| Class Schedules Index | Course Catalogs Index | Class Search Page |
| Leadership and Public Policy - Evaluation and Analysis | |
| LPPA 3640 | Research Methods and Data Analysis in Public Policy (3) |
| This course will provide an overview of research methods and data analysis in public policy, integrating basic statistical modeling. The class will promote a critical understanding of what good research is, how people sometimes lie with statistics, and how flawed research can be identified, and an appreciation of the relationship between researchers and the rest of society, and how researchers can most suitably deal with the existence of skeptics | |
| LPPA 3650 | Choice and Consequences: The Economics of Public Policy (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | This course uses basic models from microeconomics to understand how these decision makers will respond to policies and when voluntary actions in private markets may be expected to lead to suboptimal outcomes and hence the circumstances under which a collective decision to control or influence behavior might produce better outcomes than private choices. Course was offered Spring 2024, Spring 2023 |
| LPPA 6100 | Economics of Public Policy I (3) |
| This course presents the simplest economic models explaining how individuals and organizations respond to changes in their circumstances and how they interact in markets, and it applies these models to predict the effects of a wide range of government programs. It also analyzes justifications that have been offered for government actions. | |
| LPPA 6150 | Research Methods & Data Analysis I (3) |
| The first part of a two-semester sequence in research methods and tools used to evaluate public policies. This course reviews basic mathematics and statistics used by policy analysts, and introduces regression methods for empirical implementation and testing of relations among variables. The purpose of this course is to develop skills that can be used throughout your profession and civic life. | |
| LPPA 7020 | Macroeconomic Policy (3) |
| Course examines how the macroeconomy finds equilibrium where aggregate supply equals aggregate demand. Lectures will examine fiscal policy, monetary policy, and the use of economic reasoning to understand the performance of national economies. Students will gain an appreciation for how the current global economic recession happened and why some policy intervensions have been more effective than others. | |
| LPPA 7035 | Benefit-Cost Analysis (3) |
| This course teaches 1) quantitative estimation of the benefits and costs of policy interventions, 2) the identification of deficiencies in published benefit-cost analyses (BCA), and 3) recognition of policy arenas where BCA may be problematic. The course covers the theory and historical use of BCA, and techniques to address uncertainty, benefits in the distant future, interventions that both raise and lower risks, and distributional impacts. | |
| LPPA 7110 | Economics of Public Policy II (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | Prepares students to apply economic analysis to public policy problems. Topics include externalities, industry regulation, and policy problems of allocating resources over time. Examples will show a broad range of substantive applications to domestic and international policymaking. |
| LPPA 7115 | Public Economics (3) |
| This course builds on the core Master of Public Policy economics sequence in examining the role of government in the economy. We will study several policy issues related to taxation and government spending in depth. Topics may include: Tax reform, Social Security, welfare, healthcare, unemployment insurance, education, criminal justice policy, and fiscal federalism. Prerequisite: PPOL 6100 and 7110, or permission of the instructor. | |
| LPPA 7120 | Economics of Social Insurance and Welfare Programs (3) |
| Why is health insurance reform so difficult? Should safety net programs have work requirements? This seminar studies social insurance and welfare programs from an economist's perspective. Topics include health insurance, unemployment, Social Security, food stamps and other programs. Will use mix of theory and econometric analysis to examine current policy debates in the United States. Course was offered Spring 2023, Spring 2022 | |
| LPPA 7160 | Research Methods and Data Analysis II (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | Builds on the methods and concepts introduced into Research Methods and Data Analysis I to prepare students to gather, analyze, criticize, and interpret complex data in public policy settings. Tools stressed may include multiple regression and experimentation. |
| LPPA 7200 | Household Data Analysis (3) |
| This course provides students with the basis to analyze one form of 'big data' information from households and individuals from a Household Budget Survey (HBS). This course will use an HBS dataset from Turkey, but the STATA and other techniques (ADePT) covered can also be used with datasets from other countries, including the US.. | |
| LPPA 7220 | Advance Topics in Impact Evaluations (3) |
| Course investigates practical challenges policy researchers face conducting impact evaluations. Develop capacity to replicate prominent empirical research using experimental & quasi-experimental methods & present results in compelling, accessible formats.Course primarily uses R (No prior exp. w/R expected). Course assumes prior grad-level instruction in experimental & quasi-experimental methods and Batten MPPs likely have completed RMDA II. | |
| LPPA 8680 | Economics of Higher Education Policy (3) |
| This course is designed for those without training in economics who want a better understanding of how economic concepts and methods are used in analyzing education policy issues. It examines market concepts and forms of government involvement in the market and uses economic research in education. Students develop the skills of economic analysis by applying them to current issues in public education. Course was offered Spring 2019 | |
| Leadership and Public Policy - Leadership | |
| LPPL 2001 | Leadership in Athletics (3) |
| Athletics teams offer innumerable opportunities to learn about both the science & practice of team-level leadership. This course is focused specifically on leadership in a sports context, whether that be varsity, club, or recreational sports participation and administration. We will study: power and influence; interpersonal dynamics; group culture; ethical leadership and ethical decision-making; prejudice, discrimination, and equity. Course was offered January 2021 | |
| LPPL 2100 | The Resilient Student: Transition, Thriving, and Leadership (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | The adjustment from HS to college is filled with turbulent transitions and with opportunities for discovery, growth, and development of critical life skills. Course focuses on development of broad skills to create fulfilling lives and successful careers after college, especially in 4 areas: (1) development of emotional resilience skills, (2) development of life management skills, (3) intro to leadership concepts, and (4) establishment of small communities of students. Course was offered Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023, Spring 2023, Fall 2022, Spring 2022, Fall 2021, Spring 2021, Fall 2020, Spring 2020, Fall 2019, Spring 2019 |
| LPPL 2600 | Foundations of Behavioral Science (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | An overview of the fields of social psychology and behavioral science. We will explore behavioral research in basic social psychology, leadership and organizational behavior, and the ways in which social science methods and research are currently being used in public policy and to solve major societal problems. The ultimate goal is to teach students how to think like behavioral scientists. |
| LPPL 2750 | Teambuilding and Facilitation (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | Effective facilitators are architects of engagement. Take part in practical facilitation, bridging theory, & real-world scenarios. Develop facilitation skills, clear communication, & strategies for effective group development. Emphasis placed on facilitation practice, allowing students to gain experience & insight from collective feedback. Course was offered Spring 2024 |
| LPPL 3210 | Behavioral Sciences for Civic Leadership (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | Drawing on social science research, this course explores how public leaders contribute to problem identification, issue framing, policy adoption, crisis management, and organizational and societal change. The course will clarify the relationships among key concepts including leadership and followership, authority and influence, reciprocity and persuasion, and examine the role of contextual factors in shaping the strategies of 21st century leaders |
| LPPL 3450 | Resilient Leadership for Teams and Teammates (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | Course builds students' skills in "the art of getting things done". Students will establish the critical leadership & team-building competencies that distinguish highly effective leaders. We will introduce frameworks that will enhance student's: resilience; team leadership skills; capacity for thriving in times of adversity; emotional intelligence; interpersonal skills (including conflict resolution & negotiation skills) & decision making. Course was offered Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Spring 2022, Fall 2021, Spring 2021, Spring 2020, Spring 2019, Fall 2018 |
| LPPL 3455 | Negotiation, Decision Making and Cooperation (3) |
| Solving Problems Together. The course will study the psychology of negotiations, problem-solving and social decision making; and develop skills in each area. Exercises, simulations and reading will prepare students to employ a problem-solving approach to negotiation. | |
| LPPL 3480 | Leadership in American Policy toward China (3) |
| Examine role of individual leaders shaping American policy toward China, from Communist Rev to present. Follow important episodes&decisions & examine instances of "thought leadership," those outside gov successfully shaping the thinking/decisions of those inside it. Examine domestic & foreign factors shaping decisions. Identify personal experiences, skills &biases brought by leaders. Leaders include:Marshall,Truman,Kissinger&Nixon,Paulson,&Obama | |
