Policy Analysis Capstone

This course offers candidates in the Master of Liberal Arts, government or international relations, the opportunity to apply the knowledge acquired in GOVT E-595 to conduct independent policy analysis and write a professional policy paper.

In consultation with the instructor, students select a concrete policy problem, produce autonomous research to analyze it, and provide a set of actionable recommendations to solve it.

Throughout the semester, students receive feedback both from their peers and the instructor to aid the development of their projects.

Class meetings include the development of writing schedules, discussions focused on policy analysis methodology, and peer-review analysis of student projects.

Emphasis is placed on the identification of potential target audiences, such as governmental agencies, nongovernment organizations (NGOs), and policymakers and practitioners.

The capstone project culminates with a formal presentation of the students' projects to a panel of experts.