Advanced Policy Analysis Methods

Market demand

Policy analysts work in all levels of government and in the private and nonprofit sectors. Graduates with policy analysis skills currently work in organizations ranging from the federal Office of Management and Budget, the Government Accountability Office, and the Congressional Budget Office to policy analysis and planning departments within state and local agencies. 

What students in this concentration study

Policy analysis is systematic, structured thinking about policy problems to help inform the policy making process. Building on core courses in policy analysis and quantitative methods, the concentration in advanced policy analysis methods helps students to focus on mastery of additional policy analysis tools or methods or on the application of a specific analytic method to a subject of interest, such as health, labor, education, the environment, racial and ethnic disparities, agriculture, among others.

Possible courses in the concentration

Below is just a small sampling of the dozens of courses related to public and nonprofit leadership. You can find additional ideas on the concentration sheet.

• PA 5032 Intermediate Regression Analysis
• PA 5033 Multivariate Techniques
• PA 5035 Survey Research and Data Collection
• APEC 8404 Labor Economics and Human Capital
• POL 8126 Qualitative Methods

Research centers

Students interested in policy analysis may be interested in the work of the following Humphrey School research centers:

• Center for the Study of Politics and Governance
• Public and Nonprofit Leadership Center

Concentration forms

• Concentration sheet
  Complete list of required courses
• Concentration exception request form
  Used to request an exception to the concentration requirements