Policy Studies Curriculum
The policy studies majors – global policy and public policy – are multidisciplinary majors, centered in economics, history, and political science, and draw upon the expertise of faculty in other disciplines. These majors are built upon a single required core of courses, which provides students with the tools essential for a coherent understanding of and participation in policy making, as well as those tools necessary to undertake a policy-oriented tutorial. These majors also integrate internships with classroom experience, and provide applied courses focused on either American policy making or policy making in a global context.Program Requirements
+ Global Policy Studies
Major Requirements |
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| 17 courses, including: | ||
| ECN101 | Principles of Macroeconomics: The U.S. Economy in the World
The concepts of national income and output are analyzed, and emphasis is placed on factors that influence the levels of economic activity, unemployment, and inflation, including fiscal and monetary policy and the role of international economics. | 3 |
| ECN102 | Principles of Microeconomics: Decision-Making by the Firm and Consumers
The roles of the consumer and producer are studied in the context of the functioning of the price system in different market structures. Emphasis is placed on the factors that influence the distribution of income (rent, interest, profit, wages) in the economy and the economic influence of women and their purchase decisions in varying economies.. | 3 |
| BUS110 | Business Statistics
This course introduces essential research tools in business. Topics include descriptive statistics of central tendency and variability and hypotheses testing statistical analysis using correlation, analysis of variance, and regression. Problems use applications from business cases, marketing research, and economic policy. Prerequisite(s): BUS105 | 3 |
| MTH110 | Elementary Statistics
Topics include statistical measures and distributions, decision making under uncertainty, application of probability to statistical inference, linear correlation, introduction to nonparametric statistical methods, and application to problems drawn from the natural and social sciences. Three hours of class per week. Three hours of class per week. | 3 |
| HIS100 | Introduction to World History
This course is an introduction to world history from the rise of civilization to the present. It establishes and compares major themes in the leading civilizations of today’s world. It investigates the development of the modern world system and interpretations of its impact on these civilizations. | 3 |
| POL101 | American Government and Public Policy
This course provides an introduction to the principles and practices of government, federalism, with special attention to the policy process, political participation and selected political issues in the United States. | 3 |
| POL210 | Politics Through Film
POLITICS THROUGH FILM | 3 |
| POL311 | Selected Topics in Social Science Research
The course introduces methods and approaches used to describe, explain, and evaluate social science research. Students will get an introduction to an instructor chosen research topic. Students will learn to formulate questions, create a literature review, gather and evaluate evidence and provide feedback on outside research concerning the selected course topic. Prerequisite: Junior standing or consent of the instructor. | 3 |
Tutorial 498 (4) |
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1 approved 3-credit internship |
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2 economic analysis electives from the following: |
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| ECN262 | Global Environmental Economics
This course focuses on the study of the relationship between economic activity and the environment. It teaches students the economic perspectives and tools for analyzing environmental problems and evaluating policy solutions. The course covers both conceptual topics and real-world applications. Cross-listed as ENV 262. Prerequisite(s): ECN 102 | 3 |
| ECN355 | Economic Analysis of Public Policy
This course develops microeconomic tools of analysis for policy problems through various policy applications. The course is broadly focused on evaluating the rationale for government intervention in the economy and evaluating the efficiency and distributional effects of government policies. The course covers issues such as health care, regulation and immigration. | 3 |
| ECN351 | International Trade and Finance
An introduction to international trade and finance, and an examination of the structure of international trade and the functioning of the international monetary system. Attention is given to recent issues in these areas and the relationship between the domestic and international economies. Prerequisite(s): ECN 101 or 102 | 3 |
| Or appropriate course substitute approved by the program director | ||
2 historical analysis electives from the following: |
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| HIS231 | History of the British Empire
History of the British Empire examines the historical narratives relating to imperialism, ethnocentrism, military aggressions, colonization, acculturation, repression of revolt, technological diffsuion, intellectual outreach, and cross-cultural fertilization from the beginning of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I in 1558 to the return of Hong Kong to China in 1997. | 3 |
| HIS301 | The Middle East and the United States
This course examines the history of the modern Middle East and how U.S. foreign policy has shaped that history from 1945 to the present. It explores official U.S. policy toward the Middle East and the policies of Middle Eastern countries toward the United States, but also tries to understand U.S.-Middle East relations in cultural, economic, and social terms. Prerequisite(s):(s): Any 200-level history course or permission of the instructor. | 3 |
| HIS302 | The Global Cold War
