Women in Politics and Public Policy
Curriculum
The Program’s academic focus is on the careful study of governmental structures and political processes, the effects of public policies on women, and the roles women have played in politics, policy formulation and implementation. The role of gender in politics and policymaking is central to the program’s design, goals, and curriculum. The six courses (see below for full descriptions) include core seminars, public policy research methods, and the internship.
Core Seminars: These two courses teach students advanced policy analysis and practical skills for politics and public policy formulation and implementation by focusing on contemporary American public policy issues and women in American politics and policymaking.
Research methods: Two courses provide training in case study methodology for policy analysis and culminates with a case study seminar. Students complete a case study as their capstone project.
Public policy internships: These two courses (Fall internship and Spring internship) provide learning environments for a deeper understanding of the political and policymaking process. Students spend at least 250 hours over the two semesters as interns in the offices of members of the U.S. Congress or state senators and repre-sentatives; in state or local agencies; non-profit or advocacy organizations; or at prestigious research institutes. Throughout the program faculty guide students in the process of integrating theoretical knowledge and practical skills learned in their internships.
Courses
- PAFG619 Contemporary American Public Policy Issues
Fall seminar in Program for Women in Politics and Public Policy. This course provides an overview of the policymaking process and electoral politics; students then examine several central public policy issues of contemporary concern, including, for example, homelessness and poverty, health, and environmental issues. Readings from the disciplines of sociology and political science analyze how public policy is shaped both by internal processes of government and by interest group dynamics.
- PAFG622 Fall Internship
In close consultation with the instructor, students in the WPPP Certificate Program develop and begin to work at an internship placement in a city, state, or federal government agency, in a lobbying or research organization, or in a non-profit organization whose work is directly related to public. Interns spend 16-20 hours per week in the placement, keeping a record of work activities and skills development, making connections between the academic courses and experiences at the internship. Students also meet regularly with the instructor to discuss the progress of their internship placement and write a paper each semester.
- PAFG623 Women in American Politics and Policy Making
Spring seminar in Program for Women in Politics and Public Policy. This course explores how politics and government affect American women’s lives today, and examines the ways that women participate in the political process in order to influence the course of public policy. Readings bridge the disciplinary perspectives of sociology and political science; newer feminist theoretical perspectives on public policy issues are included.
Prerequisites: PAFG 619, 622, 626.
- PAFG624 Spring Internship
The internship placement begun in the fall is completed, and evaluated. Students in the WPPP Certificate Program prepare and present a paper integrating the theoretical knowledge and practical skills based on their internship.
Prerequisites: PAFG 619, 622, 626.
- PAFG626 Case Study Methodology for Policy Analysis
Case studies produce in-depth knowledge of a policy within a narrowly defined framework. They are essential tools for understanding why a policy is enacted, how it is implemented, and which factors contribute to its success or failure. They provide an understanding of policy processes as well as outcomes. This course is designed so students will develop an understanding of the importance of research in policy development, learn fundamental research concepts and principles, become acquainted with significant case studies about policies affecting women, and gain the knowledge and skills necessary to undertake case study research projects in the spring Case Study Seminar (PAFG 627).
- PAFG627 Case Study Seminar
This seminar puts into practice the lessons students learned in Case Study Methodology for Policy Analysis Research. Students implement their research proposals. They collect and analyze data, decide on recommendations and policy implications, and create dissemination plans. In addition, students learn to manage time effectively, work collaboratively, and present their material orally and in writing.
Prerequisites: PAFG 619, 622, 626.
