Policy Design

MIA and MPA Policy Skills Core II. Making good policy is a science, an art, and a craft. This course introduces students to the key principles of public policy design from global perspectives. Students will engage with a policymaker’s toolbox, examining best practices in evidence-based and participatory policymaking, policy innovation, and policy design. In addition to exploring the conceptual foundations of policymaking, the course equips students with practical tools they can apply throughout careers in government, think tanks, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector. A central focus of the course is policy memo writing. Students will learn how to conduct concise, evidence-based policy analysis and design meaningful policy solutions. Additional tools covered include: The design and use of indicators and public opinion polls; Stakeholder mapping; Public participation plans; Theories of change; Intersectional policy analysis.

By the end of the course, students will have a deeper understanding of how public policy is made and implemented across diverse contexts, along with enhanced skills for designing effective public policies and programs.