In this course, students explore the impact of public policies and programs on the distribution of income, wealth, and opportunity in the United States.
Graduate Course
PA 523 Policy, Privacy, and Personal Identity in the Postgenomics Era
Social genomics integrates theories and methods in the genomic, social, and population health sciences to answer questions relevant to public health and social well-being. Research topics in social genomics and their implications for social and public policy are covered in this course. Key concepts in human genetics, population genetics, and statistical genetics are introduced, as well as historical and contemporary policy debates surrounding scientific advances in genomics. Fundamental questions include social repercussions of genomics research, the rationale for government intervention, and how to approach policy analysis in an era where the genomic revolution is changing how we think about privacy and personal identity.
PA 548 Economics of Health Care
This is a course in applied microeconomics. It is designed for students who already understand basic consumer and producer theory, and focuses on how health care markets differ from other markets and determinants of health.
PA 765 Issues in Educational Policy Analysis
This graduate-level seminar is an introduction to educational policy analysis. The course explores theoretical and conceptual approaches to policy analysis, key policy processes, and common reform or policy models. We investigate all of these with attention to current issues, policies, and their implementation and outcomes in American education for kindergarten through 12th grade. In addition, we will turn a critical eye to the act of policy analysis itself, considering what it means to be a policy analyst and what kind of policy analysis students might engage in as part of their practice.
PA 799 Independent Reading
Instructions on how to propose an independent study course with a La Follette faculty member.
PA 800 Professional Development Workshop
La Follette students are required to take the one-credit PA 800 Professional Development Workshop in their first fall semester. The Associate Director teaches the course, which focuses on essential skills students must have to be successful in graduate school and in their careers, such as policy memo writing, data visualization, job search and networking strategies, resume and cover letter development, interviewing, and policy memo writing.
PA 802 Public Affairs Seminar Series
The La Follette School Seminar Series engages participants in discussion of a range of public policy issues and showcases the research of faculty from the La Follette School, other UW-Madison departments, and outside the UW-Madison community.
PA 809 Introduction to Energy Analysis and Policy
Heightened concern about both the availability of energy resources and their environmental
impacts has increased demand for leaders and analysts who can navigate the political,
economic, scientic, and technological dimensions of these issues to inform critical policy
decisions.
PA 810 Energy Analysis Seminar
Interdisciplinary capstone for the Energy Analysis and Policy curriculum. Application of energy knowledge to an analysis project for a real-world client. Integrate and apply technical, economic, political, and social factors in energy decision-making.
PA 818 Introduction to Statistical Methods for Public Policy Analysis
This course provides an introduction to the statistical methods used in public policy. The course will cover the basics of probability, statistics, and quantitative methods in public policy analysis. The course stresses interpretation and presentation of data as well as theory.