Excel Fundamentals

This short course surveys fundamental Microsoft Excel concepts and functionality applicable to SIPA courses and in professional settings. Topics include interacting with spreadsheets, understanding references and functions, writing formulas, building basic models, controlling formatting and presentation and creating basic charts. The course is targeted at students with limited or no prior Excel experience.

• SU 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Instructor: Kenyon S Saverance
  Info
• 0 points

Advanced Techniques in Excel

Prerequisites: Instructor-Managed Waitlist & Course Application.
This short course explores techniques that enable sophisticated problem solving and data analysis in Microsoft Excel. Topics include implementing advanced logic using complex formulas and intermediate calculations; managing complexity with Excel's auditing features; importing, parsing and cleaning raw data; pulling data together using lookup functions; and summarizing and analyzing data with conditional aggregate functions and PivotTables. This course does not focus on specific policy or financial applications, but instead explores general concepts and techniques that can be flexibly applied to different solutions in Excel.

• M 11 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
• Instructor: Kenyon S Saverance
  Info
• 0 points

Financial Modeling in Excel

This one-day seminar, conducted by the reputable training firm Training The Street, explores best practices and efficient techniques for building finance-related spreadsheets.

The lectures will use a real company as a case study and direct participants to blend accounting, corporate finance, and Excel skills to create a dynamic, three-statement financial model. The completed product has five years of projections, three years of historical data, and supporting schedules, including working capital, debt, equity, depreciation, and amortization.

Other advanced topics include understanding and controlling circularity errors, troubleshooting, sensitivity analysis, and discounted cash flow valuations.

The course is best suited for students with exposure to basic accounting and corporate finance concepts. It stresses efficiency in using Excel and awareness of common pitfalls when developing financial models.

• S 10:15 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Instructor: Kenyon S Saverance
  Info
• 0 points

Professional Development

Professional Profile

Navigating the employment market and successfully pursuing job and internship opportunities requires effective tools and search strategies. At all professional levels, job candidates must be able to clearly describe their unique professional qualifications and how they will contribute value to the hiring organization. This 2-session course is designed to facilitate a heightened awareness of career goals and develop the essential ingredients for an effective job search campaign: resume, pitch, online presence, and networking and interviewing skills. Participants will construct a professional resume appropriate to their target industry or organization and submit it for review and feedback. A distinct version of the course for international students covers the nuances of networking and job search in the US and provides CPT and OPT guidelines. Students should enroll in the version that aligns with their background and may attend sessions only in the course section for which they are registered. This course is a required component of the two-course (0.5 point, total) SIPA Professional Development requirement; the other component may be chosen from among a menu of five electives (see 
SIPA U4041
 through 
SIPA U4045
). Students should complete both components of the PD requirement in their first semester.

• W 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Patricia Samwick
  Info
• 0.2 points

Professional Development

Professional Profile-Intl

Navigating the employment market and successfully pursuing job and internship opportunities requires effective tools and search strategies. At all professional levels, job candidates must be able to clearly describe their unique professional qualifications and how they will contribute value to the hiring organization. This 2-session course is designed to facilitate a heightened awareness of career goals and develop the essential ingredients for an effective job search campaign: resume, pitch, online presence, and networking and interviewing skills. Participants will construct a professional resume appropriate to their target industry or organization and submit it for review and feedback. A distinct version of the course for international students covers the nuances of networking and job search in the US and provides CPT and OPT guidelines. Students should enroll in the version that aligns with their background and may attend sessions only in the course section for which they are registered. This course is a required component of the two-course (0.5 point, total) SIPA Professional Development requirement; the other component may be chosen from among a menu of five electives (see 
SIPA U4041
 through 
SIPA U4045
). Students should complete both components of the PD requirement in their first semester.

• T 9 a.m.-10:50 a.m.
• T 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Chun Yee Yip
  Info
• Instructor: Holly White
  Info
• 0.2 points

Professional Development

Global Workplace

Understanding the Global Workplace
: In the contemporary workplace, teams are comprised of leaders and contributors from myriad cultural backgrounds. Each person’s way of viewing and being in the world shapes their approach to teamwork, leadership, and interpersonal relations in general. This 1-session course examines how diverse experiences and perspectives are critical to the growth and productivity of teams and organizations. Participants will gain insight into unconscious biases and other impediments to teamwork in the workplace and learn interpersonal skills that foster effective collaboration, conflict management, and productive team outcomes.

