Policy Research & Analysis Concentration

Today’s policymakers require analytical skills from a variety of disciplines: quantitative, economic, political, and organizational. Students in the policy research & analysis major enjoy access to a rich array of resources to help them prepare for careers in both the public and private sectors. Recent graduates of our program have gone on to work in such careers as budget examiners for the state of New York, analysts for the Government Accountability Office and the U.S. Mint and consultants for the leading firm Booz Allen Hamilton.

Motivated and inquisitive people looking to acquire the technical skills and knowledge to contribute to research and policymaking decisions will appreciate our curriculum. It is infused with a rich variety of interdisciplinary viewpoints to give students a well-informed view of policy analysis that is both national and international in scope.

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SPIA Core Classes (12 credits)

    Quantitative Methods
    Microeconomics
    Public Policy Analysis
    Capstone Seminar
OR
    Thesis
Internship Requirement: All students must complete an approved internship of at least 300 hours while enrolled at SPIA. The internship must be approved by the student’s career advisor in advance. Students with at least three years of relevant full‐time work experience may petition their career advisor for a waiver of this requirement during their first semester.

MPA Degree Core (9 credits)

    Administration of Public Affairs
    Program Evaluation
    Financial Management

PRA Major Courses (12 credits)

    Intermediate Quantitative Methods
PIA 2--- PRA Major Course
PIA 2--- PRA Major Course
PIA 2--- PRA Major Course

Free Electives/Minor Courses (15 credits)

PIA 2--- Elective/minor course
PIA 2--- Elective/minor course
PIA 2--- Elective/minor course
PIA 2--- Elective
PIA 2--- Elective

Below is a sample of electives that may be offered depending on the semester. Please speak with your advisor to confirm availability and create your personalized plan of study.

PIA 2156: Law, Policy & Technology
PIA 2204: Grant Writing & Fundraising
PIA 2210: Race, Gender, Law & Policy
PIA 2310: Markets & States
PIA 2522: Climate Policy: Local and Global
PIA 2529: Political Economy Analysis for Global Affairs
PIA 2551: Gender & Development
PIA 2705: Neighborhood & Community Development
PIA 2715: GIS for Public Policy
PIA 2740: Planning & Analysis for Sustainable Regions