MA THESIS II
Second part of two-term MA Thesis sequence for MRST MA Students.
- Department: Medieval and Renaissance Studies
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Instructor:
Susan Boynton
CULPA: 18 Info - 4 points
PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATION
- Department: Engineering
- F 1 p.m.-2:40 p.m.
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Instructor:
Hyoseon Lee
Info - 0 points
Political Development
‘Political development’ is a generic concept that refers to the development of institutions, social structures and civic values that form the basis of a society's political organisation. Contrary to what was believed in the recent past, it is by no means the result of a universal model of historical evolution that applies to all societies. It takes shape as a result of a combination of changes brought about by national, transnational and international factors. Some transformations may occur over the long term: they can be analysed by observing structural changes, such as the development of colonialism, economic and financial globalisation, the system of international relations, demographic shifts or climate change, among many other factors. Other transformations may be triggered by specific events, such as civil wars, revolutions, international conflicts, economic crises, natural disasters and global pandemics. Nor should we underestimate the role of political leaders, active minorities or broader social movements in changes to the political organisation of societies.
Analysis of political development requires exploring the multifaceted changes in societies throughout national and global history, highlighting the diversity of political experiences and the multiple aspirations of peoples. It also requires avoiding interpretations biased by ideology and false assumptions, stereotypes and beliefs that are not based on evidence.
Each session of the course focuses on a specific topic and is structured in three parts. First, the instructor introduces the topic by outlining key analytical perspectives, guiding questions, and relevant controversies or debates. This is followed by a student group presentation. Finally, the session opens up to the class for a collective discussion. One of the main objectives of the course is to foster critical thinking, grounded in the solid foundations of the social sciences and a clear-eyed observation of current world events. The aim is to cultivate individuals with independent and discerning minds, capable of making fair, balanced, and well-reasoned decisions.
- Department: Development and Governance
- M 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
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Instructor:
Olivier Nay
Info - 3 points
Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology
ADV PHYS & PATHO II
This course is the second of two sequential courses that provide an in-depth exploration of human physiology and pathophysiology, with an emphasis on the relationship between health and the alterations leading to disease. Students will focus on the etiology, pathogenic mechanisms, clinical features, and therapeutic interventions of commonly occurring diseases manifesting in specific physiologic processes or organ systems.
- Department: Nursing
- T 2 p.m.-4:50 p.m.
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Instructor:
Sally W Aboelela
CULPA: 5 Info - 2 points
Policy Solutions for Online Mis/Disinfor
Policy Solutions-Online I
While 2016 may have been the wake-up call, it is clear that what scholar Joan Donovan calls “the weaponization of the misinformation machine” has only gotten worse since then. The political, social, and psychological damage caused by the intensive dissemination of online mis/disinformation has been profound. However, much has been learned about how to address the problem, so we will emphasize understanding the role of Big Tech in circulating and profiting from online mis/disinformation and what policies/regulations are in play. This semeste,r we are paying particular attention to the aftermath of the 2024 election landscape and the strange post-truth environment we find ourselves in.
The first part of this course will focus on understanding mis/disinformation online. What exactly is it? Why should we care? What are the implications for Democracy? Who is the cast of characters creating mis/disinformation online? After we’ve understood these topics we will examine the fixes being proposed and tried globally. We will consider both the demand and supply side of the problem and national context shapes the solutions being tried. We will look at the pros and cons of efforts to promote responsible news consumption, enhance media literacy, fact-checking, and new regulations. Along the way, we will also discuss content moderation, platform liability, disclosure requirements for election advertising, and support for journalism.
Students who take this class will develop an understanding of:
The problem of online misinformation and disinformation— who is putting it online and what are their interests?
Familiarity with the universe of solutions that are being tried and the pros and cons of each approach
- Department: Tech Policy and Innovation
- W 10 a.m.-11:50 a.m.
- 3 points
Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
HLTH PROMOTION/DISEASE PR
This course is designed to provide the student with a systematic approach to the delivery of health promotion and disease prevention in primary health care to individuals, families, communities, and aggregate populations.
- Department: Nursing
- T 4 p.m.-6 p.m.
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Instructor:
Lisa Iannacci-Manasia
Info - 3 points
Internet Governance and Human Rights
Internet Governance & Rig
Whoever controls the future of the internet controls the future of the world. This course explores the institutions, stakeholder groups, and policy debates that shape how the internet is built, maintained, and governed. It examines the internet’s technical roots and the people and entities—telecom companies and their regulators, technologists and idealists, security forces and hackers—who shape its evolution today.
Students will study the basic workings of internet and mobile networks, the national and global forums where internet policy is made, and how digital regulation affects people, rights, cultures, and economies. Class sessions combine lectures, group discussions, guest speakers, and hands-on simulations to explore real-world tensions between national sovereignty and borderless cyberspace, corporate responsibility and civil liberties, and differing digital norms across regions.
The international human rights framework is presented as a foundation for policymaking in the digital age. Course topics include intermediary liability, domain name systems, surveillance, privacy, net neutrality, AI, disinformation, digital identity, and internet shutdowns. Students will write a reflection paper, a midterm policy memo, and a final policy brief, and participate in a group-led in-class “Event” designed to bring readings to life through role play and stakeholder engagement. Participation is essential.
- Department: Tech Policy and Innovation
- W 5:10 p.m.-7 p.m.
