Introduction to Public Policy

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

Public policy-- that is, all the laws, regulations, and guidelines, along with judicial decisions, executive actions, and funding priorities-- shape every aspect of our lives. This introductory course explores this mosaic of rules through the lens of real people trying to make real changes through public policy. Using personally relevant examples, students will analyze how public policy is created, modified, implemented, and evaluated. We will explore 1) the federal and state governments’ overlapping policy responsibilities, 2) the legal system’s checks and balances on the policymaking process, and 3) the role of advocacy, including grassroots activism and nonprofit and philanthropic organizations, in shaping public policy. This course also provides experiential learning of public policy. Students will learn about policymaking in their own communities, observe and analyze policy-making in their own communities and practice creating and communicating evidence-based policy recommendations. Students will also analyze existing advocacy organizations to learn best practices and evaluate real-world strategies for changing public policies. There are no prerequisites for this class; everyone is warmly welcome