Associate Professor Fulco, director; participating faculty: Ahmed (Economics), Bangser (Public Policy and Law), Brown (Philosophy), Cabot (Public Policy and Law), Egan (Economics), Keysar (Public Policy and Law), Kosmin (Public Policy and Law), Power (Theater and Dance), Schaller (Public Policy and Law), Silk (Religion), Smith (Public Policy and Law), Stater (Economics), Stevens (Public Policy and Law), Wade (Philosophy), and Williamson (Political Science and Public Policy and Law)
The public policy and law major—The public policy and law major is an interdisciplinary program in which students learn and practice methods and modes of thinking required to understand and become actively engaged in the analysis of legal and public policy issues. Grounded in the liberal arts, the program provides students with the tools of analysis in social science, law, and the humanities needed to understand the substance of public policy concerns. Trinity College is a particularly appropriate place to study public policy and law because students have ready access to state, regional, and local governments, as well as to lobbyists and numerous nonprofit and advocacy organizations involved in the making of law and policy.
For more details on the program’s faculty, requirements, and sources, visit our Web site at www.trincoll.edu/Academics/MajorsAndMinors/Policy/.
Requirements for the public policy and law major:
The public policy and law major requires 14 courses consisting of:
Students who think that they may wish to choose the public policy major are strongly urged to take ECON 101. Introduction to Economics and POLS 102. American National Government prior to declaring the major. These two courses are important for understanding the basic elements of public policy debate and are a prerequisite for certain upper-level courses students may wish to elect later in the program. Only courses passed with a grade of C- or better will count towards the major.
Foundation courses (three courses)—All students must take the following courses. They are not sequential, but it is recommended that students take PBPL 201 first.
Core courses (four courses)—All students must take a course in each of four core areas.
Concentrations (four courses)—All students must select one of the concentrations specified below and take three courses that are chosen in consultation with their adviser. Students must also complete an integrated internship in their area of concentration. Students may select a senior thesis as one of their three concentration courses.
Alternatively, students may, with the approval of their adviser and the director of the program, pursue a self-designed concentration.
The Writing Intensive Part II requirement is fulfilled by one of the following courses: PBPL 201, PBPL 202, PBPL 350, PBPL 401, or PBPL 497.
Electives (two courses)—One economic elective must be selected from outside of the student’s area of concentration, and one elective must be selected from a list of global courses made available to students each term.
Senior seminar—All students will take the 400-level current issues senior seminar, which serves as the senior exercise. The specific topics for the seminar will vary from year to year.
Thesis option: Students may elect to write a one-semester, one-course-credit senior thesis in their area of concentration. Only students who write a thesis will be considered for honors in the major.
Honors—An average of at least A- in courses counted toward the major, and a grade of A- or higher on a senior thesis. Students who fall just below the A- average may petition the program director on the basis of exceptional circumstances.
Study away—While there are many general programs of foreign study available to Trinity students, public policy majors interested in foreign study should be aware of The Swedish Program at Stockholm University, which was specially created “to develop an understanding of how organizations and public policy in Sweden address economic, political, and social issues relevant to all Western industrial societies.” The Center for European Studies—Study Europe in Maastricht also has a particularly rich offering of courses in social science and public policy. Students should refer to updated study abroad listings available at the International Programs Office for additional information.