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Instructor:
Peter Micek
Info - 3 points
Persistent Problems in the Global South
Global South Challenges
This course examines the politics of persistent policy challenges in the Global South, a term that traditionally refers to developing nations but also encompasses marginalized communities in wealthier countries affected by globalization.Poverty, inequality, hunger, communicable diseases, water scarcity, political and financial instability, and corruption are among the most persistent challenges in the Global South. While policymakers have invested significant resources to address these issues, their global roots often make them more complex and difficult to resolve. Responses to these problems vary across the Global South, shaped by each country’s unique historical and political context. This variation highlights that developing countries are not uniform and provides valuable opportunities for comparative analysis of policies and outcomes.
This course takes a comparative approach, drawing on the histories and experiences of developing countries worldwide. Each week, we will focus on a key challenge in the Global South using an empirically grounded, case-based method, supported by relevant theoretical frameworks and policy literature. While recognizing country-specific differences, we will also examine common constraints—such as colonial legacies, resource scarcity, and institutional barriers—that set these nations apart from wealthier Global North countries.
- Department: Development and Governance
- W 1:10 p.m.-3 p.m.
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Instructor:
Rumela Sen
CULPA: 1 Info - 3 points
Digital Content Provenance: Path to Tran
This course explores one of the most promising responses to the risks posed by Generative AI: digital content provenance. As AI-generated media grows more sophisticated and accessible, questions of transparency and authenticity have become central to the global informational ecosystem. Digital content provenance—an emerging open standard supported by thousands of organizations and recognized in recent policy actions such as the White House Executive Order on AI—offers a potential path to restoring trust in what we see and hear online.
Students will examine the technical foundations of provenance, including concepts such as public key infrastructure (PKI) and certificate authorities, and learn how provenance is being implemented across sectors including government, media, and technology. The course features guest speakers from industry and public service, providing insight into the policy, legal, and operational dimensions of this fast-evolving field.
Through research, writing, and the creation of an original provenance-enabled project, students will develop a strong understanding of how digital content provenance works and its relevance to future regulatory frameworks. This course is designed for those interested in the intersection of AI, digital media, global policy, and emerging technology standards.
- Department: Tech Policy and Innovation
- W 7:10 p.m.-9 p.m.
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Instructor:
Mounir E Ibrahim
Info - 1.5 points
Principles & Practice of Online Trust &
Online Trust & Safety
What rules and expectations should online platforms such as Google, Meta, X, OpenAI, TikTok, or Uber use to govern themselves? How do technology companies mitigate socio-technical harms stemming from their products? And how should they respond to evolving geopolitical conflicts playing out on their services? This course introduces the emerging field of Trust & Safety: the study of how online platforms are abused and how these systems can cause individual and societal harms, as well as the frameworks and tools used to prevent and mitigate those harms.
Still relatively obscure but increasingly central to public policy and technology governance, Trust & Safety now spans issues including content moderation, disinformation, child safety, algorithmic harm, and state-sponsored influence operations. Students will build foundational knowledge of the field through academic texts, practitioner case studies, and engagement with tools, taxonomies, and governance approaches used in industry. Course topics include detection systems, enforcement methods, moderation tradeoffs, transparency frameworks, red teaming, and regulatory perspectives such as the EU Digital Services Act. Case studies will examine harms across the technological stack, from social media to video games, dating apps, and AI models.
Students will also engage directly with the tensions and practicalities of operating, regulating, or covering these issues in a policy or product environment. The course prepares students to critically evaluate and help shape interventions aimed at digital safety across sectors.
- Department: Tech Policy and Innovation
- M 10 a.m.-11:50 a.m.
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Instructor:
Camille M Francois
Info - 3 points
INDEPENDENT STUDY
- Department: Engineering
- F 3 p.m.-4:40 p.m.
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Instructor:
Hyoseon Lee
Info - 0 points
Ethics of Media, Technology, and Design
Ethics-Media, Tech, and D
Each week we will examine a variety of case studies covering topics such as: the ethics of information design, algorithmic bias, deceptive user experience patterns, social media and commodification, safe spaces in virtual environments, the development of autonomous systems and smart cities, the relationships between artificial intelligence and copyright, democracy and media, and media activism and community organizing. Throughout the semester, students will select three ethical problems to research, including two case studies and one essay/ opinion piece. Using primary sources, photo, video, and graphics, students will capture pressing ethical issues. They will learn to navigate frameworks for ethical decision making, ethical management systems, and develop “codes” of ethics, and value statements. Students will also have the opportunity to engage in hands-on “ethical” user experience research during class exercises where they test websites, apps, and products. Finally, guests will be invited to the course to share their experience with developing ethical frameworks as media, design, and technology professionals.
- Department: Tech Policy and Innovation
- T 5:10 p.m.-7 p.m.
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Instructor:
Laura S Scherling
Info - 3 points
Algorithmic Republic: AI Policy Challen
Artificial intelligence is present in our individual lives, in education, industry, and government. Investment in AI is so large that it is driving GDP growth—and, some say, creating a bubble. Camps of AI “boomers,” who believe AI will usher in a new era of prosperity and enlightenment, are at loggerheads with AI “doomers,” who argue the technology must be stopped or it may kill us all. Yet in the U.S., there is remarkably little regulation of this new, influential technology. Attempts have been made to address potential bias and its documented shortcomings in important decision-making—such as credit, employment, and housing—or to increase transparency about its use. Meanwhile, developers of the technology, deployers who use it in applications, and enterprise customers are employing—to varying degrees—governance mechanisms to manage risks.
This course provides an overview of policy and regulatory discussions in the U.S. and other parts of the world and outlines some of the key questions that regulators and others are grappling with.