| LPPL 4225 | Leadership and Practice (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | LPPL 4225 is designed to foster three critical skillsets: 1) The expansion of your self-awareness to enhance your competence as a leader, 2) Learning ways to support and inspire the development of strengths in others, and 3) Combining these skills to improve the effectiveness of your student organizations at UVA by reflecting on the organizational and interpersonal dynamics of those groups. |
| LPPL 4660 | Value and Bias in Public Policy (3) |
| This course moves beyond the traditional economic approach to public policy and explores the role of psychological analysis. Decision-making is not always rational, but involves various cognitive biases that can result in mistrust and prejudice, preference for avoidance of loss rather than maximization of gain, and overweighting of short-term outcomes. | |
| LPPL 4680 | Lead from Anywhere: From the Classroom to the Community (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | Students put into practice leadership skills & competencies through experiential learning preparing them for a lifetime of civic engagement as policy makers & citizens. Course emphasizes opportunities to use learned frameworks to evaluate real-world applications & will help students identify opportunities to engage in public life regardless of their chosen profession. Course serves as a bridge between the Batten education & life after graduation. Course was offered Spring 2024 |
| LPPL 4745 | Leadership in Context (3) |
| This course provides exposure to prevailing theories and principles of leadership with the goal of familiarizing students with leadership concepts in multiple contexts. Students will identify and evaluate the knowledge, skills, & values that different organizations and communities expect their leaders to possess. Through course readings, case studies, guest speakers and discussion, students reflect on what leadership roles will demand of them. | |
| LPPL 5025 | Wise Interventions: Social Psychology and Public Policy (3) |
| Course will provide an overview of classic and contemporary psychological interventions aimed at improving human welfare. It will examine the role of psychological factors in social reforms in healthcare, the workplace, education, intergroup relations, and other domains. Theory, empirical evidence, policy implications, and policy implementation will be emphasized. Course was offered Spring 2021 | |
| LPPL 5035 | Leading and Managing Diverse Groups (3) |
| This course will focus on interpersonal, organizational, and societal factors leaders must negotiate to lead effectively in socially diverse environments. Students will be exposed to cases and empirical research that will enable them to (1) develop well-articulated positions on diversity-related issues and (2) form strategies to promote sustainable settings for productive exchange among diverse groups of individuals. Course was offered Spring 2022, Spring 2019 | |
| LPPL 6050 | Leadership in the Public Arena (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | Course provides an introduction to leadership in the public arena. Through course readings, team projects, and discussion of case studies, students will develop skill at identifying the resources, options, and constraints of leaders and followers in different organizational and political settings, writing policy memos, making professional policy presentations, developing negotiation strategies, managing uncertainty and stress, & working in teams. |
| LPPL 6745 | Stigma and Social Disparities (3) |
| Introduces classic and contemporary theory and research on the social psychology of stigma, primarily from the perspective of the stigmatized. Topics include stigma's origin and nature, stigma and self-concept, stereotype threat, attributional ambiguity, stigma and social interaction, and implications of stigma for education, health, and life attainment more generally. Provides an overview of this area of psychology and its policy implications. Prerequisites: Graduate Student | |
| LPPL 7025 | Values-Based Leadership (3) |
| Course shapes public leaders to recognize & respond to competing value propositions & implement value objectives in specific public context. Course goes beyond concrete incentive systems & aims to shape decisions, behavior, & expectations through social norms & organizational culture. Leaders in the public arena must appreciate competing value propositions & articulate & advocate for principles & standards of behavior. | |
| LPPL 7055 | Strategies and Processes of Negotiation (3) |
| This course examines the art and science of negotiation. The science of negotiation involves learning to recognize the structure of a conflict situation and knowing what techniques tend to be most effective given that structure. Because there is no substitute for negotiating experience, this class will rely heavily on role-playing exercises and analyses designed to help students develop their own styles and learning the art of negotiation. | |
| LPPL 7075 | Global Leadership (3) |
| What does it mean to be a global leader? Global leaders think globally and act globally, think globally and act locally, or think locally and act globally. What additional knowledge and leadership skills are necessary for successful performance of those roles? After considering the analytical dimensions of global leadership, the course will discuss a series of cases of global leadership, including both successful and unsuccessful examples. | |
| LPPL 7410 | Psychology for Leadership (3) |
| Leading in the public context requires an understanding of one's own & others' thoughts, feelings, & motivations; & tools for working toward mutually valued outcomes. Course uses behavioral science to develop this understanding & build a toolkit. Through exercises, lectures, discussion, readings, & projects, students will learn general behavioral principles that they can leverage to work toward valued communal goals within public institutions. | |
| LPPL 7800 | Leadership Skills (1) |
| Emphasizing learning through practice, this 'short course' reinforces, and in some cases introduces, skills that students will use in the policy arena. Skills include public speaking, negotiation in public policy, and grant-writing. Students will be graded on the basis of engagement with class materials and completion of a weekly, one-page deliverable or assignment of similar weight. Meets for 10 hours during the semester of students' second year. | |
| Leadership and Public Policy - Policy | |
| LPPP 2000 | Batten Showcase: A Collection of Lectures on Leadership and Public Policy (1) |
| This course is designed to give students an opportunity to learn from our preeminent Batten faculty who are committed to solving the world's toughest leadership and policy challenges. You will learn from scholars and practitioner faculty that work on the complex issues of our time about our multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving. Course was offered Spring 2024, Fall 2022 | |
| LPPP 2050 | Bridge to Batten (1) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | Bridge to Batten is a 1-credit CR/NC course for economically underrepresented students considering Batten's programs and/or a career in public policy. Course provides opportunities for academic, personal & professional exploration; increases knowledge of public service & policy worlds; & strengthens connections to peers & resource networks at the University to support student success. Instructor permission required via application. Course was offered Spring 2024 |
| LPPP 2200 | Introduction to Public Policy (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | This course will introduce students to both the process of public policy and the tools of policy analysis. The first part examines the actors, institutions, and procedures involved in the adoption, implementation, and evaluation of public policy. The second part introduces students to the basic concepts and tools of policy analysis including problem definition, specification of alternatives, and solution analysis. |
| LPPP 2500 | Special Topics in Leadership and Public Policy (1 - 4) |
| Topical course in leadership and public policy. Course was offered Spring 2021, Fall 2019 | |
| LPPP 2559 | New Course in Public Policy and Leadership (3) |
| Investigates a selected issue in public policy or leadership. Course was offered Spring 2023, Spring 2021 | |
| LPPP 2700 | Outdoor Leadership: Building a Team (3) |
| Leading teams in an outdoor space require a strong team foundation, good risk-management skills, learn to live outdoors, and develop a wide range of outdoor technical skills. An emphasis will be placed on reflection of field time and how content learned in class can apply to a variety of contexts. Learning to lead in outdoor spaces gives leaders tangible leadership practice and a flexible mindset to solve front-country problems. | |
| LPPP 3000T | Non-UVa Transfer/Test Credit (1 - 10) |
| LPPP 3001 | Public Policy Writing Lab (1) |
| Develops professional writing skills. | |
| LPPP 3230 | Public Policy Challenges of the 21st Century (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | This survey course that introduces students to the history, politics, and economic and social significance of the major challenges facing 21st century U.S. policymakers. Examples of topics that may be explored include: the federal deficit and debt, the rise of China and India, health care costs, climate policy, energy security, economic opportunity in an era of globalization, the future of public higher education, and U.S. foreign policy. |
| LPPP 3250 | Global Development Policy (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | This course explores key challenges in global development policy & our complicated roles as global citizens in the twenty-first century. We'll grapple w/key questions: Why some countries escape poverty, while others fail or see poverty worsen? How development economists & policy experts approached global development in the past? What roles do governments, aid agencies & stakeholders play in alleviating poverty? What's worked, what hasn't, & why? |
| LPPP 3255 | Comparative Policy History (3) |
| Course will survey the historical development of key public policy issues in cross-national perspective. What explains the similarities and differences in the content of the policy agendas across nations? Why do different nations often respond to similar problems in very different ways? Examples of issues that will be explored include health care, education, immigration, environment, and social policy. | |
