Data Visualization with R

MIA and MPA Policy Skills II Core. Priority Registration: MIA and MPA. This course introduces students to data visualization in R as a tool for exploring data, communicating insights, and supporting evidence-based decision making in public policy. Students will develop practical skills in creating effective visualizations using R's modern data visualization ecosystem, including ggplot2, Plotly, Shiny, and geospatial mapping tools.

Through hands-on work with real-world datasets, students will learn to build static and interactive charts, dashboards, and map-based visualizations while applying best practices in data exploration, data quality assessment, and visual communication. The course emphasizes both the technical foundations of data visualization and the principles of effective design, helping students develop the judgment to create accurate, compelling, and audience-appropriate graphics. Students are encouraged to use generative AI tools as coding assistants while gaining a strong understanding of the underlying concepts and workflows.

By the end of the course, students will be able to create publication-quality visualizations, develop interactive dashboards, visualize geospatial data, conduct exploratory data analysis, and critically evaluate the effectiveness of data visualizations across a range of policy applications. A final project requires students to produce an interactive dashboard based on an original exploratory analysis of a real-world dataset.