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Public Policy Administration 197: Policies for a Perfect Country
Betsy Schmidt
This seminar will explore successful public policies from various countries around the world. Each week we will discuss a specific policy—how it works, its strengths and weaknesses, whether it is transferable to other countries, and whether we would include this policy in a utopian community we might create. The seminar is based on a BBC series, My Perfect Country. Before each class, all students will listen to a podcast and answer a discussion question about the podcast. Each week 2-3 students will also find articles about the topic of the week and comment on them. At the end of the semester, students will create and present their own podcasts detailing a successful public policy.
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Public Policy Administration 397M: Making a Difference: Policies and Strategies for Social Change
Betsy Schmidt
This course looks at social change through the perspective of policies and strategies that have been shown to make a positive difference in people’s lives. It explores strategies for designing and measuring successful policies, as well as strategies for convincing others that proven policies are worth pursuing. It examines these strategies through the lens of specific policies that have proven successful regarding community building, economic prosperity, the environment, and the justice system. It asks students to consider the world they would like to live in and how they could help bring that world about.