| LPPP 3500 | Special Topics in Social Entrepreneurship (3) |
| Topical course in social entrepreneurship Course was offered January 2025, January 2024, January 2023, Spring 2022, Janiuary 2022, Fall 2021, Summer 2021, January 2021, January 2020, Fall 2019, Spring 2019 | |
| LPPP 3559 | New Course in Public Policy and Leadership (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | Investigates a selected issue in public policy or leadership. Course was offered Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2022, Fall 2021, Spring 2021, Spring 2020, Spring 2019, Fall 2018 |
| LPPP 3620 | Engaging Policy Communities (3) |
| This class examines how citizens, leaders, interest groups and activists work to reshape our understanding of problems over time and investigates why some problems gain policy attention while others languish. The class emphasizes the complexity of understanding, designing, and implementing large scale policies that attempt to address problems that are ultimately experienced by people in specific contexts and communities. | |
| LPPP 4000T | Non-UVa Transfer/Test Credit (1 - 10) |
| LPPP 4200 | Institutional and Political Context of Public Policy (3) |
| What are the strengths and weaknesses of the major policy-making institutions, and how does the current system of American governance compare with that of other advanced societies? This class will examine the key institutional and political actors in policymaking; focusing on the increasing fole of non-governmental institutions in problem solving. | |
| LPPP 4210 | Integrating Ethics in Public Policy (3) |
| This course explores how ethical considerations are integrated in public policy choices. How do legal, regulatory and political mechanisms facilitate or impede their integration? Can ethical concerns keep pace with disruptive technological change? We consider obstacles to informed ethical decision-making, including technical competence, and the challenge of addressing ethical concerns when society is divided by divergent viewpoints and values. | |
| LPPP 4500 | Topics in Public Policy and Leadership (1 - 4) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | Topical courses in public policy and leadership Course was offered Spring 2023, Fall 2022, Spring 2022, Fall 2021, Spring 2021, Fall 2020, Spring 2020, Fall 2019, Fall 2018 |
| LPPP 4559 | New Course in Public Policy and Leadership (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | Investigates a selected issue in public policy or leadership. |
| LPPP 4599 | Special Topics in Public Policy (3) |
| This is an upper level topics course offered in the Frank Batten School of Leadership & Public Policy | |
| LPPP 4725 | NGOs in the Policy Arena (4) |
| Since the 1960s, nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations have played an increasingly central role in the domestic public policy arena. This class explores their involvement in the interpretation and implementation of federal policy, the coordination of policy solutions, and advocacy for the policies and populations they serve. Policy areas we may consider include poverty and social welfare; the environment; and civil and political rights. | |
| LPPP 4991 | Capstone Seminar (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | Students will produce a report providing an analysis of the problem, the policy options available, and their action recommendations. Students will improve their ability to work in teams and hone their written and oral presentation skills. |
| LPPP 4993 | Independent Study (1 - 6) |
| Independent study in the field of public policy and leadership. Course was offered Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023, Spring 2023, Fall 2022, Summer 2022, Spring 2022, Fall 2021, Spring 2021, Fall 2020, Fall 2018 | |
| LPPP 4999 | Independent Study (1) |
| Independent study for international student studying abroad. | |
| LPPP 5350 | NGO Leadership in Public Policy: Best Practices (2 - 3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | NGOs play a growing role in shaping U.S. public policies. Skepticism of federal policymaking has opened opportunities for policy entrepreneurs to challenge well-funded private sector lobbies in shaping the agenda. This seminar will examine tactical options and key case studies to equip future NGO activists. We'll look at best practices from both national and local NGO campaigns, think tanks and grass roots organizations competing to make policy |
| LPPP 5500 | Short Course Topics (1) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | Courses examine special topics in public policy and/or leadership. |
| LPPP 5540 | Applied Policy Clinics (2) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | Applied Policy Clinics Topics Course Course was offered Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2021, Spring 2021, Fall 2020, Spring 2020, Fall 2019, Spring 2019, Fall 2018 |
| LPPP 5559 | New Course in Public Policy and Leadership (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | Investigates a selected issue in public policy or leadership. |
| LPPP 5993 | Independent Study (1 - 6) |
| Student will perform independent projects under close faculty supervision. Course was offered Spring 2021 | |
| LPPP 6001 | Foundational Skills Workshop (1) |
| Leadership and Public Policy foundational skills course. | |
| LPPP 6250 | Policy Analysis (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | The purpose of this course is to develop the student's ability to define and solve public problems. Subsidiary objectives of the course are to help the student to integrate the analytical, political, and leadership skills they have learned in their other MPP courses and improve their ability to work in teams; and hone their written and oral presentation skills. Prerequisites: Graduate student in public policy |
| LPPP 6350 | Politics of Public Policy (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | In this course students will learn how to create change in the public policy arena by understanding political actors, their interests, and the institutions they inhabit. Students will learn how issues move through the policy process, at which points they are most amenable to influence, and how to create and use professional work products to influence them. |
| LPPP 6500 | Topics in Public Policy (1) |
| Investigates a selected issue in public policy or leadership. Course was offered Fall 2023, Spring 2023, Fall 2022, Spring 2022, Fall 2021, Spring 2021, Fall 2020, Spring 2020, Fall 2019, Spring 2019, Fall 2018 | |
| LPPP 6559 | New Course in Public Policy and Leadership (3) |
| Investigates a selected issue in public policy or leadership. Course was offered Spring 2024 | |
| LPPP 6775 | Federal Regulatory Policy (3) |
| This course examines how federal agencies make policy by issuing regulations to implement legislation. It considers administrative procedures that agencies follow in issuing regulations. It explores regulatory policy as an arena where economic and political interests struggle to control the federal bureaucracy. Students learn rulemaking and how to influence regulatory policy. They prepare public comments on proposed federal regulations. | |
| LPPP 7010 | The Political and Moral Dimensions of Public Policy (3) |
| The philosophical dimension of the course stresses that all public policy involves making choices among conflicting values, and that such normative tradeoffs apply both at the institutional level and at the level of policy itself. The course serves as a natural venue for discussions of the professional ethics of being a leader or policymaker. Course was offered Fall 2018 | |
| LPPP 7015 | Advanced Development Policy (3) |
| Examines theories and policy debates particularly relevant to developing and transition economies. Class will discuss the standard theories of development economics as well as how those theories - and existing policies - are challenged by current trends in the global economy. Particular focus is placed on the macro and micro-economic challenges facing governments in developing countries, and the int'l institutions that attempt to assist them. | |
| LPPP 7040 | Foreign Policy Failure: Case of US policy to China (3) |
| Within a few years of the Tiananmen Crisis of 1989, US & Chinese leaders launched efforts to build a more stable & cooperative relationship. By the 2016 American presidential election there was a growing consensus in the US that many strategies had failed. What went wrong? Was American China policy based on faulty assumptions? Was it poorly implemented? This course examines the causes of foreign policy failure, using the case of American policy towards China. Course was offered Fall 2021, Spring 2021 | |
| LPPP 7350 | Applied Policy Project Preparation (1) |
| The course consists of assignments related to preparation for the Applied Policy Project in the spring. Course was offered Fall 2018 | |
| LPPP 7559 | New Course in Public Policy and Leadership (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | Investigates a selected issue in public policy or leadership. Course was offered Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023, Spring 2023, Fall 2022, Spring 2022, Spring 2021, Fall 2020, Spring 2020, Fall 2019, Spring 2019, Fall 2018 |
| LPPP 7600 | Thesis Project (3) |
| Thesis Project Course was offered Spring 2019 | |
| LPPP 7610 | Applied Policy Project (3) |
| The Applied Policy Project (APP) is the capstone event of the MPP program, an independent analytical project for each student, working with an external client on a mutually agreed upon policy problem facing the client organization. The final product is a report approximately 50 pages single-spaced in length, professionally bound, and presented both to the faculty member and to the client. Course was offered Spring 2019 | |
| LPPP 7630 | Fundamentals of International Political Analysis (3) |
| In this immersive course, students will become a team of international political analysts for the semester. After selecting a specialization to pursue, students will learn how to collect and evaluate knowledge, interview experts, organize their ideas, and write and brief decisionmakers. This course will provide valuable experience for those interested in careers in international relations, foreign policy, public policy, media, or related fields. | |
| LPPP 7700 | Applied Policy Project I (3) |