This course examines the Cold War from a global perspective. It balances its analysis of the actions of various nation-states with analysis of the impact of the Cold War on ordinary people. It pays special attention to 233 diplomatic and military actions, social and cultural changes, evolving global trade patterns, popular uprisings, and revolutions. Prerequisite(s):(s): Any 200-level history course or permission of the instructor. | 3 |
| HIS401 | History of Pan-Africanism
This course examines the birth and development of the ideology that promoted a universal approach to the rehabilitation of the philosophical traditions, need for self-respect, political consciousness, and aspirations for transatlantic unity among Black people between the 1770s to the end of the 20TH century. Prerequisite(s): Any 200-level history course or permission of the instructor. | 3 |
| HIS426 | The Arab-Israeli Conflict
This course examines the origins and issues of conflict between the Arabs and Israelis over Palestine. Using extensive primary materials and some secondary sources, the arguments of all sides of the conflict are presented and evaluated. While the core conflict between Palestinians and Israelis is emphasized, the role of regional and world powers also is examined. Prerequisite(s): HIS 242 or permission of the instructor. | 3 |
| Or appropriate course substitute approved by the program director | ||
2 political analysis electives from the following: |
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| POL219 | International Organizations
This course examines the role of international organizations in world politics, including how and why the network of organized international institutions developed and what they contributed to managing such issues as military conflict, political change, and economic stability. Prerequisite(s): POL 104 | 3 |
| POL324 | U.S. Foreign Policy
This course examines the diverse factors that influence the formulation and implementation of American foreign policy. This entails the study of three components: the composition of governmental institutions involved in the policy-making process; the societal forces affecting foreign policy; and the changes in the global environment, which present new challenges to the foreign policy process. To this end, the course examines several issues, including the dominant patterns of continuity and change in foreign policy, the ability of the president to govern in foreign affairs, and the tension inherent between the needs of democracy and national security concerns. Prerequisite(s): POL 104 or permission of the instructor. | 3 |
| POL319 | Politics of the European Union
This course is designed to introduce students to the political, economic and social transformation of the European Union. Students will gain an understanding of the historical evolution of the EU, the institutional design of the EU, the major policy areas governed by the EU and major issues facing the expansion of EU in the near future. | 3 |
| POL222 | Government and Politics of Eastern Europe
This course is designed to introduce students to the political, economic and social transformation of post-communist Central and Eastern Europe. Students will gain an understanding of the institutional design of these countries, the manner in which political transition has developed in the region and major issues facing the region in the near future. | 3 |
| POL330 | International Human Rights Law
This seminar evaluates the process of litigating human rights violations before international and national courts and special tribunals. We examine the rules of jurisprudence to ascertain the judicial bodies' roles in promoting (or underming) justice and fostering reconciliation (or intensifying tension) in post-conflict societies. Prerequisite(s): POL101 or POL205 or permission of the instructor. | 3 |
Or appropriate course substitute approved by the program director |
||
+ Public Policy
Major Requirements |
||
| 17 courses, including: | ||
| ECN101 | Principles of Macroeconomics: The U.S. Economy in the World
The concepts of national income and output are analyzed, and emphasis is placed on factors that influence the levels of economic activity, unemployment, and inflation, including fiscal and monetary policy and the role of international economics. | 3 |
| ECN102 | Principles of Microeconomics: Decision-Making by the Firm and Consumers
The roles of the consumer and producer are studied in the context of the functioning of the price system in different market structures. Emphasis is placed on the factors that influence the distribution of income (rent, interest, profit, wages) in the economy and the economic influence of women and their purchase decisions in varying economies.. | 3 |
| HIS102 | Introduction to American History
This course examines significant areas in the development of American society from the Colonial period to the present. It focuses particularly on the issues of gender, class, race, religion, politics, and ideology to provide students with the grounding in those areas crucial to understanding today's society. | 3 |
| POL101 | American Government and Public Policy
This course provides an introduction to the principles and practices of government, federalism, with special attention to the policy process, political participation and selected political issues in the United States. | 3 |
| ECN355 | Economic Analysis of Public Policy
This course develops microeconomic tools of analysis for policy problems through various policy applications. The course is broadly focused on evaluating the rationale for government intervention in the economy and evaluating the efficiency and distributional effects of government policies. The course covers issues such as health care, regulation and immigration. | 3 |
| POL311 | Selected Topics in Social Science Research
