Numbers, Pictures Politics

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

This course introduces students to the tools, methods and skills necessary for making compelling quantitative graphics for politics (and other social behavior). Students are introduced to the elements of visual design. Students are trained in various software useful for making graphics, including Excel, R, Google Charts, Adobe Illustrator, and others. Students are required to create an aesthetically compelling and analytically sound graphic portfolio containing multiple graphs in a cohesive format. Learning Goals Students will learn the theoretical and practical elements of visual design for graphics. Students will develop skills in multiple software programs useful for making graphics. Students will learn to explore data graphically and to create compelling visual portfolios. This is an ‘active learning’ course. Lectures will be minimal. Students will work individually and collaboratively to develop their skills in data manipulation and analysis, software programming, and graphical design. Graphical design and software training will emphasize creative problem solving.