| The Applied Policy Project (APP) is the capstone event of the MPP program, an independent analytical project for each student. Divided over two semesters, APP I provides students with the opportunity for a semester of research and information gathering in the policy field of the student's external client. | |
| LPPP 7750 | Applied Policy Project II (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | The Applied Policy Project (APP) is the capstone event of the MPP program, an independent analytical project for each student. During APP II, students produce a final report of approximately 50 single-spaced, professionally bound pages. The report is presented to both the faculty member and to the client. |
| LPPP 7993 | Independent Study (1 - 6) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | Student will perform independent projects under close faculty supervision. Course was offered Summer 2023, Summer 2022, Fall 2021, Spring 2021, Fall 2020, Spring 2020, Fall 2019, Spring 2019, Fall 2018 |
| Leadership and Public Policy - Substantive | |
| LPPS 3040 | US National Security Policy (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | This course examines the problems and issues confronting American national security policymakers and the factors that influence the policies that emerge. Types of questions we will address include: What threatens those interests? How should the U.S. defend those interests? What kind of military should we build? Should the U.S. enter alliances with other countries? The course is organized along an historical time line. |
| LPPS 3050 | Introduction to Social Entrepreneurship (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | Social entrepreneurship is an approach to creating system-level change through the application of entrepreneurial thinking to social ventures, non-profit organizations, government institutions, and NGOs to create economic, environmental, and social value for multiple stakeholders. In this course you will be introduced to a range of entrepreneurial approaches aimed at solving social problems - from the non-profit to the for-profit. Course was offered Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023, Spring 2023, Fall 2022, Spring 2022, Fall 2021, Spring 2021, Fall 2020, Spring 2020, Fall 2019, Spring 2019, Fall 2018 |
| LPPS 3095 | Human Security (3) |
| This course focuses on the things that threaten and empower individuals and their families. As noted in UN resolution 66/290, "human security is an approach to assist States in identifying and addressing widespread and cross-cutting challenges to the survival, livelihood and dignity of their people." Questions will include: What threatens human survival? What are the sources of human disability? What leads to personal satisfaction and wellness? Course was offered Spring 2021 | |
| LPPS 3150 | For a Good Cause: Practical Nonprofit Fundraising (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | Nonprofits -- from refugee advocacy groups to homeless shelters to world-class museums and universities -- along with political campaigns and social movements share a common problem: they need money. Fundraising is fuel for action and a marketable skill. This experiential learning class will help you to understand the different types of fundraising and the essentials of designing and executing a development plan by actively raising money. |
| LPPS 3160 | Project 1st Gen+ @UVA (3) |
| Universities can foster opportunities for social advancement for all or they can facilitate ongoing economic inequality. How we incorporate lower-income and first-generation students is a defining factor. This learning lab poses the question for UVA: how well does the university support its first-gen and lower-income students? What can we do about it? Students will gain research experience addressing these questions. Course was offered Fall 2021 | |
| LPPS 3220 | Big Tech, Society, and Public Policy (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | Through a mix of case studies, official documents, and online media, this course provides a deeper dive into: (1) the industries we now call "Big Tech," (2) the policy landscape that both influences and is influenced by technology innovation, as well as (3) the business and cultural challenges at this intersection of technology and policy. |
| LPPS 3225 | Conscious Social Change (3) |
| An experiential learning course and social venture incubator integrating and applying contemplative practice, mindful leadership skills, conscious social change methodologies and social entrepreneurship frameworks in the development of new ideas to solve local and global social issues. The course provides future change leaders with the skills to invest in their own self-understanding and initiate social change with impact at home and abroad. Course was offered January 2020, January 2019 | |
| LPPS 3235 | International Public Policy (3) |
| This course examines how public problems are defined, how different policy solutions are crafted, and the ways in which we judge their effectiveness in the U.S. and around the world. We will use the countries we visit to illustrate the different ways that countries craft public policies, why they do so, and what the tradeoffs and consequences are. | |
| LPPS 3240 | Terrorism and Counterterrorism (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | The 9-11 attacks ushered in a new era of international terrorism. Over the course of the Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations, experts have grappled to employ an effective strategy for countering Al Qaeda, ISIS, and their affiliates. This course explores the lessons of this long, troubled chapter, especially through our engagement in Afghanistan, and seeks to apply those lessons to countering future terrorist threats at home and abroad. Course was offered Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023, Spring 2023, Fall 2022, Spring 2022, Fall 2021, Spring 2021, Fall 2020, Spring 2020, Fall 2019, Spring 2019, Fall 2018 |
| LPPS 3241 | Science and Technology Policy for Interns (3) |
| This course is designed to prepare undergraduates for internships in science and technology policy. In the longer term, it aims to develop future leaders in science and technology, inside and outside of government, by equipping students with knowledge and skills in public policy. Enrollment is limited to Instructor permission. Students are strongly encouraged to find an internship in the Summer, but this is not required. Course was offered Spring 2019 | |
| LPPS 3270 | Comparative Social Policy (3) |
| This course examines social policy in the high-income countries of Western Europe, North America, and Australasia. Using a number of frames to define social citizenship, we will consider the scope of the welfare state in advanced economies. In particular, this will include considering the policies that affect the decisions of young adults: from employment, to forming a family, to acquiring housing. | |
| LPPS 3280 | Lessons in Leadership: JFK and the Most Personal Office (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | This course introduces students to the history, politics and leadership legacy of John F. Kennedy. From topics as wide-ranging as tax policy and space exploration to the war in Vietnam, dismantling of the Berlin Wall and the hunt for Osama Bin Laden, the class will trace the impact of a brief Presidency over nearly sixty years and focus on how Kennedy's life, presidency and tragic assassination influenced the leadership styles and impacted public policy. |
| LPPS 3290 | Social Innovation in Emerging Markets: India and South East Asia (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | This is an introductory course, aimed at exposing students to modern Indian and South Asian society, culture, business and policy through a variety of materials. The course may be particularly important due to the rising stature and importance of India and more generally, South Asia, in the global economy. |
| LPPS 3295 | Global Humanitarian Crises Response (3) |
| Course will look at critical questions defining global humanitarian action and policy. The inability to deliver aid inside Syria, record refugee flows, drought in Ethiopia, brutal conflict in Yemen, are only some of today's crises. Using historical and critical analysis, case studies, and insights from guest speakers, the foundations, dilemmas, and operations of humanitarian aid will be explored. | |
| LPPS 3310 | Police-Community Relations: Problems and Prospects (3) |
| The current state of US police-community relations is in a precarious condition. Recent incidents of negative police-citizen encounters resulting in deaths of unarmed citizens & police officers has affected public trust & confidence in local law enforcement. Class focuses on problems of police-community relations & deliberates prospects for policy solutions. Students develop & present policy proposals to address a particular problem. | |
| LPPS 3320 | Strategy: Understanding Conflict and Cooperation (3) |
| Course asks a variety of questions and uses a wide range of topics to introduce students to fundamental tools & concepts in decision & game theory, including: strategy of electoral competition, logic of armed conflict, design & enforcement of international treaties, voting systems & social choice, & key tools in modern public policy toolbox (matching, procurement auctions). Course was offered Spring 2021 | |
| LPPS 3330 | Education and Conflict (3) |
| Through global case studies in regions including Africa, the Middle East, the US, & Australia, course explores relationship betwn education & conflict: how education systems exacerbate conflict through curricula, inequalities such as access & knowledge gaps; how educ systems can alleviate poverty & other factors leading to armed conflict; how external factors (resource scarcity, global climate change,political instability) impact educ & conflict. | |
| LPPS 3340 | Innovating for Defense (3) |
| Experiential course where students work directly w/U.S. Dept. of Defense to address real-world nat'l security challenges, gaining problem-solving & prof. skills for any field. Through research, stakeholder interviews, & engagements w/outside experts, student teams develop policy recs for project sponsors' orgs. Recent project sponsors: US Strategic Command, Space Security & Defense Program, & Nat'l Ground Intelligence Center. | |
