Public policy is the most direct way that government affects the lives of citizens and yet how and why public policy is made remains a mystery to many. Often, candidates for office and upset citizens will complain that the solutions are simple and that government itself is the problem. Why is it that government cannot achieve simple solutions? Is it the structure of government? The actors involved in creating and implementing public policy? Are the solutions undermined by unintended effects? Or are the solutions just not as effective as expected? Many critics will simply say government needs to be run more like a business and that would resolve the problems with public policy. This semester we will engage with these questions to gain a better understanding of the nature of American public policy.
The study of American public policy can be divided into three areas defined by the following questions: (1) Why do we have the policies we have?; (2) How good are the policies we have?; and (3) What are the policies we have? This course will prepare students to be able to engage these questions for any given policy space, provide thoughtful analysis of policy, and consider the prospects of policy solutions.
By the end of the semester, students should be able to:
Identify and explain policy issues
Compare and contrast methods for policy analysis
Apply theories and concepts of public policy formation
Write for different audiences and goals
Build policy solutions
Analyze and evaluate policy proposals
Strategize policy prospects