Duke University 2009-2010 - Office of the Registrar - Duke University

312. Statistics and Data Analysis for Policy Makers. The purpose of this course is to ensure that students are both critical
consumers and effective producers of statistical evidence presented in support of policy arguments. Upon completing
this course, students will have the capacity to analyze and evaluate arguments based on simple descriptive statistics,
correlation, or multiple regression analysis. Students will also receive hands-on training in the creation of convincing
statistical reports, from manipulating large datasets to conducting sensitivity analysis and presenting results. Instructor:
Frankenberg or J. Vigdor. 3 units.
313. Quantitative Evaluation Methods. Problems in quantifying policy target variables such as unemployment, crime,
and poverty. Experimental and nonexperimental methods for evaluating the effect of public programs, including topics
in experimental design, regression analysis, and simulation. Graduate status only. Prerequisite: Public Policy Studies
222 or equivalent. Instructor: Cook or Gassman-Pines. 3 units.
314. The Politics of the Policy Process. The formulation of public policies, substantive policies in a variety of contexts
from local government to international affairs; the role of legislatures, interest groups, chief executives, and the
bureaucracy in defining alternatives and in shaping policy from agenda formulation to implementation. Graduate status
only. Instructor: Goss, Krishna, or Mayer. 3 units.
315. Public Management I. Operations management, information and performance, personnel management, public
sector marketing. Instructor: T. Taylor. 3 units.
316. Ethics and Policy-Making (A). Normative concepts in politics, liberty, justice, and the public interest: historical
and philosophical roots, relationship to one another and to American political tradition, and implications for domestic
and international problems. Not open to students who have taken Public Policy Studies 116. Graduate status only.
Instructor: Charney or Pickus. 3 units. C-L: Political Science 319
318. Advanced Microeconomics and Public Policy-Making. Consumption and production theory, welfare economics,
theories of collective choice, market structures and regulation, and non-market decision making. Prerequisites:
Intermediate microeconomics and multivariate calculus necessary. Matrix algebra and differential equations useful.
Intended for advanced masters students and PhD students. Instructor consent required. Instructor: Bellemare or Pfaff.
3 units.
320. Globalization and Governance. Seminar explores economic, political, and social aspects of globalization and their
implications for public policy making in the twenty-first century. Focus on issues of governance, particularly
international cooperation, the design of international organizations, and the role of international NGOs. Policy areas
include international trade and finance, environment, security, human rights, media and communications, and
international development. Instructor: Jentleson or Mayer. 3 units.
325. Topics in Health Policy. Seminar introduces students to major health policy concepts and methods of analysis of
health policy problems. Focus on domestic and international health policy topics, including: nature of disease, health
and economics, health care delivery systems, demography and health. Consent of intstructor required. Instructor: D.
Taylor. 3 units.
330. Special Topics in Leadership and Management. Selected topics. Prerequisite: graduate level. Instructor: Staff. 1.5
units.
340. Advanced Special Topics in Public Policy. Contents and methods vary with instructors and from semester to
semester. Instructor: Staff. 3 units.
341. Advanced Special Topics in Public Policy. Contents and methods vary with instructors and from semester to
semester. Instructor: Staff. Variable credit.
345. Racial and Ethnic Minorities in American Politics. 3 units. C-L: see Political Science 316; also C-L: Law 597
350. Special Topics in Social Policy. This course will introduce students to the major methods used in the analysis of
problems in social policy. These methods derive from economics, political science, human development, ethics, and
systems analysis. Students will learn to apply these methods to contemporary problems. Students will learn to think
critically, analytically, and synthetically. Students will write critical reactions, policy briefs, and opinion papers. Class
time will be devoted to lectures, student discussion of readings, oral presentations by students, and occasional guest
speakers. Instructor: Gibson-Davis. 3 units.
360. Special Topics in Global Policy & Governance. This course seeks to explore some central questions of global policy
and governance. Taking advantage of its location in Geneva, it provides students with an opportunity to experience the
real world of international diplomacy, to access key actors and institutions involved in global policy processes, and to
think critically about the international system today, and what it might become. It is designed to give students access
to a range of international organizations, and to develop the skills knowledge and contacts necessary to enter a career
in international affairs. Consent of instructor required. Instructor: Staff. Variable credit.
380. Policy Analysis of Development. Seminar examines role of policy analysis in solving important social problems
and develops analytical and communication skills of participants in order to undertake effective policy analysis.
Examines public policy objectives and role of policy analysis in achieving these objectives, market and government
failures, role of the public and private sector, policy analysis tools and policy implementation and evaluation. Emphasis
given to specific policy problems based on the interests of the participants. Seminar relies on case studies, application
Departments, Programs, and Course Offerings 201