| LPPS 3350 | Constitutional Law: Rights, Liberty, & Justice (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | "This course offers an exploration into the evolution of constitutional rights, liberties, and justice from 1953 to the present day, focusing on the tenures of Chief Justices Warren, Burger, Rehnquist, and Roberts. Emphasis is placed on landmark Supreme Court cases and the distinct personalities and leadership styles of the aforementioned Chief Justices. Students will examine the means by which the Constitution can be ""changed,"" such as through interpretation, convention, or societal shifts. By the end of the course, students should be able to critically engage with constitutional debates, understand the evolving nature of rights and liberties in the U.S., and appreciate the significance and power of the Supreme Court in shaping American society." |
| LPPS 3360 | From Inequality to Action (3) |
| In an era where problems are abundant, where solutions are available, and action has stalled, this class grapples with the question of how and why actors with fewer economic or political resources have occasionally gained policy victories over their more powerful adversaries. We will read cases from the United States and abroad that highlight the lessons from both successful and failed efforts at promoting greater equity. Course was offered Fall 2019 | |
| LPPS 3365 | Effectual Entrepreneurship (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | This course brings you the lessons expert entrepreneurs have learned over decades. Through their experiences, expert entrepreneurs learn not only to tackle the unpredictable, but also to embrace and even leverage it to cocreate enduring new ventures. In this course, you will have the opportunity to explore in depth the principles and practices of effectuation. We will grapple with the principles and process of effectual action and interaction. |
| LPPS 3370 | Trauma and the US Public School System (3) |
| This course explores trauma in the context of child development and how the United States public school system serves to address this issue from policy perspective. Applied policy will be a unique focus of this course with case studies. School based mental health services, educational supports, and the historical context of education will be covered. | |
| LPPS 3380 | Poverty, Learning, and Education Policy (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | Discussion-based course w/a developmental examination of child poverty (multi-layer effects of history, culture,&geographic location). Examine: school reform efforts ("turnaround" schools,charter schools); implications of No Child Left Behind &2015 Every Student Succeeds Act; barriers (social isolation,violence,oppression,etc.) that contribute to failure of previous reform initiatives; education policies&proposals aiming to address these issues. |
| LPPS 3390 | Special Education Policy and Practice (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | This course will examine Special Education policy in the United States as it relates to practice, policy, and research. Students will understand the historical context of special education, the development of IDEA policy and relevant case law, as well as the changes that have been passed and proposed in regard to the current law in recent years. This class will be a mixture of lecture and discussion and will be taught from an equity in education lens. Course was offered Spring 2023 |
| LPPS 3410 | Innovation and Social Impact (3) |
| This course introduces students to the strategies and processes required in the contemporary economy to leverage innovation in order to maintain overall competitiveness and make a difference. Students will examine several firms, and individuals who have catalyzed positive social change through different organizational platforms in the market, in government, within the nonprofit sector, and increasingly in the space between these three sectors. | |
| LPPS 3415 | Sci, Eng, Tech for National Security & Leadership (3) |
| Science, engineering and technology (SET) are seminal assets for economic growth, social progress, innovation and national security. Global challenges impact national security and leaders must be conversant about SET to develop related domestic and international policies. The seminar examines these challenges, probes strategic foresight for global "megatrends" and assesses emerging and disruptive SET for leaders in a national security context. | |
| LPPS 3420 | International Law and Policy (3) |
| From the policy and regulatory perspective, problem-solving in such areas as the environment, immigration, trade, labor, social welfare, national security, and education depend on nations having functional and effective laws in place. Course examines the legal and constitutional underpinnings of key public policy challenges facing Great Britain, Europe, and the U.S. Course was offered Spring 2023 | |
| LPPS 3430 | Lessons from a Toy Store: How Behavioral Economics can Improve Education (3) |
| Class applies insights from behavioral economics, cognitive & social psychology & neuroscience to: 1. diagnose why ed policies do not always achieve desired goals & 2. identify innovative strategies for improving ed outcomes for economically-disadvantaged students. Toy store used as a unifying metaphor to highlight & discuss particular behavioral concepts & to illustrate how behavioral insights are applied in life to influence decision-making. | |
| LPPS 3440 | Intro to Mngmt Consulting & Strategic Decision Making (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | Students study complex & ambiguous problems like a strategy consultant. The immersive, case-based course gives students the skills & confidence to navigate complex business problems & facilitate discussion around the psychology of decision making teams. Learn hypothesis driven structured problem-solving approach & apply to mock case interviews & live consulting project w/a real-world client. Final case competition is presented to alumni leaders. |
| LPPS 3460 | Poverty & Policy (3) |
| How landmark social policies have impacted how we live, work, and die and how to use the legislative process to change these policies to ensure their relevance in today¿s society. | |
| LPPS 3470 | American Healthcare Syst: Challenges & Opportunities (3) |
| Course focuses on structure & function of US healthcare system. Covers history & current status of education, financing & delivery systems, including comparison with other nations. Topics include challenges that face current & future leaders, providers, patients, & policy makers. Examines issues of: workforce, financing, access, disparities & technology. Addresses problems and opportunities. | |
| LPPS 3490 | War and Society (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | Course teaches the fundamentals of military strategy, reviewing the political uses of military power & the respective roles of military & civilian leaders in formulating & implementing foreign policy. Students investigate how war affects civil society and how the characteristics of states¿ domestic politics and culture affect how leaders execute their chosen strategies. The common theme each week is to investigate the connection between the nature of the societies in conflict and how they prosecute the wars between them. |
| LPPS 3559 | New Course in Public Policy and Leadership (3) |
| Investigates a selected issue in public policy or leadership. | |
| LPPS 3660 | Humanitarian Diplomacy (3) |
| This course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the principles, practices, and challenges of diplomacy in the context of humanitarian policy and action. We will explore the role of diplomacy in addressing humanitarian crises, the ethical and legal considerations, and the practical skills required to engage in humanitarian diplomacy effectively. | |
| LPPS 3724 | Just Policy: Justice, Goodness, & Public Policy (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | Course explores the integration of moral & ethical considerations in addressing U.S. public policy challenges. Students study & contrast major philosophical & political theories of justice & the common good, including those that are embedded in the U.S. constitutional architecture; and consider and contrast how these theories would guide public policy choices. |
| LPPS 4220 | Comparative Budgeting & Economic Policy (3) |
| This course examines how the world's major states and regions manage their public finances and economic policies through their budgetary processes and institutions. | |
| LPPS 4230 | US Mental Health Policy (3) |
| Explore US mental health policy & analyze effectiveness of policies to address behavioral health needs. Examine how US Fed govt perceives mental illness, impact of science on policy initiatives & why US remains in state of crisis. Topics include: COVID, Social Determinants of Health, institutionalization vs community based svcs, impact of adverse childhood experiences, PTSD & military, brain science, financing mental health svcs & opioid crisis. | |
| LPPS 4260 | Politics of Development (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | How can we understand patterns of human development around the world? More specifically, how does politics affect health, prosperity and security? Through this course, you will become a critical consumer of explanations for human development and you will learn how to propose and evaluate development initiatives with a keen understanding of the importance of political factors. |
| LPPS 4320 | Elections and Policy (3) |
| This class explores the intersection between how we perform elections and how we craft public policy. We investigate two broad questions (1) the effect of policy on elections -- how rules around voting, funding, and the organization of elections influence election outcomes and larger policy discourse, and (2) the effect of elections on policy -- how elections shape elite motivations and citizen expectations around the development and passage of policy. Course was offered Fall 2022 | |
| LPPS 4330 | Confronting US Climate Policy (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | Project oriented course that will research specific climate problems, proposing new solution to decision makers at local & state level. Course expands understanding of broad societal scope relevant to climate action. Students are exposed to federal, state & local policy challenges and opportunities as well as understanding how business & politics shape the policy landscape. Gain understanding of diverse climate-relevant career opportunities. |
