Defines of policy research problems, questions, and hypotheses. Explores modes of policy research, analysis, and rhetoric, including interdisciplinary research strategies. The course uses information sources to emphasize written communication of policy research results. A course also discusses professional practice issues. Selected topics in public policy not covered in fixed-content public policy courses.
Selected topics relate specifically to culture and policy.
A seminar examining policy-making systems and processes, and is organized around the U.S. Federal system, but the approach is comparative. The comparisons are with both state governments and other countries. The seminar examines policy environments and participants, and emphasizes the evolutionary and dynamic character of policy making. Explores the emerging field of education policy and politics and the extricable nature of policy and policy and politics in education through study of policy as process at the local, state, and federal arenas. Its primary focus is upon policy questions of compulsory schooling, curriculum and testing, governance, and finance, as well as value tensions of quality, efficiency, equity, and choice.