We will focus on three broad areas:
– The technology at the heart of AI: What is it exactly?
– How to read the signals—how the digital revolution has already changed so much about 21st-century life, as well as the early changes we see from AI deployment—to make projections about the real dangers and opportunities ahead.
– The big policy challenges—risky decision-making, safety, privacy, IP, liability, competition, geopolitics, employment—and why they matter, as well as what can actually be done to mitigate them. This requires an understanding of what can be regulated and what has already been tried.
The instructor served as the White House Director of the National AI Office as well as Acting CTO and will draw on this experience, which included co-chairing the federal government’s Council of Chief AI Officers. The course will also feature several guest speakers who directly engage with significant AI or AI policy projects in various fields.
- Department: Tech Policy and Innovation
- 1.5 points
Topics in Financial Inclusion: Enhancing
Financial Inclusion Topic
Research shows that countries with deeper levels of financial inclusion -- defined as access to affordable, appropriate financial services -- have stronger GDP growth rates and lower income inequality. In recent years, research around the financial habits and needs of poor households has yielded rich information on how they manage their financial lives, allowing for the design of financial solutions that better meet their needs, boosting financial inclusion. Nevertheless, an estimated 1.3 billion people globally remain underserved by financial services.
While microfinance institutions remain a leading model for providing financial services to the poor, new models and technology developments have provided opportunities for scaling outreach, improving the range of products and services, deepening penetration and moving beyond brick-and-mortar delivery channels. The course will provide an overview of selected topics in financial inclusion, with a focus on several foundational areas and select topics of current interest, including leading-edge digital financial services, gender, and innovative financial product design.
The course will be highly interactive, with leading industry experts as guest speakers and group assignments.
- Department: Development and Governance
- T 5:10 p.m.-7 p.m.
- 1.5 points
International Capital Markets
Lecture
This course provides a practitioner’s perspective on how global capital markets operate, focusing on the instruments, institutions, and frameworks that channel capital to companies, households, and governments. Students will explore interest rate and FX swaps, derivatives, credit default swaps, asset-backed securities, and structured finance, alongside tools for interpreting yield curves and understanding credit markets. The course integrates current developments, including monetary policy, inflation trends, and systemic risk, with a close look at how financial actors respond. Unlike
Economics of Finance
, which emphasizes theory, this course emphasizes institutional function and market behavior. The course is structured to help students think critically and confidently about real-world financial markets
- Department: International Finance & Economic Policy
- T 5:10 p.m.-7 p.m.
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Instructor:
Benedict O Okoh
CULPA: 1 Info - 3 points
International Capital Markets
Recitation
This course provides a practitioner’s perspective on how global capital markets operate, focusing on the instruments, institutions, and frameworks that channel capital to companies, households, and governments. Students will explore interest rate and FX swaps, derivatives, credit default swaps, asset-backed securities, and structured finance, alongside tools for interpreting yield curves and understanding credit markets. The course integrates current developments, including monetary policy, inflation trends, and systemic risk, with a close look at how financial actors respond. Unlike
Economics of Finance
, which emphasizes theory, this course emphasizes institutional function and market behavior. The course is structured to help students think critically and confidently about real-world financial markets
- Department: International Finance & Economic Policy
- 0 points
Academic-Practice Research Fellowship
PRACTICE RESEARCH FELLOWS
This graduate course is designed to provide the student with the knowledge and skills to facilitate changes in practice delivery using quality improvement strategies. Historical development for total quality management and strategies for implementing process improvement are emphasized. Students will learn how to develop a culture of appreciative inquiry to foster inquisition and innovation. Upon completion of this course, students will design a plan for implementation of a quality improvement project.
- Department: Nursing
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Instructor:
Kasey B Jackman
Info - 0 points
Data and Conflict
This course equips students for humanitarian, human rights, foreign policy and political risk jobs that require real-time interpretation and analysis of conflict data. The course will introduce students to contemporary open-source data about conflict events, fatalities, forced displacement, human rights violations, settlement patterns in war zones, and much more. Students will learn about how this data is generated, what data reveals, what data obscures, and the choices analysts can make to use conflict data transparently in the face of biases. Then, students will learn introductory skills to visualize a range of conflict data in
R
and ArcGIS Pro. The objective is to give students the foundations to go further independently after the course using open-source training material and trouble-shooting portals. Each student will choose a conflict-related policy problem which they will investigate as the course progresses, culminating in a four-page policy brief or an ArcGIS Story Map, along with an explanatory memo.
- Department: International Security & Diplomacy
- R 10 a.m.-11:50 a.m.
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Instructor:
Sophia Dawkins
Info - 3 points
Innovation Driving Development Impact
Innovation Driving Devt I
This course focuses on innovation in low and middle-income countries and how international development organisations and governments can drive better development processes and outcomes. Sessions will cover the role of innovation in fostering inclusive digital transformation, economic growth as well as practical applications of innovation in development policies and programmes. The course will feature a number of case studies from diverse low and middle-income countries as well as frameworks to help students gain a practical and conceptual understanding of innovation at various levels: macro, meso and micro.
The course is designed to help students sharpen their critical thinking skills related to development cooperation policies and programming writ-large, and specifically as they pertain to innovation and digital transformation efforts. Students will gain an understanding of the history of investments in science, technology and innovation (STI) systems in low and middle-income countries and in fields of digital transformation and mission-oriented innovation. Students will work individually and in groups on practical exercises related to innovation policies, local innovation ecosystems, grassroots and frugal innovation, and more. The practical exercises will be anchored in conceptual frameworks and case studies from across low and middle-income countries. Case studies include innovation efforts led by international development organisations as well as by Global South government entities and by local grassroots innovators.