| LPPS 4550 | Social Entrepreneurship: Global Field Experience (3) |
| Social Entrepreneurship Global Field Experience Topics Course | |
| LPPS 4569 | Sustainable Practices Denmark (3) |
| This course is an intensive examination of how one progressive country in Europe is working toward sustainability through a variety of interconnected programs. This course in Denmark examines several programs being undertaken by local leaders to address problems in their communities. We will see what is being done to promote sustainability in four areas: green energy, sustainable transportation, food security, and what are called "livable cities" | |
| LPPS 4720 | Open Source for the Common Good (3) |
| Open source technology plays a major role in society and embodies a different culture with different tradeoffs and societal impacts. Open source is highly innovative and holds considerable promise for addressing most of the critical problems facing society such as sustainability, inequality, the cost of technology, and open access to knowledge. We will study the role of open source through numerous case studies and discussions. Course was offered Spring 2021, Spring 2020 | |
| LPPS 4730 | Impact Investing (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | 'Impact Investing' is the proactive deployment of financial resources to organizations for a positive return on investment and an additional, intentional social impact beyond financial returns. Impact Investing explores how funders (grant funders, investors, and policymakers) deploy capital to support social entrepreneurs. This course provides an introductory understanding of utilizing finance as a tool for solving social problems worldwide. |
| LPPS 4735 | Experiential Social Entrepreneurship (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | This experiential learning course applies basic principles of social entrepreneurship to real-world problems that social entrepreneurs are facing. Students will work in teams on challenges proposed by a set of local and international social entrepreneurs. This is a design-thinking-centric course for students interested in investigating how our world is adapting to solve the greatest social and environmental challenges of this century. Course was offered Fall 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023, Spring 2023, Fall 2022, Spring 2022, Fall 2021, Spring 2021, Fall 2020, Spring 2020, Spring 2019 |
| LPPS 4740 | Philanthropy (4) |
| This is a course on the philanthropic sector, comprising a set of private actors - foundations, nonprofit organizations, and private citizens - engaged in work to promote the public good. What distinguishes this sector is that while interacting with government and the business community, it operates differently than either, with its own ethics, goals, standards, and practices. Requisite: Instructor permission. | |
| LPPS 4750 | Political Leadership in American History (3) |
| This course will consider political leadership in American history as illustrated in decisions taken by U.S. Presidents, such as Lincoln, Wilson, Truman, Kennedy and Nixon. We shall analyze the pressures and constitutive factors leading to these decisions. | |
| LPPS 4760 | International Financial Institutions (3) |
| What are the IFIs and how have they influenced development policy and country outcomes? What factors do internal and external politics play in their operation and the panoply of international aid efforts? Are groups like "50/60 years in enough" and the Meltzer report right? Come explore IFIs (the IMF, the World Bank, and the Multilateral Development Banks) in a seminar setting examining policy in practice. Cross-listed with PLIR 5060. | |
| LPPS 5070 | Modeling Optimizations, Simulations, and Games (3) |
| The goal of this course is to teach students how to creatively model and solve operational and strategic problems in their organizations. Students will be introduced to solving and analyzing optimization problems, simulation and forecasting methodologies, and game theory. Course will also introduce utilization of Excel to conduct optimizations and simulations. Course was offered Fall 2018 | |
| LPPS 5200 | Adv Policy & Practice in Humanitarian Assistance: Critical Case Studies (3) |
| Course will use experiential learning and a case study approach that leads students to directly engage on a selection of the most pressing global humanitarian policies and operational practices being debated and developed. It will allow students to gain and practice critical leadership and management skills that are essential in crisis contexts, but also applicable to the aspiring consultant, public policy practitioner, and development worker. | |
| LPPS 5225 | uAcademy for Conscious Change (3) |
| An experiential learning course and social venture incubator integrating and applying contemplative practice, mindful leadership skills, conscious social change methodologies and social entrepreneurship frameworks in the development of new ideas to solve local and global social issues. The uAcademy provides future change leaders with the skills to invest in their own self-understanding and initiate social change with impact at home and abroad. Course was offered January 2020, January 2019 | |
| LPPS 5230 | US Mental Health Policy (3) |
| Explore US mental health policy & critically analyze effectiveness of policies to address Nation's behavioral health needs. Examine how US Federal govt perceives mental illness, impact of science on policy initiatives & why US remains in state of crisis. Topics include: institutionalization vs community based svcs, impact of adverse childhood experiences, PTSD & military, brain science, financing mental health svcs & current opioid crisis. | |
| LPPS 5240 | Anti-Terrorism and the Role of Intelligence (3) |
| Course examines the intelligence failures prior to 9/11 and the Iraq war, and the critical reports composed after the events, to determine what improvements may be needed to avoid a recurrence and to pre-empt future terrorist attacks against the United States. | |
| LPPS 5295 | Global Humanitarian Crises: Dilemmas, Leadership, and Action (3) |
| Course will look at critical questions defining global humanitarian action and policy. The inability to deliver aid inside Syria, record refugee flows, drought in Ethiopia, brutal conflict in Yemen, are only some of today's crises. Using historical and critical analysis, case studies, and insights from guest speakers, the foundations, dilemmas, and operations of humanitarian aid will be explored. | |
| LPPS 5325 | Leadership Implementation Development Policy Nudges (3) |
| Exciting new developments in social psychology and from behavioral economics are transforming our understanding of what makes for effective anti-poverty policy in developing as well as developed countries. This seminar course will examine specific anti-poverty policies like chlorinating water and using insecticide-treated bednets, in a series of case studies that illustrate how effective policy requires careful implementation. | |
| LPPS 5330 | Education and Conflict (3) |
| Through global case studies in regions including Africa, the Middle East, the US, & Australia, course explores relationship betwn education & conflict: how education systems exacerbate conflict through curricula, inequalities such as access & knowledge gaps; how educ systems can alleviate poverty & other factors leading to armed conflict; how external factors (resource scarcity, global climate change,political instability) impact educ & conflict. | |
| LPPS 5335 | Wicked Problem of Gun Violence (3) |
| Research origins of gun violence in American society, in conjunction with engaging with various stakeholders to propose sensible solutions to this problem. Assigned to Baltimore, Richmond, or Washington, DC & will participate in a visit to their locale to gain insights from politicians, policymakers, public safety professionals, & members of the public on the policies & programs that have been implemented to mitigate the prob. of gun violence. Course was offered Fall 2024 | |
| LPPS 5340 | Race and Policy (3) |
| This seminar will focus on the challenge that instances of racial injustice pose to political leaders designing policy. Race has offered a set of demonstrable injustices in American history through the present. The list of topics is inexhaustible, and the following list is necessarily limited and imperfect, but instances include slavery, Reconstruction, Jim Crow laws, segregation, class discrimination, and current criminal justice policies. | |
| LPPS 5360 | Imagining Equitable Policy (3) |
| What does it mean to prioritize equity in policy? Equity must be operationalized & incorporated into all policy stages: agenda setting, design, implementation, & evaluation. Consider frameworks & tools for centering equity in policy design: engage disadvantaged communities; evaluate degree current policies promote equity, examine policy histories & differential impacts; surface apparent tradeoffs in elevating equity over other analytic concerns. | |
| LPPS 5440 | Intro to Management Consulting and Strategic Decision Making (3) |
| Students study complex & ambiguous problems like a strategy consultant. The immersive, case-based course gives students the skills & confidence to navigate complex business problems & facilitate discussion around the psychology of decision making teams. Learn hypothesis driven structured problem-solving approach & apply to mock case interviews & live consulting project w/a real-world client. Final case competition is presented to alumni leaders. Course was offered January 2023, Janiuary 2022 | |
| LPPS 5460 | The Politics of the Budgetary Process (3) |
| This course examines the politics and processes of federal budgeting, and the role the budget plays in national economic policy making. Topics covered include the historical development of the budget and fiscal policy; the creation of the executive budget; the politics of the budgetary process through appropriations, entitlements, and tax policy; and the relationship between fiscal and monetary policy. Crosslisted with PLAP 5460 Course was offered Spring 2021, Spring 2019 | |
| LPPS 5550 | Global Field Experience (3) |
| Global Field Experience Topics Course | |
| LPPS 5555 | Advanced Public Policy & Leadership Seminar (3) |
| Investigates a selected issue in public policy or leadership. Course was offered Fall 2024, Spring 2024 | |
| LPPS 5559 | New Course in Public Policy and Substance (3) |
