APL 311 Research for Policy Change
In politics, we use policy to build a world that reflects our vision and values. In this class, students learn how political actors develop policies to advance their goals. Students consider how political actors use social science research to inform policy positions and make policy recommendations. In addition, students learn about the research and policy development process as it relates to electoral campaigns, advocacy organizations, political parties, and local and state government.
4 Undergraduate credits
Effective August 18, 2025 to present
Learning outcomes
General
- Explain the connection between political values and policy positions.
- Explain how social science research informs policy debates.
- Find relevant social science research related to a policy domain.
- Evaluate social science research on a policy domain in terms of information reliability and applicableness to a given social problem.
- Evaluate real-world examples of policy documents (e.g., endorsement questionnaires, party platforms, policy briefs).
- Create a policy brief on a contemporary social problem.
Fall 2025
| Section | Title | Instructor | books | eservices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Research for Policy Change | Staff, Staff |