POLS 4480 - Comparative Public Policy

• Students will be able to analyze the key theoretical debates in public policy.
• Students will be able to identify an important policy problem, identify alternative policy solutions to that problem, and identify the strongest policy alternative.
• Students will be able to connect academic knowledge and knowledge of the discipline to a policy problem.
• Students will be able to apply policy analysis skills to propose a solution to a policy problem.
• Students will be able to communicate their policy analysis and solution in written form and present policy analysis in oral presentations.
• Students will be able to conduct critical analysis of comparative public policy.
• Students will be able to evaluate competing approaches to explaining outcomes in comparative public policy.
• Students will be able to examine key issues in comparative public policy.
• Students will be able to anticipate and respond to potential objections to a policy proposal.
• Explanation of issues. Students will be able to critically state, describe, and consider a public policy problem.
• Evidence. Students will be able to use information from a variety of source(s) combined with interpretation/evaluation to develop a comprehensive public policy analysis.
• Influence of context and assumptions. Students will be able to systematically and methodically analyze assumptions and carefully evaluate the relevance of contexts when examining a policy problem and presenting a public policy analysis.
• Student’s position (perspective, thesis/hypothesis). Students will be able to state a specific public policy proposal to address a policy problem that is thoughtful, recognizes complexities, and acknowledges limitations.
• Conclusions and related outcomes. Students will be able to identify and justify a policy problem solution in a written conclusion that is logical and in priority order.
• Transfer. Students will be able to adapt and apply skills, abilities, theories, or methodologies gained in other political and social science classes to a new, not previously examined policy problem.
• Integrated communication. Students will be able to present a policy analysis using the policy memo format in ways that enhance meaning.
• Reflection and self-assessment. Students will be able to utilize reflection and self-assessment while developing sense of self as a learner and building on prior experience to respond to new and challenging contexts as they work to solve policy problems.