Fall Term
113. Introduction to Law— This course traces the development of law as a stabilizing force and instrument of peaceful change from the state of nature through the present day. Among the topics covered are the differences between civil law and common law systems, law and equity, substantive and procedural law, civil and criminal processes, and adversarial and inquisitorial systems. Federal trial and appellate courts, the role of counsel and the judge, and the function of the grand and petit juries are also studied. The doctrine of substantive due process is explored from its beginning through modern times, as are the antecedents and progeny of Griswold v. Connecticut. The Warren Court and its decisions in Miranda, Escobedo, Massiah, Mapp, Gideon, Gault, Baker and Brown, as surveyed, Though not a course in constitutional law, the role of the U.S. Constitution as the blueprint of a democratic, federated republic, and as the supreme law of the land, is examined. There is some emphasis on the fourth, fifth, sixth, eighth, and 14th amendments. Students are exposed to conflicting views on controversial issues such as capital punishment, gay rights, abortion, and rights of the criminally accused. (Enrollment limited)-Fulco, Smith
201. Introduction to American Public Policy— This course introduces students to the formal and informal processes through which American public policy is made. They will study the constitutional institutions of government and the distinct role each branch of the national government plays in the policy-making process, and also examine the ways in which informal institutions-political parties, the media, and political lobbyists-contribute to and shape the policy process. This course is only open to Sophomore and Junior students. (Enrollment limited)-Fulco
[251. The Judicial Process: Courts and Public Policy]— This course examines the evolution of the judicial process in America and the role of the courts as policy makers. We will study civil and criminal courts at both the state and federal level as well as the functions of judges, lawyers, litigants, and other actors. We will also consider how the courts make policy in areas such as the war on terrorism, the right to privacy, gay and lesbian rights, and the rights of the accused. (Enrollment limited)
[263. Art and the Public Good]— Is art a public good? Is government good for art? Students will explore these questions by examining what happens when U.S. taxpayer dollars are used to fund the arts. Course topics will include: the depression era federal arts projects and the dream of a “cultural democracy” that inspired them; the State Department’s export of art across the globe during the Cold War era; the legal and congressional battles over offensive art that threatened to shut down the National Endowment for the Arts during the 1990s; and former Mayor Giuliani’s attempt to withdraw funding from the Brooklyn Museum of Art following public outcry over a provocative depiction of the Virgin Mary. (Enrollment limited)
[265. The Bill of Rights: A Revolution in Three Acts]— The Bill of Rights, written in the 18th century, was reshaped after the Civil War in what historians have called a “second American revolution.” Yet the constitutional rights we know today have been largely defined by Supreme Court decisions in the latter half of the 20th century. What forces events and personalities accounted for this “third American revolution?” How has it altered public policy and affected our day-to-day lives? How should we interpret the Bill of Rights in the Internet Age? Could a fourth rights revolution emerge in the 21st century? Or might we face a rights “counter-revolution” in the wake of the events of September 11? Students will read significant cases and related historical materials and write papers on constitutional issues. Prerequisite: C- or better in Public Policy 201or Public Policy 202 or POLS 102 or Permission of Instructor. (Enrollment limited)
323. The Legal History of Race Relations— This course will examine the interaction between the American social and legal systems in the treatment of race relations. The seminar will analyze major Supreme Court cases on equal rights and race relations with an emphasis on the historical and social contexts in which the decisions were rendered. The Socratic method will be used for many of the classes, placing importance on classroom discussion among the students and the lecturer. The goals of the course are to expose the students to the basis of the legal system and the development of civil rights legislations sharpen legal and critical analysis, improve oral expression, and develop a concise and persuasive writing style. Prerequisite: C- or better in Public Policy 113 or Public Policy 201 or Permission of Instructor. (Enrollment limited)-Fulco, Stevens
331. Becoming American: Immigration and Integration Policy— Critics of immigration argue that a growing foreign-born population endangers economic health, threatens democratic traditions, and undermines cultural unity. Proponents respond that immigration is central to America’s national identity and crucial for prosperity. This course examines popular and scholarly debates over immigration and immigrant adaptation and analyzes the efficacy of U.S. policies aimed at managing this process. Topics include U.S. border security, the increased state and local regulation of immigration, and the DREAM Act, a proposal that would offer certain undocumented youth a path toward legal status. Course assignments will emphasize persuasive writing and communication for a policymaking audience, including memos and briefings. Prerequisite: A grade of C- or better in either Political Science 102 or Public Policy 201 or permission of instructor. (Enrollment limited)-Williamson