• F 9 a.m.-10:50 a.m.
• Instructor: Tanya Odom
  Info
• 0.2 points

Professional Development

Public Speaking at Work

Effective Public Speaking at Work:
Common workplace interactions such as leading or contributing to meetings and delivering presentations are critical components of professional life. Yet, for many professionals, public speaking is highly stressful. This 1-session course will introduce you to public speaking skills that produce effective results in the workplace, including how to structure, frame, and organize a presentation and deliver it with impact. You’ll learn the key elements of an effective presentation and how to communicate your message convincingly by analyzing your audience and determining its needs. Participants will have an opportunity to practice important verbal and non-verbal delivery techniques – and begin to overcome the fears of speaking up and speaking out.

• W 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
• Instructor: Janet S Balis
  Info
• 0.2 points

Professional Development

Negotiation in Workplace

Negotiating Everyday Collaborations in the Workplace:
Effective negotiation is a key skill for leaders and contributors worldwide at all professional levels in organizations and workplaces. This 1-session course is designed to promote understanding and build problem-solving skills that can lead to strength and competency in this vital activity of everyday work life. Participants will be able to define negotiation and articulate the key tension that exists in all negotiations; prepare for negotiations using a research-based framework; and articulate their strengths and weaknesses as negotiators, as well as ways they can improve negotiation outcomes.

• T 11 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
• Instructor: Yaron Prywes
  Info
• 0.2 points

Professional Development

Networking for Mid-Career

Networking for Mid-Career Advancement:
Workplace environments have always been bastions of operative professional relationships, explicit and tacit. Historically, research has demonstrated the value and benefits of networking, both in finding jobs during early career and advancing within an organization during later career. In this 1-session course, you will learn what networking can and cannot accomplish; how to network effectively and respectfully; balancing the “getting” and “giving” aspects of networking; and an actionable framework for conducting effective career-advancement networking strategies. Students will learn how to cultivate and sustain professional relationships that can continue to be beneficial over time.

• W 11 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
• Instructor: Daniel White
  Wikipedia Info
• 0.2 points

Professional Development

MBTI Comm & Teamwork

Using the MBTI to Enhance Communication & Teamwork:
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a well-known personality assessment instrument widely administered worldwide in organizational and workplace settings. It does not measure skills or aptitudes but personality preferences – the qualities that combine to make us unique individuals. In this 1-session course, students will learn the benefits of using the MBTI in professional settings and developing self-awareness of preferred decision-making, problem-solving, and relating to others. Interactive exercises will also promote understanding and insight into the preferences of those who share styles dissimilar to ours. Understanding your MBTI profile will enable you to appreciate important personality differences and mesh with the complexities of diverse organizational cultures.

• R 9 a.m.-10:50 a.m.
• Instructor: Jodi L Caplan
  Info
• 0.2 points

Effective Global Leadership for Economic

Effective Global Leadership II

These two-part mid-career global leadership development courses (1.5 credit course in the summer and spring) provide intensive, collaborative, and highly interactive hands-on instruction, constructive evaluation, and ample opportunities to transform theory into practice.  It utilizes cutting-edge, research-based methodologies and customized case studies to build the next generation of leaders that turn differences into opportunities, ideas into solutions, and knowledge into action.  Students will acquire a variety of leadership skills in global contexts, including cross-cultural negotiation strategies, consensus building, collaborative facilitation, persuasion, inclusionary leadership, design-thinking-based problem-solving techniques, and public speaking in knowledge-intensive industries.  They will gain a competitive edge in their professional careers by participating in a variety of simulation games, role-playing exercises, and mock public policy panels to apply the skills they have learned and receive valuable feedback.

• F 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Yumiko T Shimabukuro
  Info
• 1.5 points

Political, Social & Economic Development

Pol, Soc, & Econ Devp-Brazil

This course is set-up in a form of a practicum where major activists concerned with Brazilian political, social and economic development will be asked to address a policy problem and discuss their proposals for effective changes. Other speakers will analyze the government's policies but will also discuss major new reports or studies, and bring to our attention key issues that are not yet on the policy agenda.

