Course Description
An examination of the processes theories and institutions of public policy making in the U.S. Specific policies include: economic policy environmental policy education policy and crime policy.
This course is numbered as PLSC 4345: Public Policy. The catalog provides this description of the course: An examination of the processes, theories and institutions of public policy making in the U.S. Specific policies include: economic policy, environmental policy, energy policy, and foreign policy.
However, a more detailed description of the course is warranted. This course introduces students to the concept and theories regarding public policy making, policy analysis, and then multiple policy areas. In the policy analysis portion of the course, students will also gain a practical experience in developing policy analysis as they would in providing their analysis to a policy maker.
Course Credits: 3
Student Learning Outcomes
- Examine the reasons for governmental involvement in public policy.
- Analyze the structure of the United States government and the implications for policymaking capacity
- Assess different types of public policy and how their characteristics affect their development and treatment in the policy process.
- Show how policy analysis is used in the policymaking process
- Explain how to describe, measure, and analyze public problems, and how to think about their causes and possible solutions.
- Distinguish between the different types of decision making and impact analyses
- Describe the role of federal economic policymaking and its challenges.
- Explain the nature of environmental and energy policies and the key concepts associated with them.
- Describe major issues in foreign policy and homeland security