11.003J | Spring 2016 | Undergraduate

Methods of Policy Analysis

Calendar

SES # TOPICS KEY DATES
I. Foundations
1 Course Description, Goals, and Requirements  
2 Policy and Visions of Governance  
3 Case: Needles and Safe Injection Sites Assignment 1 due
4 Theories of Public Policy: How Choices Are Made  
5 Values and Public Policy  
6 Policy Analysis – Case: Bees, Mites, and Pesticides Skype with Haiti (re: mites and drought); Skype with New England Wildflower Society (re: pesticides)
7 Policy Analysis – Bees (cont.)  
8 Cost of Policy Assignment 2 due
II. Major Policies
9 Defense Policy  
10 Cost Benefit Analysis  
11 Cost Benefit (cont.)  
12 Cost-Effectiveness and Regression Analysis – Appalachia Case Study Assignment 3 due
III. Policy Process
13 Cost-Effectiveness and Regression Analysis – Poverty in America (cont.)  
14 Welfare – Focus Groups  
15 Social Insurance  
16

Health Policy – Vaccination Case

Guest: Dr. Howard Heller, Associate Medical Director at MIT Medical

 
17

City Government Policy and the Media

Guest: David Goodman, City Hall Reporter at The New York Times

Assignment 4 due
IV. Case Analysis
18

Case: Air Emissions Policy; Federal Policy

Guest: Coralie Cooper, Environmental Protection Specialist at Volpe

 
19

Case: Seed Conservation – New England Wild Flower Society; Regional Policy

Guest: Debbi Edelstein, Executive Director of New England Wild Flower Society

 
20

Case: Boston Busing and Desegregation; Local Policy

Guest: Joe Burnieika, Interim Director at Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Boston

 
21 Case: Land Readjustment Case; International Policy  
22 Final Assignment Work Day  
23–25 Project Presentations  
26 Wrap Up Final Paper due