• W 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
• Instructor: Sidney N Nakahodo
  CULPA: 1 Info
• 1.5 points

Effective Management in the Public Servi

Effective Mgmt in the Pub Serv

Priority Reg: MIA and MPA. 
The course is designed to introduce you to the field of public management. It is a practical course, organized around the tools managers may use to influence the behavior of their organizations. The course also discusses the political environment in which public managers must interact. This course serves as an introduction to management in government and in the non-profit and private organizations that contract with and/or partner with government to provide public services. Lectures, cases, discussions and group projects focus on an array of management tools that help managers implement public policy and deliver critical services. While many examples come from the instructor's experience in New York City and US state and federal agencies, numerous comparative cases and projects from Asia, Latin America and Europe are used to discover best practices, common challenges and the impact of culture on organization behavior. The course will be valuable to those expecting a career in large, complex organizations, either as a manager or a policy advisor. A laboratory section focuses on assigned readings and case studies, provides more opportunities for student discussions and brings in prominent guest speakers from multiple sectors.

• M 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
• M 8:10 p.m.-10 p.m.
• Instructor: William B Eimicke
  Info
• 3 points

Artificial Intelligence in Public Policy

Artificial Intel in Public Pol

Pre-reqs: INAF U6004 or INAF U6006.
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence (AI), its applications in public policy, and its implications for the future of governance. Students will gain a foundational understanding of AI, including the mathematical and programming principles behind common machine learning algorithms used for prediction, classification, and clustering. The course explores practical applications of AI across sectors such as business, non-profits, and government, highlighting its transformative potential. In the final segment, students will apply their knowledge to design AI solutions for public policy challenges. Through a "Concept to Implementation" process, student groups will identify problems, navigate data and algorithmic considerations, and propose actionable AI-driven solutions.

• F 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Instructor: Sameer R Maskey
  Info
• 1.5 points

Strategic Management of Nonprofit Organi

Strategic Mgmt- Nonprofit Orgs

Priority Reg: MIA and MPA. 
The goal of the course is for students to develop an understanding of how the various functional areas of a nonprofit, guided by vision and strategy, interconnect to help a nonprofit organization make progress toward achieving its mission. Students will also explore strategic planning, strategic management, building a strong and inclusive organizational culture, and managing organizational change. Lectures, class discussion, case studies, and group presentations provide students with a platform for exploring key issues raised during the course.

• W 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
• R 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Gary Bagley
  Info
• 3 points

Sustainability Management

Sustainability management matters because we only have one planet, and we must learn how to manage our organizations in a way that ensures that our planet is maintained. The course is designed to introduce you to the field of sustainability management. This is not an academic course that reviews the literature of the field and discusses how scholars think about the management of organizations that are environmentally sound. It is a practical, professional course organized around the core concepts of management and the core concepts of sustainability. This year I am introducing a specific emphasis on urban sustainability as the planet’s urban population continues to expand. Each week we will read one or two cases in management and/or sustainability, and some background material designed to help you answer the questions posed at the end of each case exercise. The cases always pose practical issues for decision makers to address—but issues that are best addressed with a firm grounding in the literature of management and sustainability. The literature and case material we will study this semester are based on lessons learned in government, non-profits and the private sector. However, most of my own work focuses on government and non-profits so this course will emphasize management in public and nonprofit organizations and the role of public policy in sustainability. In this course you will be assigned to one team that will present a briefing in class on an assigned position for a particular case, for which another team will present an opposing view. You will also write three two-page memos according to a specified format. The syllabus includes a schedule for each assignment. There is also a take home final exam that is due the last day of class.

• T 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
• Instructor: Steven Cohen
  CULPA: 1 Wikipedia h-index: 21 Info
• 3 points

Cost-Benefit Analysis

Pre-req: Microeconomics
. This course aims to provide an introduction to cost-benefit analysis and the economic evaluation of government or development programs, projects and policies. The course consists of two parts: theory/methodology in the first half of the semester and application of the learned concepts through an analysis of various case studies in the second half. Case studies will cover the full range of possible applications of CBA -from early education, social policy, health, urban planning, transportation and energy to environmental regulations. Case studies will cover both the US and developing country contexts. In the second half of the semester students will be expected to apply what they have learned by carrying out a cost-benefit analysis on a topic of their choice. The project is expected to include all components of a professional CBA - description of policy or program scenarios to be evaluated, compilation and monetization of the main costs and benefits, development of an Excel model including discounting and sensitivity analysis.