Students will gain practical insights on how to advance inclusive innovation in the context of international development cooperation policies and programmes.
- Department: Development and Governance
- SUSU 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
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Instructor:
Benjamin Kumpf
Info - 1.5 points
Financing and Investing in Sustainable D
Finance for Sustainable D
This course provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the global financial system through the lens of sustainable development. Rather than focusing on ESG or impact investing, the course examines the structures, incentives, and decision-making processes of key financial actors, including public finance institutions, development banks, asset owners, central banks, and private capital markets, and how they can be mobilized to support the goals of sustainable development.
Through lectures, guest speakers, and case studies, students will explore topics such as carbon markets, infrastructure finance, industrial policy, China's international finance strategy, and degrowth economics. The course also addresses the skills and frameworks needed to engage professionally in sustainable finance across sectors.
- Department: MPA-DEVELOPMENT PRACTICE
- M 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
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Instructor:
Aniket A Shah
Info - 3 points
Migration and Economic Development
Economics of Migration
This course equips students with economic tools to analyze the impacts of international migration on destination and origin countries. Emphasizing migration between low-, middle-, and high-income economies, it explores the effects of migration restrictions, remittances, diaspora networks, and labor market outcomes. Students will review key economic models, assess policy debates, and engage with empirical research. The course combines lectures, case discussions, and applied assignments to strengthen analytical skills and inform policy recommendations in migration and development.
- Department: Development and Governance
- R 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
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Instructor:
Limon B Rodriguez
Info - 1.5 points
Impact Evaluations in Practice
This course will be useful for students who are committed to evidence-based operations, programming, strategy, and overall effectiveness. Impact evaluations, combined with strong data systems, are integral tools for this evidence-driven work. At the end of the course, students will understand why and when to conduct impact evaluations, how to manage one, and how to recognize and differentiate a good impact evaluation from a non-rigorous one.
Spring 2026 Course Dates: March 27-28 & April 3-4
- Department: Development and Governance
- FS 1:15 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
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Instructor:
Jyotsna Puri
Info - 1.5 points
Climate Change Policy and Diplomacy
This course examines the central challenges of climate change policy and diplomacy through three core questions: What should the world do about climate change? Why have past efforts largely failed? How can more effective strategies be developed? Drawing on perspectives from science, economics, ethics, international law, and game theory, students will explore both normative and practical dimensions of global climate action.
The course reviews the scientific basis and projected impacts of climate change, evaluates technological and economic options for reducing emissions, and analyzes the history and design of international agreements from the Framework Convention to the Paris Agreement. Students will consider issues such as policy coordination, compliance incentives, trade linkages, and the role of unilateral measures and geoengineering.
- Department: Climate, Energy, & Environment
- W 1:10 p.m.-3 p.m.
- M noon-1:05 p.m.
- M 1:15 p.m.-2:20 p.m.
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Instructor:
Scott Barrett
Wikipedia Info - 3 points
Applying Machine Learning
The widespread adoption of information technology has resulted in the generation of vast amounts of data on human behavior. This course explores ways to use this data to better understand and improve the societies in which we live. The course weaves together methods from machine learning (OLS, LASSO, trees) and social science (theory, reduced-form causal inference, structural modeling) to address real-world problems. We will use these problems as a backdrop to weigh the importance of causality, precision, and computational efficiency.
Prerequisites:
Students are expected to have completed coursework equivalent to Quantitative Analysis II or Statistics (e.g., SIPA U6501), Microeconomics (e.g., SIPA U6300/50 or U6400), and an introductory Computer Science course (e.g., INAF U6006). Familiarity with econometrics and programming is assumed.
- Department: Data Science for Policy
- W 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
- F 1:10 p.m.-3 p.m.
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Instructor:
Daniel C Bjorkegren
Info - 3 points
Emerging Capital Markets: Theory & Pract
This course examines the evolution of capital markets in emerging economies and the forces shaping their current and future trajectories. Through a combination of case studies, financial theory, and practitioner insights, students will explore sovereign defaults, financial crises, policy responses, and structural reforms across Latin America, Asia, and beyond. Key topics include the influence of global liquidity cycles, the rise of China, ESG investment trends, and the implications of new technologies such as generative AI.
- Department: International Finance & Economic Policy
- T 7:10 p.m.-9 p.m.
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Instructor:
Alejo E Czerwonko Pupi
Info - 3 points
FOUNDATIONS OF SW PRACTICE
- Department: Social Work
- W 9 a.m.-noon
- R 2 p.m.-5 p.m.
- R 9 a.m.-noon
- W 4 p.m.-7 p.m.
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Instructor:
Ife Lenard
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Zelaika Clarke
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Krystal Miller
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Christine D Holmes
Info - 3 points
SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE II
- Department: Social Work
- W 9 a.m.-noon
- R 9 a.m.-noon
- W 5:10 p.m.-8:10 p.m.
- R 9 a.m.-noon
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Instructor:
Laura Miller
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Moradeyo Adeyi
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Gariy Livshits
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Craig S Schwalbe
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Chantelle J Doswell
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Helodia Dastine
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Jillian Tucker
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Josephine L Torielli
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Monica A Joseph
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Michelle Sanderson
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Tonika Boston
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Typhani D Carter
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Maria del Mar Farina
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Sarah E Strole
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Jessica Chock-Goldman
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Rachel M Goldsmith
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Gerardine Mareus
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Foluso O Otuyelu
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Instructor:
Josephine L Torielli
Info - 3 points
ADVOCACY IN SW PRACTICE
- Department: Social Work
- W 9 a.m.-noon
- R 9 a.m.-noon
- W 2 p.m.-5 p.m.
