: Executive, Congressional and Public Dimensions
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, Aud
Must be in a major in PLCY-School of Public Policy; or permission of PLCY-School of Public Policy.
PLCY698D
Selected Topics in Public Affairs; Social Entrepreneurship
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, Aud
PLCY698E
Selected Topics in Public Affairs; Proseminar in Normative Public Policy
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, Aud
PLCY698R
Selected Topics in Public Affairs; Developmental Challenges
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, Aud
Restricted to PLCY Majors or permission of instructor.
PLCY699K
Selected Topics Public Policy; Civil Conflict
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, Aud
For PLCY Majors or permission of instructor.
PLCY699L
Selected Topics Public Policy; Development and Security Issues in Africa
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, Aud
For PLCY Majors or permission of instructor.
PLCY699Z
Selected Topics Public Policy; Climate and Energy Policy
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, Aud
For PLCY Majors or permission of instructor.
PLCY720
International Security Policy
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, Aud
Restriction: Must be in a major in PLCY-School of Public Policy; or permission of PLCY-School of Public Policy.
Credit only granted for: PLCY720 or PUAF720.
Formerly: PUAF720.
Reviews the principal features of international security as currently practiced. Traces the evolution of contemporary policy beginning with the initiation of nuclear weapons programs during World War II. Particular emphasis is given to experience of the United States and Russia, since the historical interaction between these two countries has disproportionately affected the international security conditions that all other countries now experience.
PLCY742
Environmental Ethics
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, Aud
Restriction: Must be in a major in PLCY-School of Public Policy; or permission of PLCY-School of Public Policy.
Credit only granted for: PLYC742 or PUAF742.
Formerly: PUAF742.
Analyzes issues such as the relation between human beings and nature from the perspectives of the science, history, philosophy, and religion. Considers the bases for policies such as environmental regulation, public lands, and international conventions with respect to the environment.
PLCY745
Human Health and Environmental Policy
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, Aud
Credit only granted for: PLCY745 or PUAF745.
Formerly: PUAF745.
Reviews the major human physiological systems and their integrated toxicological functions; considers key bodily defenses; and discusses classic, emerging, and ambiguous risks; in all ecological context. Applies to scientific controversy, the methods of policy formation, such as risk analysis, social-cost analysis, "outcomes" analysis, and decision analysis, all in political-economic context.
PLCY780
The American Foreign Policy-Making Process
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, Aud
Restriction: Must be in a major in PLCY-School of Public Policy; or permission of PLCY-School of Public Policy.
Credit only granted for: PLCY780 or PUAF780.
Formerly: PUAF780.
Survey and analysis of the governmental institutions and processes which shape U.S. global engagement on national security and international economic issues. Particular emphasis is given to executive-congressional relations and the broader domestic roots of foreign policy.
PLCY782
International Development Economics
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, Aud
Restriction: Must be in a major in PLCY-School of Public Policy; or permission of PLCY-School of Public Policy.
Credit only granted for: PUAF698U, PUAF782 or PLCY782.
Formerly: PUAF698U and PUAF782.
Examines key current economic and policy issues for developing and transition economies. Topics include inflation stabilization, fiscal policy, selected trade issues, dealing with international capital flows, the role of multilateral organizations, such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, and issues relating to saving, investment and growth.
PLCY790
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, Aud
Restriction: Must be in a major in PLCY-School of Public Policy; or permission of PLCY-School of Public Policy.
Credit only granted for: PLCY790 or PUAF790.
Formerly: PUAF790.
Students work at a sponsoring government agency or private firm researching problem of interest to sponsor and relevant to concentration. Emphasis on problem definition, organizing information, and both oral and written presentation of results.
PLCY798A
(Perm Req)
Readings in Public Policy
Credits: 1 - 3
Grad Meth: Reg, Aud
Contact department for information to register for this course.
PLCY798B
(Perm Req)
Readings in Public Policy
Credits: 1 - 3
Grad Meth: Reg, Aud
Contact department for information to register for this course.
PLCY798G
Readings in Public Policy; Impact Evaluation for Education and Public Policy
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg
Prerequisite: Knowledge of multivariate regression and prior experience with statistical programming software (e.g., Stata). TLPL765 or permission from instructor. Restriction: Must be in a major in PLCY-School of Public Policy; or per mission of PLCY-School of Public Policy. Cross-listed with TLPL766. Credit only granted for TLPL766 or PLCY798G.

Students will learn about and practice using a variety of quantitative research methods that allow for causal inferences and can be applied to estimate the impact of policies or programs in education and other policy sectors.
PLCY798K
Readings in Public Policy; Integrated Human Earth Systems Modeling and Analysis
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, Aud
PLCY798M
Readings in Public Policy; Cooperative Security, Arms Control and Non-Proliferation Policy
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, Aud
For PLCY majors or permission of instructor.
PLCY798P
Readings in Public Policy; Data Analysis for Policy Makers
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, Aud
PLCY798Y
Readings in Public Policy; Nonprofit Management and Leadership
Credits: 3
Grad Meth: Reg, Aud
PLCY898
(Perm Req)
Pre-Candidacy Research
Credits: 1 - 8
Grad Meth: Reg
Contact department for information to register for this course.
PLCY899
(Perm Req)
Doctoral Dissertation Research
Credits: 6
Grad Meth: S-F
Contact department for information to register for this course.