• T 9 a.m.-10:50 a.m.
• W 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
• Instructor: Jeffrey G Jr Shrader
  Info
• 3 points

Leading & Managing in Moments of Adversi

This course will provide the analytical ability and practical skills to lead and manage in moments of adversity and opportunity. The frameworks and strategies apply across the sectors from change-makers to start-ups, teams to companies, not-for-profit to government. The focus is on the leadership and management needed at key high-stakes moments: reform processes, large-scale social change, turnarounds, pressures from competition or innovation in the market, pivots, and pervasive and recurrent challenges… The methodology of this class relies on the 
case method 
using two types of cases: individual student professional leadership cases and pre-prepared case studies. It also draws on readings, structured exercises, videos and role-plays. 

Leadership requires a stomach for
 uncertainty, discomfort, conflict, and uncomfortable conversations around deeply held values
. The class is used as a crucible to explore and learn about how we operate
 beyond our comfort zone. It allows students to practice building the resilience to lead in complex situations. 
This course’s format differs from many other courses and does not rely on lectures but instead looks to create an active learning environment in the classroom. We call this learning style 
experiential
 – we will use ourselves as cases and the class as 
a space to practice
 and develop our diagnostic, communication, management, and leadership skills.

• T 9 a.m.-10:50 a.m.
• R 11 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
• Instructor: Kirsti Samuels
  Info
• 3 points

International Finance & Monetary Theory

Intl Finance & Monetary Theory

Prerequisite Course: SIPAU6401 - Macroeconomic Analysis. 
This is a theory and applications course in international macroeconomics and finance. It provides students with tools to analyze real-life international economic policy and financial market situations. The class is primarily meant for those interested in working at international institutions, in diplomatic service, and in the financial sector or media. Lectures are relatively rigorous, though if the student has some first-year economics and knows basic algebra and graphs, they will easily handle the material. While theory is central, policy and market relevance are emphasized through i) discussions on topical issues, ii) study of key episodes to illustrate ideas, and iii) relevant pieces of policy/media/finance sector analysis. In terms of topics, part one will develop analytic frameworks to understand exchange rates in terms of short- and long-term determinants, the balance of payments, and the interaction between the macroeconomic policy, the exchange rate, and macroeconomic outcomes. Then, part two will cover various advanced topics such as the choice of exchange rate regime, the euro, currency crashes, default, and financial crises.

• M 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
• F 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
• Instructor: Daniel J Waldman
  Info
• 3 points

International Banking: Workings, Trends

Suggested Pre- or Co-requisite Course: Macroeconomics. 
This course offers a comprehensive understanding of the workings, trends and challenges associated with the provision of cross-border commercial, investment and private banking/wealth management services. We will study the evolution of the global financial system over the past two decades and explore how banks make their decisions regarding the scope and geographical reach of their operations in response to geopolitical and economic circumstances, systemic crises, evolving competitive dynamics at home and abroad, technological change, and latest regulatory developments.

• M 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Irene E Finel-Honigman
  Info
• 3 points

Cost Benefit Analysis

EMPA Reg Priority. Pre-req: Microeconomics.
Cost-benefit analysis and the economic evaluation of policies and projects. The course consists of two parts: methodology and practice. The goal is to be practically adept, not methodologically sophisticated. The goal is to give you the necessary skills and confidence to undertake an independent cost-benefit analysis.

• S 9 a.m.-10:50 a.m.
• S 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• Instructor: Eva Weissman
  Info
• 3 points

Electricity Markets

The electricity sector worldwide is changing more rapidly today than at any period since the inception of the industry. Billions of dollars of new investment will be required over the next decade to maintain and improve electricity service, particularly in emerging economies. Models of service delivery are changing, and the role of the traditional regulated utility continues to evolve. This class is designed to provide a full exposure to current issues across the electricity value chain, including both regulated and competitive sectors. In addition, it is intended to provide insights that are applicable to other industries, including infrastructure financing, maintaining competition in markets, structuring good governance arrangements, and promoting economic efficiency.