- R 9 a.m.-noon
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Instructor:
Ovita F Williams
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Tonika Boston
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Alexandra Seals
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Brooke S West
h-index: 14 Info -
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Alexandra Seals
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Jaime Estades
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Russell A Baptist
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Katrina Balovlenkov
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Maurice Lacey
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Robin T Kelley
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Eishelle Tillery
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John G Robertson
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Peter Maugeri
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Elise M Verdooner
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Jairo Hoyos
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Harry Schiffman
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Samantha C Winter
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Marcella J Tillett
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Instructor:
Mindy Chen
Info - 3 points
Emerging AI and MERL: Responsible Use of
This seven-week course examines the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and monitoring, evaluation, research and learning (MERL) in international development and humanitarian contexts. Students will explore two critical dimensions: using MERL approaches to assess AI systems (MERL of AI) and leveraging AI tools to conduct MERL activities (AI for MERL). The course situates AI technologies within current US and global geopolitical contexts, emphasizing both practical applications and ethical challenges that influence decisions about AI use in different development and humanitarian contexts.
Through a combination of theoretical frameworks, case studies, discussions, and hands-on exercises, students will develop knowledge and competencies in evaluating AI tools, understanding their limitations and biases, and making informed decisions about their appropriate use in development and humanitarian settings. The course addresses key ethical concepts (including data privacy, bias and inclusion, climate impacts), and helps students build their practical technical skills in AI for MERL. It also supports managerial level skills such as assessing AI vendors and developing AI policies. Special attention is given to critical perspectives on both AI and MERL, examining how power dynamics and resource inequities affect AI development and deployment in low and middle-income countries.
Students will engage with practical AI tools throughout the course, developing skills in critical assessment while maintaining awareness of ethical boundaries and professional responsibilities. The course culminates in students developing an AI use policy, integrating technical knowledge with ethical frameworks and contextual considerations relevant to their future work in international development or humanitarian assistance. This course does not have prerequisites, but you will benefit more (as well as contribute more to discussions with your colleagues) if you have at least 2 years of professional experience in international development or humanitarian aid, or if you have taken Methods for Sustainable Development Practice (DVGO8000I), Evaluation in International Organizations (DVGO7092), Impact Measurement and Evaluation for Sustainable Development (TPIN7315), or a comparable course.
- Department: Development and Governance
- W 5:10 p.m.-7 p.m.
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Instructor:
Kevin C Hong
Info - 1.5 points
Green Transition in Emerging Markets
Greening Emerging Markets
The transition to a net-zero economy is of particular relevance to Emerging and Developing economies, which are both the most vulnerable to climate change and also the largest emitters of greenhouse gases.
The transition is creating considerable challenges but also opening up significant opportunities: over $200 trillion of investments will be needed in order to ensure that global temperatures stay well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, with most to be invested in the infrastructure sector of emerging and developing economies.
The class will explore the challenges of the transition to a low-carbon economy. It will also examine the new mechanisms that are being put in place to channel finance toward the greening of emerging and developing countries.
- Department: International Finance & Economic Policy
- R 10 a.m.-11:50 a.m.
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Instructor:
Christian Deseglise
Wikipedia Info - 1.5 points
Operations Strategy
A firm's operations encompass all the activities that are performed in order to produce and deliver a product or a service. An operations strategy refers to a set of operational decisions that a firm makes to achieve a long-term competitive advantage. These decisions may be about the firms facilities, its technology/process choices, its relationships with both upstream and downstream business partners etc. The goal of this course is to provide students with an understanding of how and why operational decisions are integral to a firms success. The course builds on concepts from the core Operations Management course and the core Strategy Formulation course. It is highly relevant to anyone whose work requires the strategic analysis of a firms operations, including those interested in consulting, entrepreneurship, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, investment analysis, and general management. The course consists of four modules. The first module, Strategic Alignment," explores the question of how a firms operations should be structured so as to be consistent with the firms chosen way to compete. The second module, "Firm Boundaries," considers the question of what operational activities should remain in house and what should be done by a business partner and the long-term implications of these decisions on competitive advantage. This module also addresses the issue of managing the business relationships with supply chain partners. The third module, "Internal Operations," considers key decision categories in operations, e.g., capacity decisions, process choices, IT implementation, and managing networks, and shows how these decisions can lead to distinctive capabilities. The final module, "New Challenges," is set aside to address new topics that reflect the current trends in the business environment."
- Department: Decision, Risk and Operations
- S 3:45 p.m.-6:45 p.m.
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Instructor:
Medini Singh
Info - 3 points
Intelligence and US Foreign Policy
Intelligence & US Foreign
This seminar explores the role of intelligence in U.S. national security and foreign policy, focusing on both historic and contemporary controversies. Topics include intelligence failures such as 9/11 and Iraq’s WMDs, challenges in cyber and surveillance, and debates about covert action and interrogation practices. The course also considers the Intelligence Community’s (IC) relationship with policymakers, particularly during election cycles and presidential transitions. Recent failures in Russia and Israel will prompt discussion on whether intelligence failures are inevitable and how success or failure should be defined. Students will examine the core functions of intelligence—collection (human, technical, cyber), analysis, and covert action—and their place in a democratic society. Readings focus on the post-WWII period to the present, with an emphasis on reform efforts. Guest speakers and a crisis simulation will provide practical insight into intelligence work, including real-world pressures faced by analysts and decision-makers.