344. Seeking Justice in American Life: Ethical thinking/decision-making in politics law and private life— This course will examine basic theories of ethics (common morality), found in moral and political philosophy in order to consider the extent to which traditional ethical and moral principles govern legal, political, and private decision-making. We will begin by identifying ethical and moral principles in our founding documents before proceeding with the main work of the course, which is to examine the ethical and moral reasoning behind legal and policy decisions, business decisions, and personal decisions. Among the diverse subjects that will be discussed are physician-assisted suicide, the death penalty, buying and selling of body parts, human cloning, legalizing drugs, affirmative action, national service in war, hate speech and political dissent, wealth and income distribution including disbursing public money to private business, individual rights versus the needs of the community, torture, truth and lying in private and public, equality and inequality, drug-enhancement in sports, immoral behavior on the part of public figures. Prerequisite: C- or better in PBPL 201 or PBPL 202 or permission of the instructor. (Enrollment limited)-Fulco, Schaller
350. Inside the Nonprofit Sector— This course will provide students with a firm grounding in the role of the nonprofit sector (also called the independent, third, or voluntary sector) in American public policy and community life. Topics to be studied include: the nature and role of the nonprofit sector; what makes the nonprofit sector distinctive; current challenges facing the nonprofit sector; the role of foundations and other sources of philanthropic giving; and assessment of the effectiveness of nonprofit organizations. Prerequisite: C- or better in Public Policy 201or Public Policy 202 or POLS 102 or Permission of Instructor. (Enrollment limited)-Bangser
398. Public Policy and Law Internship— The required internship is designed to: (1) To provide students with the opportunity to apply what they have learned in the classroom to the work of an organization concerned with the making of public policy; (2) To engage students in academic projects directly linked to the internship experience and their areas of concentration in the major. To enroll in the internship students need the permission of a faculty member, who will supervise the academic work. -Staff
399. Independent Study— Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and director are required for enrollment. (1-2 course credits) -Staff
466. Teaching Assistantship— Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and director are required for enrollment. (0.5-1 course credit) -Staff
490. Research Assistantship— Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairman are required for enrollment. -Staff
497. Senior Thesis— Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and director are required for enrollment in this single-semester thesis. (1 course credit to be completed in one semester.) -Staff
498. Senior Thesis Part 1— (2 course credits) -Staff
Graduate Courses
Students must consult with their adviser to discuss the appropriateness of particular courses.
807. Introduction to the Policy-Making Process— This introductory course in political institutions and the process of making public policy in the United States should be taken as one of the first two courses in the graduate program. The class will concern itself with the role of Congress, the executive, and the judicial branches of government in the origination of policy ideas, the formulation of policy problems, and the setting of the public agenda, the making of political choices, the production of policy statutes and rules, and the affects of final government action on citizens. Special focus will be placed on the cooperation and conflicts between these traditional institutions of government and the agents of American pluralism: political parties and interest groups.-Borges
828. Theory of Democratic Institutions— The course applies social choice theory to the study of four components of democratic policy making; voting, political strategy, theories of governance, and bureaucracy. The course emphasizes weekly readings and in-class discussion of central themes in the literature. Examination of the formal properties of voting rules leads to a deeper understanding of representation and political outcomes. The analysis of institutions offers lessons on the problems of delegation, policy design, implementation, and democratic administration.-Fotos III
[839. Critical Health Issues Facing The U.S.]— Is the U.S. entry into the community of nations which provide universal health care a moral imperative that will enhance and save millions of lives, or is “Obamacare” an unnecessarily costly and unconstitutional program that will destroy free enterprise? Are Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security sustainable or will they bankrupt the nation? Have we reached the reasonable limits of life expectancy, and will new and epidemic health issues, such as diabetes, obesity, and lack of physical activity, actually reverse the advances made in the quality and length of life? These issues, along with health disparities and discrimination that still exist among a number of groups, are the focus of this course. Students will be given the opportunity to research and present a major topic of interest relevant to these issues, in addition to participation in lively discussions generated by diverse readings and guest lecturers.