• R 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: A.J. Goulding
  Info
• 3 points

The Economics of Energy

This course is an introduction to the economics of energy markets. We will study the main sources of inefficiencies in energy markets – market power and externalities – and their implications for policy making. We will cover, for example, how oil and natural gas prices are determined globally, deregulation and market power in electricity markets, and policy responses such as carbon permits trading. We will also discuss recent challenges faced by policymakers in energy markets, such as the incorporation of renewables, transmission, transport, and the energy transition to net zero more broadly.

• M 11 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
• M 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• W 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
• R 9 a.m.-10:50 a.m.
• Instructor: Robert Metcalfe
  Info
• 3 points

Energy & Power Financing Markets

Energy & Power Financing Mrkts

Prerequisites: Familiarity with Corporate Finance The global energy industry is comprised of the largest and most interrelated set of businesses in the world. From its inception, the industry has grown dramatically to provide ever increasing amounts of energy and power to commercial, industrial and retail consumers around the world. Given its unique industry structure, specialized financing techniques have been developed to expand and/or complement conventional public and private financing alternatives. These specialized financing approaches have, in turn, allowed the energy industry to access an unprecedented range of capital sources to finance its increasingly complex and challenging business model.

• M 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Brooks James Klimley
  Info
• 3 points

Economic Development in Latin America

Econ Development:Latin America

This course aims at familiarizing students with historical and contemporary debates on Latin American economic development and its social effects. The focus of the course is comparative in perspective. Most of the readings deal, therefore, with Latin America as a region, not with individual countries. The first five classes are historical. After an initial overview of long-term historical trends and debates on institutional development in Latin America, it looks at the four distinctive periods of economic development: the “lost decades” after Independence, the export age from the late nineteenth century to 1929, the era of State-led industrialization, and the recent period of market reforms. The latter should be viewed as an introduction to the second part, which deals with the major contemporary issues: macroeconomic management, trade policies, production sector trends and policies, income distribution and social policy. The course will end with a session on the effects of the COVID-19 crisis on Latin America and the ongoing debate on it future economic and social development.

• M 9 a.m.-10:50 a.m.
• Instructor: Jose A Ocampo
  Wikipedia h-index: 77 Info
• 3 points

Environmental Justice and Climate Resili

Enviro Justice & Climate Resil

This course will examine the intersections of race, equity, and the environment – focusing on the growing role and impact of the environmental justice movement. Environmental Justice embeds various disciplines into its analytical framework ranging from political science to urban ecology, economics, sociology, environmental science, community organizing, and more. Drawing from these disciplines, as well as from recent climate laws, policies, advocacy, and regulations, students will develop a deep understanding of climate, equity, and environmental justice in New York City. Building on the concept of integrated climate resiliency, this course will introduce students to the policies, stakeholders, research, and advocacy involved in the development and implementation of environmental laws, energy policies, nature-based solutions, and sustainable infrastructure. Throughout the course, we will review the impact and implications of particular policies, as well assess case studies of particular communities. The course will also invite guest speakers currently working in the field to share their views and expertise.

• R 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
• Instructor: Annel M Hernandez
  Info
• 3 points

Financial Regulation: Theory and Princip

This course covers the 
theory
 and 
principles
 of financial regulation. Regulation in the financial sector covers both 
sets of rules (regulations), 
usually grounded in law and enforceable by law, and 
supervision
, oversight exercised through examinations and surveillance, with legal powers to ensure remediation of significant problems.  We will discuss the underlying rationale for 
financial
 regulation, the most important elements involving market failure and externalities associated with financial activity.  These elements can arise arise from the network nature of financial activity, asymmetries of information; financial fragilities; and market power.  The design of a regulatory system should also take account of the constructive role of market forces, such as incentives for sound financial firm governance and the market’s discipline of risk-taking.

• M 11 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
• Instructor: Christine Cumming
  Info
• 3 points

Global Leadership Seminar II

Global Leadership Sem II

The Global Leadership Seminar II is one of the core classes of the MPA in Global Leadership. It provides students with concrete lessons on the practice of leadership, enables students the opportunity to interface with established leaders across the spheres of government and civil society. The course culminates with each student submitting and presenting a plan to address a global policy challenge.