- Department: International Security & Diplomacy
- W 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
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Instructor:
Peter Clement
Info - 3 points
Emerging Digital Tech for Impact
Emerging Digital Tech-Imp
This course examines the promises and complexities of emerging digital technologies—Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI, Blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT)—in advancing sustainable development. Designed for development practitioners and policymakers, it provides a practical framework to assess how these tools can be responsibly scaled to generate positive social and environmental impact.
Through critical readings, expert guest speakers, and applied case studies, students will analyze both historical lessons and current implementation challenges. The course emphasizes the importance of infrastructure, ecosystem readiness, ethical design, and inclusive access, especially in under-resourced settings. Topics include digital equity, environmental sustainability, and the enabling conditions for scaling innovation.
- Department: MPA-DEVELOPMENT PRACTICE
- T 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
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Instructor:
Mariela J Machado
Info - 3 points
Data Science and Public Policy
Pre-req: SIPA IA6501 - Quant II
or equivalent quantitative methods course. This course bridges the gap between data science and public policy by bringing together students from diverse academic backgrounds to address contemporary policy challenges using large-scale data. With the rapid growth of digital information and the increasing influence of machine learning and AI on public life, the ability to work across disciplines is becoming essential.
Students will examine real-world datasets on topics such as disinformation campaigns, privacy and surveillance, crime and recidivism, natural disasters, and the impact of generative AI. Through weekly presentations and a semester-long team project, students will gain practical experience applying data science methods to pressing policy issues while learning how to collaborate across fields.
- Department: Data Science for Policy
- W 10 a.m.-11:50 a.m.
-
Instructor:
Tamar Mitts
h-index: 5 Info - 3 points
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
- Department: Social Work
- T 9 a.m.-10:50 a.m.
- W 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
-
Instructor:
Monica L Foote
Info -
Instructor:
Jordana Rutigliano
Info - 3 points
Emerging Financial Systems: BR,IN,ID,MX
Fin.Systems:BR,IN,ID,MX
This course examines the workings of a select group of emerging economies’ financial systems, providing students with the tools to assess the efficacy of the financial system as a key pillar for a country’s sustained economic development and growth. Characteristics to be analyzed and compared include the roles of domestic private, public sector, and foreign banks; impact of fintech developments on competition between incumbents and challengers; business strategy and market valuation; systemic resilience and regulation; breadth and depth of domestic capital markets; access to foreign capital; climate change and sustainable finance; and potential for advancement by current leading emerging economies’ banks.
- Department: International Finance & Economic Policy
- M 5:10 p.m.-7 p.m.
-
Instructor:
Fernando Sotelino
Info - 3 points
Text as Data
Pre-req: SIPA IA6500 - Quant I, and prior experience with R are required.
This course introduces students to the quantitative analysis of text, an increasingly important method in the social sciences and public policy. With vast amounts of textual information now available from sources such as social media, news articles, political speeches, and government documents, the ability to analyze text systematically is essential. Students will learn how to collect, process, and analyze text data to answer meaningful research questions.
The course covers a range of methods including dictionary-based approaches, supervised classification, topic modeling, word embeddings, and emerging applications of Large Language Models. Emphasis is placed on practical application through hands-on exercises using the R programming language. By the end of the semester, students will develop an original research project using text as data.
- Department: Data Science for Policy
- W 1:10 p.m.-3 p.m.
-
Instructor:
Tamar Mitts
h-index: 5 Info - 3 points
SEMINAR ON POLICY PRACTICE II
- Department: Social Work
- W 2 p.m.-3:50 p.m.
- T 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
-
Instructor:
Mashura Akilova
Info - 3 points
Terrorism and Counterterrorism
This course examines the origins and development of modern terrorism, the challenges it poses to states and the international system, and the strategies employed to confront it. The course explores a wide range of terrorist groups, assessing the psychological, political, socioeconomic, and religious factors that contribute to terrorist violence. Students will also evaluate the effectiveness and ethical implications of various counterterrorism approaches. The course is structured in two parts. Part I addresses the nature, causes, tactics, and objectives of terrorism and terrorist organizations. Part II focuses on counterterrorism, including U.S. policy responses, international strategies, and the tension between security and democratic values.
- Department: International Security & Diplomacy
- T 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
-
Instructor:
Stuart M Gottlieb
CULPA: 12
Info
- 3 points
Seminar in Urban Politics and Policy
S. Urban Politics and Pol
All public policy occurs within a political context. The purpose of this seminar is to examine how politics impacts policy in America’s large cities. While we rely on case material from American cities, the theoretical frameworks, problems, and policy solutions we consider are relevant to understanding public policy in any global city.
Cities are not legal entities defined in the American Constitution. Yet, historically, they have developed a politics and policymaking process that at once seems archetypically American and strangely foreign. We will consider who has power in cities and how that impacts policy priorities; whether America’s traditional institutions of representation “work” for urban America; how the city functions within our federal system; and whether neighborhood democracy is a meaningful construct. We will also consider the impact of politics on urban policymaking. Can cities solve the myriad problems of their populations under existing institutional arrangements? How are cities being affected by the post-pandemic work-from-home economy? Do the economic and social factors that impact urban politics and policy limit a city’s capacity to find and implement solutions to urban problems? How has increasing income inequality and persistent racial discrimination impacted urban governance and policy making? Does political protest result in changes in urban policy? Finally, can urban politics be restructured to better address problems of inequity and racial justice. Do cities have a viable economic future in post-pandemic America?