| Investigates a selected issue in public policy or substance Course was offered Spring 2023 | |
| LPPS 5670 | Global Climate Change: Rising to the Challenge (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | This course will cover the most salient aspects of the "climate emergency" both domestic and foreign. It will explore the science of climate change, international and national scientific assessment and the continuing campaign of climate denial. It will consider the benefits of mitigating versus adapting to climate change, and why adaptation is so crucial to developing countries. Course was offered Fall 2024 |
| LPPS 5720 | Public Interest Data: Ethics and Practice (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | Course provides students experience w/data science within a framework of data ethics in service of equity-oriented public policy. Primary goals are:collaborate w/community partner on project that advances social justice and policy understanding; practice working with real data and moral & ethical implications of work; and develop experience in data workflows that support ethical data science. Course was offered Spring 2024, Spring 2023 |
| LPPS 5740 | Data Science for Public Leaders (3) |
| As data science strategies continue to expand in the public sector, it is increasingly important that leaders and policy makers develop a critical understanding of these methods. In this course, we will develop an awareness of how data science methods are applied to policy, an intuition for how these methods work, and a framework for critiquing data science applications. Course restricted to students who have completed one of the pre-req courses. | |
| LPPS 5760 | International Financial Institutions (3) |
| What are the IFIs and how have they influenced development policy and country outcomes? What factors do internal and external politics play in their operation and the panopoly of international aid efforts? Are groups like "50/60 years in enough" and the Meltzer report right? Come explore IFIs (the IMF, the World Bank, and the Multilateral Development Banks) in a seminar setting examining policy in practice. | |
| LPPS 6080 | Education Policy (3) |
| An introductory course in which principles of assessing educational policies are applied to the evidence currently available across a range of policies. Areas of education policy may include early childhood education, charter schools, accountability, teacher recruitment, retention and assessment, and bridging from K-12 to high education. Discussions focus on linking policies to outcomes for students. | |
| LPPS 6085 | Social Policy in Advanced Economies (3) |
| What social programs do governments prioritize? How does social policy shape behavior, and conversely, how does public opinion shape policy? This course will contrast social programs across Europe and North America by considering the welfare state broadly (e.g. how social insurance and social assistance are framed and funded) and specifically (e.g. how policies push Americans to own and Germans to rent). | |
| LPPS 6135 | Policy Development in International Humanitarian Assistance (3) |
| This course will look at the policy positions that are currently being developed in international humanitarian assistance arena as well as challenge students to learn the professional skills and policy development tools and processes being used by practitioners. Using a real-time case-study approach, students will engage in present day policy questions. The class will also be engaged in a real-time policy assignment. | |
| LPPS 6320 | Elections & Policy in the Era of Democratic Backsliding (3) |
| This class explores the intersection between how we perform elections and how we craft public policy. We investigate two broad questions (1) the effect of policy on elections -- how rules around voting, funding, and the organization of elections influence election outcomes and larger policy discourse, and (2) the effect of elections on policy -- how elections shape elite motivations and citizen expectations around the development and passage of policy. Course was offered Fall 2022 | |
| LPPS 6330 | Confronting US Climate Policy (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | Project oriented course that will research specific climate problems, proposing new solution to decision makers at local & state level. Course expands understanding of broad societal scope relevant to climate action. Students are exposed to federal, state & local policy challenges and opportunities as well as understanding how business & politics shape the policy landscape. Gain understanding of diverse climate-relevant career opportunities. |
| LPPS 6365 | Effectual Entrepreneurship (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | Course uses expert entrepreneurs with decades of starting & running new ventures. Expert entrepreneurs learn to tackle the unpredictable, but also to embrace and leverage it to cocreate enduring new ventures. Students will grapple with the principles and process of effectual action and interaction. The course is designed to delve into effectual entrepreneurship ¿ philosophically, psychologically and practically. |
| LPPS 6710 | Congress 101: Leadership Strategies (3) |
| This course will provide a solid foundation of insights into how Congress works, essential for aspiring public policy advocates. Topics investigated include historical precedents for policymaking, the process of Congressional decision-making, and power dynamics in Congress. We will also identify and develop the leadership skills and tactics of successful advocates, placing recent controversies and public policy issues in an historical context. | |
| LPPS 6715 | Leadership in U.S. Foreign Policymaking (3) |
| This graduate seminar examines how contemporary US foreign policymakers proceed under pressures of competing interests. How are Washington policy options shaped for foreign aid, development, trade, and security issues? What leadership skills do crisis management and effective advocacy require? What constitutes best practices for nongovernmental organizations and policy entrepreneurs? How are national interests defined and pursued in Washington? | |
| LPPS 6720 | Economic Development Policy (3) |
| This course will review of the history of development policy advice to lesser developed countries and will examine the most pressing development challenges of the current age including AIDs, urbanization, climate change, disease, and failed states. | |
| LPPS 6724 | Just Policy: Justice, Goodness, & Public Policy (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | Course explores the integration of moral & ethical considerations in addressing U.S. public policy challenges. Students study & contrast major philosophical & political theories of justice & the common good, including those that are embedded in the U.S. constitutional architecture; and consider and contrast how these theories would guide public policy choices. |
| LPPS 6730 | Experiential Social Entrepreneurship (3) |
| This graduate course will introduce you to the techniques of and cutting edge research on global advocacy campaigns. At the same time governments are under fiscal austerity pressure to cut budgets, and charitable giving to non-profits is down, this class will therefore also introduce new innovations to solving global problems including social entrepreneurship, social business, and impact investing. | |
| LPPS 6751 | Evidence-based criminal justice policy (3) |
| There is widespread interest across the political spectrum in reforming criminal justice policy in the United States. The challenge for policy-makers and practitioners is finding cost-effective strategies to reach their policy goals. In this course we consider the latest economics research on a variety of topics related to the criminal justice system, with the intention of understanding how to make related policies more evidence-based. | |
| LPPS 6752 | Sustainability Policy Design and Evaluation (3) |
| We will discuss how to measure and evaluate the trade-offs related to different environmental policy choices. We will discuss benefit-cost analysis, the impact of decentralization of policies impacting multiple jurisdictions, command and control policies versus tradeable permits, and sustainable development. We will evaluate policies designed to reduce water use and pollution, improve air quality, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. | |
| LPPS 6765 | Federal and State Budgeting (3) |
| Course will cover the fundamental processes of government budgeting, discussing the role of the office of management and budget and the congressional budget office including how long and short run budget projections and cost estimates of pending legislation are done. We will also address the role of the budget committees, and the congressional budget process including reconciliation. Similar issues at the state level will be covered. | |
| LPPS 6770 | Development Policy and Program Impact Evaluation (3) |
| This course will investigate the key topics in development economics. There will be strong focus on the importance of evidence based policy making and the design of program evaluation in development projects, and understanding existing research on development policies and programs. | |
| LPPS 6780 | The US Health Care System (3) |
| Students will develop a basic understanding of the structure of the U.S health care system including both the delivery system and financing. Including access problems, cost drivers and quality problems inherent in the current health care system. As well as the underlying structure of the Affordable Care Act including state implementation of the Medicaid program and the creation of state exchanges. Cost containment will also be discussed. | |
| LPPS 6785 | Global Challenges in Labor and Social Policy (3) |
| Examines contemporary labor and social policy debates and challenges facing both developed and emerging economies. Topics include unemployment, social protection policy through taxes and transfers, minimum wages, immigration, inequality, discrimination, human capital and education production. Grounded in economic analysis this course will compare and contrast labor and social policies in the US to those implemented in other countries. | |
| LPPS 6790 | Health Care Politics and Policy (3) |