• M 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
• Instructor: Mauricio Cardenas
  Wikipedia h-index: 38 Info
• 3 points

Strategic Management of Information and

Strategic Mgmt-Info&Comm Tech

Strategic Management of Information and Communication Technologies for the Public Good” addresses the spectrum of policy issues, options, and critical decisions confronting senior managers in the public sphere. Classes will be taught by a combination of lecture, readings, and case. Each class will address policy, technical, and managerial challenges for a particular domain of practice from the introduction or use of established and leading-edge information and communication technologies (ICTs), among them cloud, mobile and social. Arenas may include, for example, health, education, energy, economic development, transportation, civic engagement, law enforcement, human resources, social services, transportation, or compliance and regulatory affairs. The cases will involve a variety of managerial dilemmas and decisions, from governance to transparency, performance management to project management, and be generalizable across multiple domains, arenas, and technologies. Our goal is to expose students to the broadest range of policy challenges, and technologies comprising ICTs in use in the principal domains of practice, giving students a comprehensive exposure to the issues and opportunities as managers encounter them today - and will in the very near future. The course is intended for general, non-technical managers and assumes no engineering capability greater than plugging in a USB stick.

• M 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
• Instructor: Robert Z Tumin
  Info
• 3 points

Visual Storytelling

Taught by PBS NewsHour Weekend producer/correspondent Christopher Booker, Multi-Platform Storytelling will teach students some of the tricks, turns and pitfalls of the 21st digital story. With an emphasis on video storytelling, the course will be dedicated largely to technical production of videos and interactive content, but will also be an exploration into some of the current thinking behind editorial video development, production and distribution. Students will use photographs, audio, video and data to tell compelling stories and create comprehensive outreach strategies, but will also be asked to contemplate, as well as justify, the usage, delivery and goal of their work. Students will work with digital cameras, Adobe Premiere, smartphones, Timeline JS and Google Fusion Tables.

• M 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
• 3 points

Storytelling for Social Change: Skills a

The person who tells the story can shape the narrative and wield power. Politicians have traditionally practiced narrative-building — by telling stories that draw people in, sharing examples from lived experiences, and using emotive language — as a way to control or manage their image, message, and the events that created their personal history. They use story and narrative to create public policy and to establish political agendas around healthcare, housing, crime, education, and more. And it's not just politicians who depend on storytelling. Activist organizations, such as the Movement 4 Black Lives, the me too. Movement, and the American Civil Liberties Union increased visibility for their messages by participating in interviews, publishing op-eds, and proposing legislative policy to galvanize the public in support of social justice. Their efforts led to a reexamination of the concept of systemic racism and the need for expanded gender equality and justice, inside and outside of academic circles, to create more realistic understandings of the U.S.’s imbalanced economic, educational, and healthcare systems. Within pop culture and the discussion around gun control, the debate over mental health has forced some to consider the topic for the first time.   
Storytelling is a communicative, educational, and entertaining device that is required in most fields, such as policy making, NGO and non-profit work, broadcast and print journalism, theater and film, books and podcasts, litigations, and court cases, and much more. This course will explore various social movements and the different modes of storytelling that have created successful narrative change to give students the skills needed to excel in any industry.

• R 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
• Instructor: Nicole Jamiyla Chisholm
  Info
• 3 points

Building & Scaling Social Impact Program

Building & Scaling Soc. Impact

This course aims to help students understand and define social impact and its role in today's policy and social justice landscape by unpacking various types of social impact programs and evaluating them through the lens of their effectiveness relative to other approaches to solving complex problems. The class will look at impact through from multiple perspectives including business, government, and nonprofits.

Students will both learn how to assess social impact and evaluate their effectiveness in comparison to other types of interventions. As well, they will develop and design a social impact program framework for both a business and a nonprofit.

• T 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
• Instructor: Thomas Ogletree
  Info
• 3 points

Design for Social Innovation

Are you interested in tackling complex problems through human-centered 
design
? 
Design
 For 
Social
 
Innovation
 (DFSI) is a 3.0-credit, 
application
-only course taught by Professors Sarah Holloway and Adam Royalty
, where 30 students from across Columbia's schools work in teams to help social enterprises, nonprofits, and public sector organizations solve complex global problems through human-centered design. The course meets at the Columbia Entrepreneurship Design Studio. 
Applications for the Spring 2025 term are currently open and will close at 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday, November 18, 2024.
 