856. Policy Challenges for U.S. Criminal Justice— While many believe the U.S. has the best criminal justice system in the world, former Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, General Barry McCaffrey, expressed concern in 1996 that our prison system has become an American Gulag. Does the U.S., with the highest per capita imprisonment rate in the world, have too many criminal laws? Do our criminal laws rationally make the punishment fit the crime? Are criminal laws being uniformly and fairly applied, or are there disparities and discrimination that unfairly impact certain minorities? What should be the goals of our prison systems and have we been successful in these goals? Should and will Connecticut abolish the death penalty this year? These and other issues that offer opportunities for improvement in our criminal justice system are the focus of this course. Students will be given the opportunity to research and present a major topic of interest relevant to these issues, in addition to participation in lively discussions and debates generated by diverse readings and guest lecturers.-Zitser
891. Health Policy— This course addresses current major U.S. health policy issues and the critical processes and forces that shape them. Major health policy issues addressed include: Medicare, Medicaid, the uninsured, public health, the impact of welfare policy on health care, managed care development and regulation, state and federal health care reform and others. The course discusses the politics of health policy in terms of legislative and executive processes at the state and federal level; key forces involved including economic, social, ethical and political factors; and central players of importance, including special interest groups, lobbyists, the press, elected officials, legislative staff and public agencies.-Hughes
[912. Health Policy]— This course addresses current major U.S. health policy issues and the critical processes and forces that shape them. Major health policy issues addressed include: Medicare, Medicaid, the uninsured, public health, the impact of welfare policy on health care, managed care development and regulation, state and federal health care reform and others. The course discusses the politics of health policy in terms of legislative and executive processes at the state and federal level; key forces involved including economic, social, ethical and political factors; and central players of importance, including special interest groups, lobbyists, the press, elected officials, legislative staff and public agencies.
940. Independent Study— Selected topics in special areas are available by arrangement with the instructor and written approval of the director of public policy studies. Contact the Office of Graduate Studies for the special approval form. (1-2 course credits) -Staff
953. Research Project— A research project on a special topic approved by the instructor and with the written approval of the director of public policy studies. Contact the Office of Graduate Studies for the special approval form. One course credit. -Staff
954. Thesis Part I— Two credit thesis: start time-approval of idea, initial bibliography, and sketch of the project by pre-registration time for graduate students in the term prior to registration for the credit; first draft by reading week of the second semester, “final” first draft by end of spring vacation week; final copy due one week before the last day of classes. (2 course credits) -Staff
955. Thesis Part II— (2 course credits) -Staff
956. Thesis— (2 course credits) -Staff
Courses Originating in Other Departments
[Economics 217. Economics of Health and Health Care]— View course description in department listing on p. 360. Prerequisite: C- or better in Economics 101.
[Economics 247. Introduction to Policy Analysis]— View course description in department listing on p. 360. Prerequisite: C- or better in Economics 101.
[International Studies 249. Immigrants and Refugees: Strangers in Strange Lands]— View course description in department listing on p. 570.
Political Science 225. American Presidency— View course description in department listing on p. 743. -McMahon
Political Science 301. American Political Parties— View course description in department listing on p. 744. Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 102. -Evans
[Political Science 318. Environmental Politics]— View course description in department listing on p. 745. Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 102.
[Political Science 412. The Politics of Judicial Policy Making]— View course description in department listing on p. 748.
Religion 267. Religion and the Media— View course description in department listing on p. 796. -Silk
[Sociology 252. Immigration, Social Inclusion, and Global Cities]— View course description in department listing on p. 812.