| This seminar will explore the interplay between politics and policy in the American health care system. Topics include: the history of U.S. health policy; political and policy issues related to Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance; the development and implementation of the Affordable Care Act; public opinion on health issues; and health care spending, cost control and the quality of care, among others issues. | |
| LPPS 6810 | Virginia Politics and Policy (3) |
| What are the most pressing policy problems facing Virginia and how can they be addressed? Students will learn how the broad historical forces of Virginia's past, her current political institutions, and changing social divisions shape public policy in Virginia today. Student projects will focus on current and future challenges facing the Commonwealth and develop strategies to address them. | |
| LPPS 6820 | Identity Politics:A Psycological & Historical POV (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | Students in this course will contend with and explore the implications of how politically relevant attitudes & behaviors in the U.S. have always been tied to identity. Students will employ psychological insights on self, identity, and culture to examine the historical trajectories and broad identity-relevance of pressing social issues in the U.S. today. Course was offered Spring 2024, Spring 2023 |
| LPPS 6850 | Co-Creation&Co-Productn:Policies,Programs&Practice (3) |
| Course is designed to explore & emphasize the challenges & opportunities that policymakers, public administrators & non-profit managers have in engaging the public in the co-creation of public policies, the co-production (planning, designing, delivery,& evaluation) of programs & services & the related implications for professional practices. Course was offered Spring 2021, Spring 2020 | |
| LPPS 6880 | Public Opinion and Public Policy (3) |
| Consider the effect of public opinion on policy in the U.S. What do policymakers believe about citizens' preferences? Whose opinion matters, when does it matter, & why? Do policies always reflect the majority? How has partisan polarization affected policy-making in recent years? Examine questions through lens of some of today's most pressing issues, including immigration policy, social welfare programs, military spending, abortion, & more. Course was offered Fall 2024 | |
| LPPS 7030 | Environmental Policy: Design, Implementation and Evaluation (3) |
| This class will use the theory of environmental problems to analyze environmental policy. We will emphasize: 1) policy design based on an understanding of the cause of the problem, 2) the costs of implementation, compliance, monitoring, and enforcement, and 3) techniques for evaluating environmental policy including cost-benefit analysis, and other tools. | |
| LPPS 7045 | Game Theory: Applications and Experiments (3) |
| Game theory is the analytic study of strategic interactions among individuals, firms, governments, or other groups of people. Game theory has been widely used in economics, management, political science, and public policy. This course demonstrates the usefulness of this powerful analytic approach, through numerous real-world and scholarly applications and through an examination of lab experiments built upon game theoretic modeling techniques. | |
| LPPS 7050 | Elements of Statecraft: Defense, Diplomacy, and Intelligence (3) |
| Course provides foundat'l understanding of orgs&processes in US statecraft, directly from current practitioners across govt. Students explore how elements of nat'l power are brought to bear to further US interests & strategy. Students explore Dept of Defense, Dept of State, the Intelligence Community, US Agency for Internat'l Development, & the Nat'l Security Council & policymaking processes. Lectures, guest-speakers, & research projects aid in learning org.structure, cultures&practices. | |
| LPPS 7060 | Redesigning US China Policy (3) |
| Under both Presidents Trump & Biden the U.S. has abandoned its previous "engagement" policy toward China. The U.S. agenda has expanded beyond trade, human rights, & Taiwan to include balancing the many aspects of China's rising national power. A relationship that once aspired to partnership has become competitive and even confrontational. This course will ask how the U.S. can best manage the world's most consequential international relationship. Course was offered Spring 2022 | |
| LPPS 7085 | Modern Techniques in Finance (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | This course provides an introduction to financial techniques that are essential for leadership dealing with any type of organizational finances. It provides an analytical treatment to valuations based on principles and theories of modern finance. Topics include discounted cash flow; interest rate; capital budgeting; valuation of stocks and bonds; investment decisions under uncertainty; capital asset pricing; option pricing; market efficiency. |
| LPPS 7146 | Global Health Law and Policy (3) |
| This seminar provides insight into the challenges of improving the health status of individuals worldwide - especially in low and middle income countries. Discussions will focus on financing, organizing, delivering, and administering health services in environments where resource constraints are significant. Material will be drawn from global health and policy sources including the WHO, The World Bank, the Institute of Medicine, the UN, etc. | |
| LPPS 7150 | Environmental and Natural Resource Policy (3) |
| Pollution, public goods, and natural resource scarcity have long been core concerns in public policy, but as the human population heads toward 9 billion, there is an increasing sense that we can no longer take for granted the ability of Earth's natural systems to support expected future levels of human activity. | |
| LPPS 7184 | Innovating for Defense (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | This experiential course pairs students from the Schools of Law, Engineering, and Public Policy with U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) problem sponsors to address real-world national security challenges. Through student research, stakeholder interviews, and engagements with outside experts, each team develops policy recommendations for its sponsor's organization. Recent sponsors include the National Security Agency, U.S. Strategic Command, and the U.S. Air Force's Office of Operational Energy. |
| LPPS 7210 | Economic Perspectives on Health Policies (3) |
| This class will review important health policies that have been adopted across the globe & understand them from an economic perspective. Students will learn how to read academic articles on health topics & offer some conclusions for policy-making. The class will involve readings, discussions, & lectures from guest speakers & may require some STATA work. The course will require (but also introduce) basic concepts in economics & policy-making. | |
| LPPS 7230 | US Mental Health Policy (3) |
| Explore US mental health policy & analyze effectiveness of policies to address behavioral health needs. Examine how US Fed govt perceives mental illness, impact of science on policy initiatives & why US remains in state of crisis. Topics include: COVID, Social Determinants of Health, institutionalization vs community based svcs, impact of adverse childhood experiences, PTSD & military, brain science, financing mental health svcs & opioid crisis. | |
| LPPS 7240 | Impact Investing and Innovative Finance (3) |
| This course introduces students to the field of impact investing and innovative finance. With insufficient non-profit and government spending in most policy areas (sustainable agriculture, economic development, health care, housing, etc.) innovative leaders are developing new models to unlock new capital to tackle the toughest issues facing humanity. Students will learn about blended finance, catalytic capital, impact investing, capital stacks, impact venture capital, and more. Course was offered Fall 2023 | |
| LPPS 7250 | Decision Making in Crises: Leadership and National Security Challenges (3) |
| The threat of international terrorism in the wake of 9/11 prompted costly & controversial US military & stabilization efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Initially targeting terrorism, it expanded into regime change. Bush, Obama, & Trump administrations struggled to craft effective strategies, facing setbacks like ISIS & Taliban resurgence. What can we learn from this chapter in America¿s endeavor to counter terrorist and security threats abroad? Course was offered Fall 2024 | |
| LPPS 7300 | Principles of Foreign Policy Assessment (3) |
| Course explores historical & contemporary approaches to the measurement of military & economic capabilities. Capabilities are informed by the cultural, organizational, & bureaucratic context that shapes how states perceive, draw on, & apply them. Class brings these strands together through case studies illustrating the principles of net assessment. Course was offered Spring 2021, Spring 2020 | |
| LPPS 7310 | Geopolitical Underpinnings of Foreign Policy (3) |
| Offered Spring 2025 | International relations studies often overlook underlying geographic, economic, & intern¿l order dimensions that varyingly benefit some states & disadvantage others. How does access to open seas or having a veto at the UN benefit a country? How does being landlocked or lacking natural resources disadvantage a country? Course highlights underlying dimensions shaping how a country perceives its interests & what it emphasizes in foreign policy. |
| LPPS 7400 | Legal and Moral Dimensions of Policymaking (3) |
| This seminar is designed to introduce MPP students to the basic structure of law and patterns of moral reasoning about public policy. Students will examine how the legal system operates in four fields (international, environmental, criminal, & immigration) and how legal advisers inform policy making. Case studies in each field will allow for the exploration of how the interaction of law, morality and policy changes from one context to the next. | |
| LPPS 7550 | Leadership Workshop (3) |
| This workshop course will provide an introduction to the theory and practice of leadership. It will begin with an evaluation of the ways in which leadership is studied and taught, and will then turn to the identification and analysis of the specific tasks required of leaders in various public policy arenas, including examples of both leadership success and leadership failure. | |
| LPPS 7650 | Law and Public Policy (0 - 6) |
| Students will take a class in the law and complete assignments that will be graded by Batten faculty. | |