- Department: Urban and Social Policy
- T 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
-
Instructor:
Patricia A Kirkland
Info - 3 points
Advanced Computing for Policy
Pre-req: DSPC IA6000 - Computing in Context,
or see option for testing out
.
In Computing in Context, students “explored computing concepts and coding in the context of solving policy problems.” Building off that foundation of Python fundamentals and data analysis, Advanced Computing for Policy goes both deeper and broader. The course covers computer science concepts like data structures and algorithms, as well as supporting systems like databases, cloud services, and collaboration tools. Over the semester, students will build a complex end-to-end data system. This course prepares students for more advanced data science coursework at SIPA, and equips them to do sophisticated data ingestion, analysis, and presentation in research/industry.
- Department: Data Science for Policy
- R 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
- F 1:10 p.m.-3 p.m.
-
Instructor:
Aidan Feldman
Info - 3 points
Our AI Future
(Formerly
AI Institutions
)
AI is rewriting the rules of society. This course invites you to understand and shape what comes next. We begin by turning the classroom into a living experiment on how AI could change education, then examine how abundant intelligence could reshape work, governance, and transportation. In a field often dominated by speculation, we will ground our discussions in evidence and theory. Together, we’ll explore what institutions are needed for a world transformed by intelligence.
- Department: Data Science for Policy
- W 1:10 p.m.-3 p.m.
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Instructor:
Daniel C Bjorkegren
Info - 3 points
Critical Issues in Urban Public Policy
This course is designed to prepare future policymakers to critically analyze and evaluate key urban policy issues in US cities. It is unique in offering exposure to both practical leadership experience and urban policy scholarship that will equip students to meet the challenges that face urban areas. Students are responsible for all the required readings and they will hear from an exciting array of guest lecturers from the governmental, not for-profit, and private sectors. Drawing from my experiences as former Mayor of Philadelphia, I will lay out fundamental issues of urban governance and policymaking, emphasizing the challenges and opportunities cities are now facing.
- Department: Urban and Social Policy
- W 10 a.m.-11:50 a.m.
-
Instructor:
Michael A Nutter
Info - 3 points
International Trade
Lecture
This course explores both the theory and policy of international trade. In the first half, students will learn why countries trade, what determines trade patterns, and how trade affects prices, welfare, and income distribution. Key models covered include the Ricardian, Specific Factors, and Heckscher-Ohlin models, along with extensions on migration and offshoring. In the second half, the course focuses on trade policy instruments such as tariffs, quotas, and subsidies, examining their effects under different market structures. Topics include the political economy of trade, strategic trade policy, climate and agricultural subsidies, and international trade agreements. Prior coursework in microeconomics is required. Students will develop both analytical and applied understanding of global trade issues.
- Department: International Finance & Economic Policy
- R 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
-
Instructor:
Arvind Panagariya
Wikipedia Info - 3 points
International Trade
Recitation
This course explores both the theory and policy of international trade. In the first half, students will learn why countries trade, what determines trade patterns, and how trade affects prices, welfare, and income distribution. Key models covered include the Ricardian, Specific Factors, and Heckscher-Ohlin models, along with extensions on migration and offshoring. In the second half, the course focuses on trade policy instruments such as tariffs, quotas, and subsidies, examining their effects under different market structures. Topics include the political economy of trade, strategic trade policy, climate and agricultural subsidies, and international trade agreements. Prior coursework in microeconomics is required. Students will develop both analytical and applied understanding of global trade issues.
- Department: International Finance & Economic Policy
- 0 points
Conduct of War
The conduct of war is central to international security policy. Even when unused, the ability to wage war effectively underpins deterrence and shapes foreign policy. Military organization, training, and strategy are built around this capacity, and the institutions that support it exist largely to ensure effectiveness in conflict. A strong grasp of modern warfare theory and practice is essential for anyone pursuing a career in security policy. This course provides a foundation in the conduct of war, preparing students for professional roles in government agencies, legislative offices, think tanks, and international organizations. It focuses on developing the analytical skills and conceptual tools needed for early-career success and long-term growth in the defense policy field. While the course includes critical thinking and key concepts, it is intended as targeted professional preparation rather than general education. The course complements ISDI IA6000: Foundations of International Security Policy, ISDI IA7250: Military Technology Assessment, and ISDI IA7275: Methods for Defense Analysis. While these courses may be taken independently, this course does not address topics such as war’s causes, ethics, or technology evaluation, which are covered elsewhere. Instead, it concentrates on the theory and practice of how wars are conducted.
- Department: International Security & Diplomacy
- T 5:10 p.m.-7 p.m.
- 3 points
Design for Social Innovation
This project-based course equips students with the tools of human-centered design to address real-world challenges in the social sector. Working in interdisciplinary teams, students act as “intrapreneurs,” designing solutions on behalf of nonprofit, government, and social enterprise clients. Through a structured 12-week innovation cycle, students move through four design phases:
Explore
(stakeholder research and mapping),
Reframe
(synthesis and insight development),
Generate
(ideation and concept creation), and
Prototype
(building and testing solutions).
Students develop key competencies in design thinking, project and client management, stakeholder interviewing, problem framing, prototyping, and storytelling. The course culminates in a final presentation and deliverables that include an implementation blueprint and pitch materials for client use.
Client organizations span sectors such as education, food systems, sustainability, and civic engagement. Class meetings include workshops, presentations, feedback sessions, and one-on-one team advising. Deliverables are team-based, and participation is evaluated through both class engagement and weekly reflections.
