Implementing Public Policy: From Good Idea to Reality
Course Number: 84-336
How does research inform public policy? How do organizations translate evidence into real policy decisions? And how are policy ideas communicated, refined, and ultimately implemented? This course explores the relationship between policy research, policy analysis, and the practical realities of policymaking. Students will examine how governments and other organizations identify policy problems, evaluate competing alternatives, incorporate evidence into decision-making, and navigate the organizational and political factors that shape policy outcomes. Throughout the semester, students will develop the professional writing and communication skills used by practicing policy analysts, including executive-level memos, policy briefs, and oral presentations. The course will culminate in a semester-long policy project in which students analyze a policy issue of their choice, develop recommendations for senior leaders, and communicate those recommendations through professional policy products and briefings.
Academic Year: 2026-2027
Semester(s): Spring
Units: 12
Location(s): Washington, DC