Women, Gender, and Sexuality 301. Western Feminist Thought— View course description in department listing on p. 836. Prerequisite: C- or better in one other course in Women Gender and Sexuality. -Hedrick
Spring Term
113. Introduction to Law— This course traces the development of law as a stabilizing force and instrument of peaceful change from the state of nature through the present day. Among the topics covered are the differences between civil law and common law systems, law and equity, substantive and procedural law, civil and criminal processes, and adversarial and inquisitorial systems. Federal trial and appellate courts, the role of counsel and the judge, and the function of the grand and petit juries are also studied. The doctrine of substantive due process is explored from its beginning through modern times, as are the antecedents and progeny of Griswold v. Connecticut. The Warren Court and its decisions in Miranda, Escobedo, Massiah, Mapp, Gideon, Gault, Baker and Brown, as surveyed, Though not a course in constitutional law, the role of the U.S. Constitution as the blueprint of a democratic, federated republic, and as the supreme law of the land, is examined. There is some emphasis on the fourth, fifth, sixth, eighth, and 14th amendments. Students are exposed to conflicting views on controversial issues such as capital punishment, gay rights, abortion, and rights of the criminally accused. (Enrollment limited)-Smith
202. Law, Argument, and Public Policy— In this course, students will study legal reasoning and the myriad ways in which legal arguments influence the making of American public policy. They will learn how to structure a legal argument and identify key facts and issues, analyze the formal process through which legal cases unfold (including jurisdiction, standing, and the rules of evidence), and examine how rules of law, which define policy choices and outcomes, develop out of a series of cases. Prerequisite: C- or better in PBPL201 or ECON247,or PBPL Major, or Permission of Instructor. (Enrollment limited)-Cabot
[263. Art and the Public Good]— Is art a public good? Is government good for art? Students will explore these questions by examining what happens when U.S. taxpayer dollars are used to fund the arts. Course topics will include: the depression era federal arts projects and the dream of a “cultural democracy” that inspired them; the State Department’s export of art across the globe during the Cold War era; the legal and congressional battles over offensive art that threatened to shut down the National Endowment for the Arts during the 1990s; and former Mayor Giuliani’s attempt to withdraw funding from the Brooklyn Museum of Art following public outcry over a provocative depiction of the Virgin Mary. (Enrollment limited)
302. Law and Environment Policy— The course emphasizes how and why American environmental law has developed over the preceding three decades as a primary tool to achieve environmental goals. Topics include the analysis of policy options, “command-and-control” regulation, modification of liability rules, pollution prevention through non-regulatory means, and the environmental aspects of U.S. energy policies in relation to petroleum, electricity, and transportation. The course concludes by addressing transnational environmental issues such as atmospheric change, burgeoning population growth, depletion of forests and species, sustainable development, and the role of international legal institutions in relation to these pressing problems. Prerequisite: Public Policy 201 or Public Policy 202 or Permission of the Instructor. (Enrollment limited)-Staff
303. The Real World of Policy Implementation— Implementation, sometimes called the hidden chapter in public policy, will be explored primarily using case studies describing the practical realities of what happens after a statute is passed, a regulation is issued, a court decision is handed down, or a public or nonprofit agency decides on a course of action. The cases will be drawn primarily from areas such as education, health care, children’s issues, housing and economic development, and civil rights. They will include examples from the Hartford area and around the country in which the professor and/or guest speakers have participated. Class discussions and related exercises will emphasize students’ ability to frame the salient policy and implementation challenges, identify the strengths and weaknesses of potential solutions, and present and defend their recommendations to decision makers (e.g., legislators, agency officials, and judges). Permission of the instructor is required for enrollment. Prerequisite: Public Policy 201 or Public Policy 202 or Permission of the Instructor. (Enrollment limited)-Bangser
[330. Comparative Urban Policy]— This is a course in practical approaches to solving international urban policy and planning challenges. The course begins with an overview of key urban policy and historical urban social science themes in Western European and American cities. The subjects further examined include governance of global city regions, problems of segregation and economic inequality, public and private provision and allocation of services and infrastructure, development of mega-projects, approaches to aiding refugees and resolving conflicts in war-torn cities, municipal burden-sharing in divided cities, and examples of sustainable and comprehensive urban planning practices. Prerequisite: C- or better in POLS 102, POLS 103 or PBPL 201. (Enrollment limited)