This course is designed for students seeking hands-on experience in social innovation and a creative, collaborative approach to systems-level change.
- Department: Tech Policy and Innovation
- W 1:10 p.m.-3 p.m.
-
Instructor:
Sarah M Holloway
CULPA: 1 Info - 3 points
The Politics of Defense in the United St
Politics of U.S. Defense
This course examines how national security and defense policy are developed and implemented in the U.S., focusing on political processes and institutional dynamics. Topics include military strategy, budgeting, force structure, acquisition, personnel policy, and the use of force. Students explore five key dimensions: partisan politics, Congress–Executive relations, civil-military relations, inter-service dynamics, and coordination across federal agencies. While grounded in U.S. policy, the course addresses global contexts and current debates, including defense reform, great-power competition, and the sustainability of the all-volunteer force. Readings span historical and contemporary sources.
- Department: International Security & Diplomacy
- W 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
-
Instructor:
Michael O'Hanlon
Wikipedia Info - 3 points
RESEARCH METHS GLOBAL & POP HEALTH
RSRH METH GLOB & POP HLTH
- Department: Medicine
-
Instructor:
Kim Hekimian
h-index: 7 Info - 0-2 points
Human Rights Skills and Advocacy
Human Rights Skills & Adv
This course equips students with practical skills for designing and implementing human rights advocacy strategies. Through a mix of case studies, simulations, and applied writing assignments, students will learn how to identify advocacy goals, analyze targets and power structures, and select effective tactics. The course explores advocacy with governments, legislatures, and UN bodies, as well as the use of media, digital tools, and coalition-building to advance human rights.
Students will develop and refine an advocacy strategy on a current human rights issue of their choosing, supported by assignments such as op-eds, advocacy letters, and submissions to UN mechanisms. Emphasis is placed on ethical research methods, effective messaging, and impact evaluation. Class sessions are interactive and include mock advocacy meetings, guest speakers, and structured feedback on peer work.
Taught by two experienced human rights advocates, the course draws on real-world campaigns and encourages critical reflection on challenges to human rights work in restrictive and high-risk environments.
- Department: Human Rights, Gender, and Equity
- F 10 a.m.-11:50 a.m.
- 3 points
International Trade and Financial Market
Intl Trade & Financial Ma
This half-course examines the intersection of international trade and financial markets, exploring how global commerce both shapes and is shaped by macroeconomic policy, financial conditions, and firm-level strategic behavior. The course aims to bridge two traditionally distinct analytical lenses — international macroeconomics and micro-level trade and corporate dynamics — to provide students with an integrated understanding of how trade policies, capital flows, and multinational production networks interact in a financially interconnected world.
The first half of the course (Macro) focuses on the policy dimensions of international trade. It investigates how trade policies influence growth, inflation, and monetary policy in advanced economies, and how these same dynamics play out in emerging markets with more volatile macro-financial linkages. Students will analyze theoretical frameworks for tariffs and trade balances alongside empirical evidence from historical and contemporary policy shifts. Case studies will explore the commodity–currency nexus, crisis transmission through trade channels, and how financial markets price trade risk.
The second half (Micro) transitions to the firm and industry level, examining global supply chains and multinational corporations. The discussions will explore how geopolitical tensions, industrial policies, and technological change are reshaping global production networks. Students will assess the evolving role of multinational enterprises as both transmitters and mitigators of global shocks. Case studies will focus on critical materials and the technology sector, highlighting the strategic and policy implications of concentrated global value chains.
- Department: International Finance & Economic Policy
-
Instructor:
Benjamin R Mandel
Info - 1.5 points
Climate Tech & Regenerative Entrepreneur
Clim Tech & Regen Enterpr
The course will focus on the knowledge and skills required to research, ideate, thoughtfully plan, and pitch a new business aimed at mitigating climate-related challenges. The course will serve as a laboratory for students to sharpen their entrepreneurial abilities and deepen their understanding of climate change and related challenges, and how to meaningfully address them. Teams will work on challenges addressing vital systems (food, water, energy), built systems (buildings, mobility, cities), care systems (health, mental health/climate grief, etc) and aimed at sharpening their entrepreneurial abilities and deepening their understanding of climate change and related challenges, and how to meaningfully address them to support a just transition to a regenerative future. Class process will include: 1) identifying and defining a climate challenge they want to solve; 2) engaging in research, need finding, customer discovery and development; 3) ideation for mitigation and adaptation solutions; 4) Prototyping for customer/expert feedback; 5) Creations viable implementation plans & budgets; and 6) practiing pitching to potential partners and investors.
- Department: Tech Policy and Innovation
- R 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
- 3 points
Scale Up Ventures: Growing a Business Ou
Scale-Up Ventures & Polic
This course explores the strategies, tools, and policy environments required to scale ventures beyond the startup phase, particularly in regions outside traditional tech hubs such as Silicon Valley. Students examine the entrepreneurial journey from early traction to sustained growth, considering both bottom-up approaches focused on talent, capital, and customer acquisition, and top-down approaches focused on policy and ecosystem design. Emphasis is placed on high-impact sectors including AI, blockchain, fintech, and edtech, as well as opportunities in underserved markets. Through guest lectures, written assignments, and a team-based final project, students gain practical insight into entrepreneurship, venture capital, and leadership strategies that support scale. The course is designed for students interested in launching ventures, supporting innovation ecosystems, or shaping policies that foster economic growth.
- Department: Tech Policy and Innovation
-
Instructor:
Fernando Fabre
Info - 3 points