The course introduces methods and approaches used to describe, explain, and evaluate social science research. Students will get an introduction to an instructor chosen research topic. Students will learn to formulate questions, create a literature review, gather and evaluate evidence and provide feedback on outside research concerning the selected course topic. Prerequisite: Junior standing or consent of the instructor. | 3 |
| BUS110 | Business Statistics
This course introduces essential research tools in business. Topics include descriptive statistics of central tendency and variability and hypotheses testing statistical analysis using correlation, analysis of variance, and regression. Problems use applications from business cases, marketing research, and economic policy. Prerequisite(s): BUS105 | 3 |
| OR | ||
| MTH110 | Elementary Statistics
Topics include statistical measures and distributions, decision making under uncertainty, application of probability to statistical inference, linear correlation, introduction to nonparametric statistical methods, and application to problems drawn from the natural and social sciences. Three hours of class per week. Three hours of class per week. | 3 |
Tutorial 498 (4) |
||
| 1 approved 3-credit internship | ||
2 economic analysis electives from the following: |
||
| ECN262 | Global Environmental Economics
This course focuses on the study of the relationship between economic activity and the environment. It teaches students the economic perspectives and tools for analyzing environmental problems and evaluating policy solutions. The course covers both conceptual topics and real-world applications. Cross-listed as ENV 262. Prerequisite(s): ECN 102 | 3 |
| ECN250 | Women and Work
This course examines recent research on women, men, and work in the labor market and in the household. It applies economic concepts and analysis to study the behavior of women and men, economic institutions, and economic outcomes. Topics include the family as an economic unit, economic restructuring, occupational segregation, discrimination, and human capital. Prerequisite(s): BUS 105. | 3 |
| ECN351 | International Trade and Finance
An introduction to international trade and finance, and an examination of the structure of international trade and the functioning of the international monetary system. Attention is given to recent issues in these areas and the relationship between the domestic and international economies. Prerequisite(s): ECN 101 or 102 | 3 |
| Or appropriate course substitute approved by the program director | ||
2 sociopolitical analysis electives from the following: |
||
| POL225 | U.s. Foreign Policy
UNITED STATES FOREIGN POLICY R PERM | 3 |
| POL407 | Minority Groups and the Law
An examination of the past and present impact of law and law enforcement on minorities in the United States. Differential treatment based on characteristics such as health, age, language, and race are examined in statutory, administrative, and judicial settings, as well as in the context of issues such as employment and sentencing discrimination or the right of access to education and other public services. Prerequisite(s): Junior standing | 3 |
| POL262 | Women and Politics
Does gender make a difference in politics? Are women different from men in their political behavior? Do women contribute different norms, rules, and outcomes within political institutions? Students become familiar with the literature on, and conduct research projects in a specific aspect of, women's involvement in politics. Prerequisite(s): POL 101 or permission of the instructor. | 3 |
| SWK322 | Social Welfare: Women and Policy
This course is designed to examine current issues and policies that impact the lives of women and to explore methods of creating or modifying policies. This course wil utilize a comparative policy framework to explore the strengths and weaknesses of current interventions regarding their promotion of social and economic justice. | 3 |
| Or appropriate course substitute approved by the program director | ||
2 historical analysis electives from the following: |
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| HIS402 | Gender and the Family in America
In every era the family has served as a basic human institution, but it has always been subject to other forces in society, such as religion, politics, and the economy. This course traces the history of the American family from the antebellum period to the twentieth century. It examines changes in relationships within the family (parents/children, husbands/wives) and the changing role of the family in society. Particular attention will be paid to the role of the family in defining gender roles and the effects of other institutions upon the family. Prerequisite(s): Any 200-level history course or permission of the instructor. | 3 |
| HIS302 | The Global Cold War
This course examines the Cold War from a global perspective. It balances its analysis of the actions of various nation-states with analysis of the impact of the Cold War on ordinary people. It pays special attention to 233 diplomatic and military actions, social and cultural changes, evolving global trade patterns, popular uprisings, and revolutions. Prerequisite(s):(s): Any 200-level history course or permission of the instructor. | 3 |
| HIS215 | Ind & the Working Class in Europe & America
This course seeks to understand who built America, under what conditions they labored, and to understand their hopes, dreams, and stuggles to create a better future for themselves and their families. The couse traces the historical development of the American working class from colonial times to the present. Particular attention is given to the formation of working class political and economic orgaizations and their impact on American history. | 3 |
| SWK321 | Social Welfare and Social Justice
This course examines the history, development, context, and current status of the American social welfare system. The American system is compared with policies and programs in other countries. The specifics of major welfare programs such as Social Security and Temporary Aid to Needy Families are explored. | 3 |
| Or appropriate course substitute approved by the program director | ||
