20809242Public Policy
Course Information
Description
Public Policy examines the purpose, history, and development of public policy in the United States. Students (a) summarize public policy significance and history, (b) analyze public policy institutions and processes, and (c) evaluate public policies using cost-benefit analysis methods. Students will complete exams and written assignments.
Total Credits
3
Course Competencies
  1. Summarize American Public Policy and Politics
    Assessment Strategies
    Written Objective Test
    Essay
    Criteria
    Summarize and define basic public policy ideas, concepts, and phrases.
    Analyze justifications and applications of public policy.
    Evaluate utility of public policy within various environments and contexts.

  2. Summarize Government Institutions and Policy Actors
    Assessment Strategies
    Written Objective Test
    Essay
    Criteria
    Summarize political institutions (constitution, separation of power, checks and balances, federalism).
    Analyze public policy within a separation-of-power system with checks and balances.
    Evaluate influence of formal and informal public policy actors within various settings.

  3. Summarize Public Policy Theories and Models
    Assessment Strategies
    Written Objective Test
    Essay
    Criteria
    Summarize public policy theories (rational choice theory) (public choice theory) (systems theory) (modernization theory) (principal-agent theory).
    Analyze public policy models (bureaucratic model) (political model) (institutional model) (democratic model).
    Evaluate appropriate application of various public policy theories and models.

  4. Analyze Public Policymaking Process
    Assessment Strategies
    Written Objective Test
    Essay
    Criteria
    Summarize agenda-setting theories and models.
    Analyze various stages of the public policymaking process (identify) (analyze) (development) (enactment) (implementation).
    Evaluate compatibility between public policymaking process and democratic governance.

  5. Analyze Public Policy Problems
    Assessment Strategies
    Written Objective Test
    Essay
    Criteria
    Summarize various types of public-sector problems requiring government intervention (political) (economic) (cultural).
    Analyze relevant data and information pertaining to an identified public-sector problem requiring government intervention.
    Evaluate utility of data and information to develop effective / efficient public policy solution.

  6. Analyze Public Policy Alternatives
    Assessment Strategies
    Written Objective Test
    Essay
    Criteria
    Summarize various and relevant public policy evaluative criteria (effectiveness) (efficiency) (equity) (feasibility).
    Analyze various methods of policy analysis (economic method) (impact method) (political method) (ethical method).
    Evaluation utility of various methods of policy analysis to effectively and efficiently address a selected public-sector problem.

  7. Evaluate Policy Analysis Process
    Assessment Strategies
    Written Objective Test
    Essay
    Criteria
    Summarize and define public policy analysis.
    Analyze public policy analysis methods (scientific) (professional) (political).
    Evaluate utility of various public policy analysis methods within various environments.

  8. Evaluate Policy Evaluation Process
    Assessment Strategies
    Written Objective Test
    Essay
    Criteria
    Summarize and define public policy evaluation.
    Analyze public policy evaluation methods (content) (implementation) (impact).
    Evaluate utility of various public policy evaluation methods within various environments.

  9. Create Public Policy Analysis Report
    Assessment Strategies
    Written Product
    Report
    Criteria
    State (1) Problem Identification (political) (economic) (cultural) and Policy Goal (values) (outcome).
    Identify (2) Policy Alternatives (action) (do nothing).
    Select (3) Evaluation Criterion (effectiveness) (efficiency).
    Conduct (4) Alternative Assessment (cost-benefit analysis).
    Determine (5) Recommendation (data, evidence, and context-driven decision).

  10. Create Public Policy Evaluation Report
    Assessment Strategies
    Written Product
    Report
    Criteria
    Engage (1) Relevant Stakeholders.
    Describe (2) Specific Public Policy.
    Collect (3) Relevant data and information.
    Conduct (4) Policy Evaluation (Content) or (Implementation) or (Impact).
    Record (5) Conclusions (data, evidence, and context-driven decision).