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The program in public policy provides students
with an opportunity to explore, from a multidisciplinary perspective, both the processes
of making social choices and the content of contemporary policy issues. Most courses
in the program are intended to serve as interdisciplinary complements to departmental
offerings. Likewise, the minor in public policy is designed to be a valuable complement
to majors in both the social and the natural sciences.
GOV 207 Politics of Public Policy
A thorough introduction to the study of public policy in the United States. A theoretical
overview of the policy process provides the framework for an analysis of several
substantive policy areas, to be announced at the beginning of the term. {S} 4 credits
Donald Baumer Offered Fall 2007
IDP 208 Women’s Medical Issues
A study of topics and issues relating to women’s health, including menstrual
cycle, contraception, sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy, abortion, menopause,
depression, eating disorders, nutrition and cardiovascular disease. While the course
focus will primarily be on the physiological aspects of these topics, some social,
ethical and political implications will be considered including the issues of violence
and the media’s representation of women. {N} 4 credits Leslie Jaffe (Health
Services) Offered Spring 2007
220 Public Policy Analysis
Analysis of the institutions and processes of public policy formation and implementation.
Explores models designed to explain policy and also those whose purpose is to “improve” policy.
Develops and uses analytical tools of formal policy analysis. Examines the debate
over the possible and proper uses of these analytic tools. {S} 4 credits Randall
Bartlett (Economics) Offered Fall 2006
222 Colloquium: U.S. Environmental History and
Policy
Students will explore the human-environment relationship and its role in shaping
U.S. history as well as informing current environmental regulation and policy. There
are no prerequisites. There will be a mid-term report on history as well as an end
of the semester project in which the students will work in teams to develop and present
an environmental policy. There will be some quizzes, but no final exam. Extensive
reading and class participation will be required. Enrollment limited to 20 students.
{H/S} 4 credits Paul Newlin Offered Spring 2007
ECO 224 Environmental Economics
The causes of environmental degradation and the role that markets can play in both
causing and solving pollution problems. The efficiency, equity and impact on economic
growth of current and proposed future environmental legislation. Prerequisite:
150. {S} 4 credits To be announced To be arranged
SOC 232 World Population
This course will introduce students to environmental, economic, feminist and nationalist
perspectives on population growth and decline. We will examine current populations
trends and processes (fertility, mortality and migration) and consider the social,
political, economic and environmental implications of those trends. The course
will also provide an overview of various sources of demographic data as well as
basic demographic methods. Cross-listed with Environmental Science and policy.
{S} 4 credits Leslie King Offered Fall 2006
250 Race and Public Policy in the United States
Explanation of current policy issues regarding race. Topics include voting rights,
compensation, public and private education, bilingual education and affirmative
action in employment. Recommended background: PPL 220a or a course in American
government. {S} 4 credits Randall Bartlett Offered Fall 2007
GOV 306 Seminar: Politics and the Environment
Topic: Politics and the Environment. An examination of environmental policy making
within the federal government, with special emphasis on how Congress deals with
environmental policy issues. A variety of substantive policy areas from clean air
to toxic waste will be covered. Students will complete research papers on an environmental
policy topic of their choice. Prerequisite: a 200-level course in American government.
{S} 4 credits Donald Baumer Offered Spring 2008
EGR 330 Engineering and Global Development
This course examines the engineering and policy issues around global development,
with a focus on appropriate and intermediate technologies. Topics include water
supply and treatment, sustainable food production, energy systems, and other technologies
for meeting basic human needs. Students will design and build a prototype for an
intermediate technology. Restricted to students with junior standing in engineering
or those who have obtained the instructor’s permission. Enrollment limited
to 12. Offered in alternating years. (E) {N} 4 credits Donna Riley Offered Spring
2007
ECO 343 Seminar: The Economics of Global Climate
Change
Because global climate change has the potential to affect every person in every country—with
the possibility of catastrophic consequences—it is natural to ask why it is
happening, and what can or should be done about it. In this course, we will examine
the sources of economic inefficiency causing climate change and study the tradeoffs
associated with slowing the process. How do policy options to slow climate change
compare with respect to efficiency criteria? How do they affect equity domestically,
internationally and intertemporally? In addressing these and other questions which
inform the debate on climate change policy, we will also examine the importance of
political and strategic considerations and the rate of technical change. Prerequisites:
ECO 190 and ECO 250. (E) {S} 4 credits To be announced Offered Fall 2006
ECO 351 Seminar: The Economics of Education
Why does college cost so much? What is the state of America’s public schools,
and what can be done to improve them? In this course we will study these questions
and others related to the economics of primary, secondary and higher education. We
will develop models of educational choice (is schooling an investment or a signal?),
analyze the role for government in the market for education (should it provide financial
support for schools?), and study the implications of institutional policies, including
preferential admissions, tenure and governance procedures, and endowment spending
rules as they are practiced in America’s universities. Prerequisites: ECO 190
and 250. {S} 4 credits Ardith Spence Offered Spring 2007
390 Senior Public Policy Workshop
An assessment of current policy controversies undertaken as group projects. Policy
recommendations made by groups should be based on both technical advisability and
political feasibility. Limited to seniors who are completing the program in public
policy, or other seniors with permission of the instructor. {S} 4 credits Paul
Newlin Offered Spring 2007
404 Special Studies
By permission of the director. 4 credits Offered both semesters each year
Director: Randall Bartlett, Professor of Economics
Advisers: Randall Bartlett (Economics); Donald Baumer
(Government); John Burk, (Biological Sciences); H. Allen Curran (Geology); Deborah
Haas-Wilson (Economics)
The minor consists of six courses: GOV 207 or PPL 220
Any two public policy electives; Any two courses from departmental offerings that
have substantial policy content (to be selected in consultation with a minor adviser);
PPL 390. |