[335. Pandemics, Emerging Diseases, and the Public’s Health]— We will examine critical issues in public health - arising from both national and global events (such as the recent flooding in Pakistan) - from the viewpoints of public health law, ethics, and public policy. We will also explore the relentless epidemics and chronic diseases that beset the world’s most vulnerable populations, especially in Africa, where population health problems are exacerbated by poverty, conflict, and other social, economic and political factors. We will consider, as well, the issues involved in a global avian flu pandemic. Questions include: What other issues should be considered public health problems? What is our responsibility to people outside our borders? The objective of the course is to provide a sound basis for applying ethical principles, along with law and public policy, to public health problems. PBPL 201, PBPL 202 strongly recommended. Prerequisite: Public Policy 201 or Public Policy 202 or Permission of the Instructor. (Enrollment limited)
338. Public Engagement & Policy Making— Active participation in American civic life extends beyond the ballot box, to contacting public officials, commenting on their plans, joining associations, and volunteering assistance. Likewise, policymakers face requirements to incorporate public input as they make decisions. In recent years, one of the most prominent social science debates has focused on civic participation. Is it declining? If so, what is responsible? And why should we care? In this course, we will consider whether and how policymakers should incorporate citizen input and encourage civic participation. We will investigate recent innovative participatory experiments, such as the large-scale public forums held to develop recovery plans following September 11th and hurricane Katrina, and consider whether they offer a promising path forward for civic engagement in the twenty-first century. Prerequisite: A grade of C- or better in either Political Science 102 or Public Policy 201 or permission of instructor. (Enrollment limited)-Williamson
340. Republicanism Ancient and Modern— The Republican Tradition is traced by most scholars back to Greece and the different regimes in Sparta and Athens. All of the pre-Modern Republics had in common that they were small, warlike, and homogeneous. But after the fall of Rome, the Republican Tradition went into eclipse for almost 1,500 years. The conscious search for a distinctively Modern Republican alternative, which was to be large, prosperous, less warlike and less homogeneous began with Machiavelli and traces itself through a variety of thinkers down to Montesquieu, Locke and the American Founding. There is another distinctively Modern permutation of the Republican Tradition that we will consider as exemplified by Rousseau and the French Revolution. The course will explore the nature of pre-Modern Republicanism but will focus on the distinctive nature of the rise and perfection of the Modern Liberal variant of Republicanism. (Enrollment limited)-Smith
[347. Leading Issues in Bioethics, Public Policy, and Law]— This course examines leading issues in bioethics, public policy, and law in relation to recent developments in medicine, public health, and the life sciences. After tracing the historical background of bioethical issues and law and deciding on methods of legal and ethical analysis, we will consider how issues in contemporary medicine, public health, and science challenge traditional ethical principles as well as existing law and public policy. Among other topics, we will explore the tension between traditional biomedical ethics, centering on individual autonomy, and the public health model, focusing on the common good. Recent and ongoing legal cases and controversies will be closely followed along with other current developments in bioethics. Prerequisite: C- or better in PBPL 201 or PBPL 202 or permission of the instructor. (Enrollment limited)
348. Constitutional Law & Advocacy— In this course teams of students will brief and argue landmark cased in constitutional law that were decided by a Supreme Court dominated by justices appointed by President Richard M. Nixon, who was elected in 1968 and impeached in 1974. A strong case can be made that he had a greater influence on the development of constitutional law than any president or justice of the 20th century. The tests for the course will be the cased themselves: the full opinions, the actual briefs submitted by opposing counsel and transcripts or recordings of the actual oral argument before the Supreme Court. Teams of students will do in-depth research on major cases to explore the social background against which they were decided and the immediate and long-term consequences of the decisions themselves. (Enrollment limited)-Cabot
361. The Supreme Court & Public Policy— Over the past 30 years, the Supreme Court has been called upon to resolve many important and often controversial public policy questions. The 2010-2011term is no exception, and the Court will issue opinions on matters ranging from the rights of religious protesters at funerals to the liability of childhood vaccine manufacturers. The purpose of this course is two-fold: (1) to familiarize students with the role of the Supreme Court as a policy making institution; and (2) to use decisions in the current term, many of which will be handed down during the time our course will meet in June and July, as a means of assessing the scope of the Court’s power to shape public policy in areas where there is little political consensus. Readings will include texts and articles on the role of the Supreme Court and several of the cases decided this term. (Enrollment limited)-Fulco
