Public Policy & Administration 397P - ST-Policymaking/Social Change

What is inequality and what is fair? This course examines inequality across three major policy areas: education, justice, and labor. For each policy area we begin with defining the inequality problem by examining race, ethnicity, gender, and class. We then we explore the policy solutions that have been tried to create more equality (e.g., No Child Left Behind, minimum-wage, Three Strikes sentencing laws) and assess their success and failure. Students will learn policy analysis and evaluation tools for assessing policies. By the end of the class student can expect to have gained a deep understanding of these policy areas and the political, economic and social challenges for creating equality in the United States.

Prerequisite: (RECOMMENDED, but not required) ECON 103, POLISCI 101 and POLISCI 280.

This is a team-based learning course that requires students to actively engage during the class sessions on projects and presentations. Preparation will involve watching video-clips, listening to podcasts, reading books and articles, and attending multiple speaker events on campus throughout the semester. The course requires a blend of team projects and individual work.