398. Public Policy and Law Internship— The required internship is designed to: (1) To provide students with the opportunity to apply what they have learned in the classroom to the work of an organization concerned with the making of public policy; (2) To engage students in academic projects directly linked to the internship experience and their areas of concentration in the major. To enroll in the internship students need the permission of a faculty member, who will supervise the academic work. -Staff
399. Independent Study— Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and director are required for enrollment. (1-2 course credits) -Staff
401. Current Issues: The Supreme Court and Public Policy— This seminar will focus on the Supreme Court in transition. We will explore competing theories of constitutional interpretation that have characterized the Rehnquist court and examine specific cases that are representative of the court’s work. We will study contending theories of the Supreme Court’s role in our constitutional framework, and we will consider how new appointees to the court may shift the balance in important areas of jurisprudence that have become increasinly contentious, especially with respect to issues of personal autonomy, affirmative action, and national security. Prerequisite: Course is only open to Senior Public Policy and Law Majors. (Enrollment limited)-Fulco
[407. Power, Values, Making American Public Policy and Law]— Politicians often speak in sweeping and contradictory generalities, but once elected or appointed to public office, they must govern. Using case studies developed at the Kennedy School of Government, this course will explore how officials make tough choices in specific cases. Students will refine their own views of complex ethical/public policy issues and learn how advocates achieve results through the American political process. Controversial issues will include: what obligations government owes to ?the least among us,’ the line between a candidate’s personal privacy and the duty of full disclosure, and the use of lies and distortions in campaigns, the media and in the confirmation of a justice of the Supreme Court. Special attention will be devoted to the question of how public opinion is formed and the role of mass media in that process. Co-Requisite: Public Policy Majors (Enrollment limited)
[408. Journalism and the Public Good in America]— Alexis de Tocqueville considered newspapers essential to democracy in America, but from the days of Cotton Mather and John Peter Zenger to those of Fox News and WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange, the news media have been a source of controversy and contention. This seminar will explore the place of journalism in American civic life by examining both the history of the law governing journalistic enterprise and the evolution of the news media as social and political actors. Topics to be discussed will include the nature of news, libel law, national security as a basis for censorship, public reason, the economics of journalism, and the new media environment. (Enrollment limited)
466. Teaching Assistantship— Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and director are required for enrollment. (0.5-1 course credit) -Staff
490. Research Assistantship— Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairman are required for enrollment. -Staff
497. Senior Thesis— Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and director are required for enrollment in this single-semester thesis. (1 course credit to be completed in one semester.) -Staff
[499. Senior Thesis Part 2]— (2 course credits) -Staff
Graduate Courses
803. The Real World of Policy Implementation— Implementation, sometimes called the hidden chapter in public policy, will be explored primarily using case studies describing the practical realities of what happens after a statute is passed, a regulation is issued, a court decision is handed down, or a public or nonprofit agency decides on a course of action. The cases will be drawn primarily from areas such as education, health care, children’s issues, housing and economic development, and civil rights. They will include examples from the Hartford area and around the country in which the professor and/or guest speakers have participated. Class discussions and related exercises will emphasize students’ ability to frame the salient policy and implementation challenges, identify the strengths and weaknesses of potential solutions, and present and defend their recommendations to decision makers (e.g., legislators, agency officials, and judges). Permission of the instructor is required for enrollment.-TBA
806. Methods of Research— This course is intended to empower students to evaluate common forms of research critically, and to give them some experience in conducting research. Through a series of weekly assignments and class projects, students will be introduced to the shaping of research questions; hypothesis testing, writing a research paper, conducting interviews and surveys, giving a professional presentation, and presenting simple tabular data to prove a point. The course does not require an extensive mathematics background. Regular attendance and access to a computer, e-mail, and the Web are expected.-Barlow
808. Public Policy and the Art of the Argument— This course will examine the history, methods, and types of successful, formal, written argumentation in policy advocacy. Among the arenas explored will be courts of law, legislative bodies, and the broader field of public opinion. Most course material will be drawn from case studies.-Miller
826. Urban Administration and Public Policy— This course will allow in-depth exploration of policy issues that affect cities. By working both with technical tools of analysis and the social, historical, and political aspects of problem solving, students will select a contemporary urban issue for study. Emphasis will be placed on policy issues facing the city of Hartford and potential design choices in areas such as employment, welfare, housing, taxes/expenditures, education, and transportation. Direct interaction with public leaders will contribute to a broader understanding of the factors that affect urban decision-making.-Grasso
836. Moral Theory and Public Policy— The purpose of this course is to assist students in acquiring the skill in ethical reasoning and analysis needed for mature participation in society’s continuing debates over moral issues of public concern. The course will begin by examining some types of ethical theories and will proceed to consider a number of controversial social issues. Abortion, euthanasia, racial and sexual discrimination, world hunger, treatment of animals, and capital punishment are among the topics to be considered-TBA
846. Policy Analysis— In policy analysis, we focus on the problems of empirical policy analysis: defining the problem, framing the questions to be answered, picking the location and scope of the study, selecting the metrics of analysis, aligning metrics with public values, collecting evidence, and transforming the evidence into data. The readings and weekly discussions are avenues for students to query themselves on the problems they must solve to advance their own research agendas. Students will complete a major project in empirical policy analysis. Enrollment limited.-Fotos III
854. Leading Issues in Bioethics, Public Policy, and Law— This course examines leading issues in bioethics, public policy, and law in relation to recent developments in medicine, public health, and the life sciences. After tracing the historical background of bioethical issues and law and deciding on methods of legal and ethical analysis, we will consider how issues in contemporary medicine, public health, and science challenge traditional ethical principles as well as existing law and public policy. Among other topics, we will explore the tension between traditional biomedical ethics, centering on individual autonomy, and the public health model, focusing on the common good. Recent and ongoing legal cases and controversies will be closely followed along with other current developments in bioethics.-TBA
940. Independent Study— Selected topics in special areas are available by arrangement with the instructor and written approval of the director of public policy studies. Contact the Office of Graduate Studies for the special approval form. (1-2 course credits) -Staff
953. Research Project— A research project on a special topic approved by the instructor and with the written approval of the director of public policy studies. Contact the Office of Graduate Studies for the special approval form. One course credit. -Staff
954. Thesis Part I— Two credit thesis: start time-approval of idea, initial bibliography, and sketch of the project by pre-registration time for graduate students in the term prior to registration for the credit; first draft by reading week of the second semester, “final” first draft by end of spring vacation week; final copy due one week before the last day of classes. (2 course credits) -Staff
955. Thesis Part II— (2 course credits) -Staff
956. Thesis— (2 course credits) -Staff
Courses Originating in Other Departments
Economics 217. Economics of Health and Health Care— View course description in department listing on p. 367. Prerequisite: C- or better in Economics 101. -Schulkind
Economics 247. Introduction to Policy Analysis— View course description in department listing on p. 368. Prerequisite: C- or better in Economics 101. -Ahmed
[Economics 311. Environmental Economics]— View course description in department listing on p. 369. Prerequisite: C- or better in Economics 101 and 301.
[Educational Studies 309. Race, Class, and Educational Policy]— View course description in department listing on p. 385. Prerequisite: Educational Studies 200 or juniors / seniors with permission of instructor.
[History 337. English Law and Government]— View course description in department listing on p. 534.
Philosophy 215. Medical Ethics— View course description in department listing on p. 712. -Brown
Philosophy 246. Human Rights: Philosophical Foundations, Issues, and Debates— View course description in department listing on p. 713. -Marcano
[Political Science 225. American Presidency]— View course description in department listing on p. 750.
Political Science 316. Constitutional Law II: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties— View course description in department listing on p. 751. Prerequisite: C- or better in Public Policy 201or Public Policy 202 or POLS 102 or Permission of Instructor. -Fulco
[Political Science 318. Environmental Politics]— View course description in department listing on p. 751. Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 102.