Apply Here
.

• W 11 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
• 3 points

Storytelling and The Art of Creating Soc

Storytelling and Social Impact

Pre-requisites: Instructor-Managed Waitlist & Course Application. Priority Reg: LID and TMaC Specializations. 
Was the pro-life narrative strategy a decisive factor in overturning Roe v. Wade? After countless videos of police brutality, why did the video of George Floyd’s murder dramatically accelerate the pace of cultural and policy change? After years of campaigns to reduce teen pregnancy, how was it that a TV show became one of the main drivers of reducing teen pregnancy to the lowest point in recorded history?  After losing 31 state referendums, why did a new narrative approach enable the gay marriage campaign to start winning nationwide?  These questions and storytelling examples are part of broader social impact campaigns which combined the right mix of strategy and narrative to create change.  A social impact campaign is one that creates a significant change that addresses a pressing social issue. Often, there is too little focus on the power of narrative to change behavior and drive action.  

This class will explore all aspects of social impact campaigns that harness the power of “effective” stories to engage audiences and prompt action.  Additionally, we will investigate how corporations and brands develop campaigns and how they partner with the government, foundations and NGOs.  Students will have the chance to question some of the leading creators/practitioners as they create their own social impact campaigns.

• T 11 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
• Instructor: Stephen Friedman
  Wikipedia Info
• 3 points

Impact Investing: Essential Skills

Impact investing is young but fast-growing industry. An increasing number of philanthropists, traditional investors, and asset managers look to impact investment as a compelling asset class. Entrepreneurs tackling social and environmental issues are finding in impact investors a more reliable and better-aligned source of capital to finance their ventures. The industry requires a committed, talented, and well-prepared pool of capital to continue evolving and growing. This class aims to provide the students with some of the essential skills and tools they will require to work and thrive in the impact investing industry. This is an experiential course designed to introduce students to impact investing and provide them with the skills used by impact investors every day. Students will work on the key "products" required in an impact investment transaction, including: assessing a possible impact investment; writing an investment memo with a full impact analysis, and presenting an investment proposal to a group of seasoned impact investors. COURSE DATES MAY VARY. SEE SYLLABUS FOR EXACT DATES & TIMES.

• S 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• 1.5 points

Social Value Investing: a Framework for

Social Value Investing provides a new methodology to more effectively address some of society’s most difficult and intractable challenges. Although many of our world’s problems may seem too great and too complex to solve—inequality, climate change, affordable housing, food insecurity—solutions to these challenges do exist, and will be found through new partnerships bringing together leaders from the public, private, and philanthropic sectors. This course presents a five-point management framework for developing and measuring the success of such partnerships. Inspired by value investing—one of history’s most successful investment paradigms—the framework provides tools to maximize collaborative efficiency and positive social impact, so that major public programs can deliver innovative, inclusive, and long-lasting solutions. The course also provides students with practical insights on the ways that public, private, and nonprofit managers and policy advisors are trying to build successful cross-sector collaborations. This course is founded on a mix of management theory, tools for effective public management, and exposure to real-world situations that have challenged conventional management styles. In addition to readings from the textbook, students will prepare for weekly lectures and discussion through reading relevant articles, case studies in PDF format, and links to short video content provided on Canvas. Lectures will combine presentations, case method teaching, discussion, content provided on Canvas, group exercises, and guest speakers. You should come to each lecture prepared to engage in a lively dialogue with prepared questions.

• T 11 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
• 3 points

Humanitarian Crisis Simulation

This short course is designed to enable participating students to weigh and apply humanitarian principles, concepts, best practices, and minimum standards to a simulated humanitarian emergency. The simulation exercise challenges student participants with issues and dilemmas confronting humanitarian practitioners face when responding to a complex emergency, and inspires them to work within the humanitarian system and architecture to solve problems in creative ways. In their roles as staff of humanitarian response agencies charged with responding to a large-scale crisis, student participants will analyze a dynamic stream of assessment data, prioritize key humanitarian needs, and make critical decisions about the appropriate type and scale of needed interventions. Participants will also be introduced to the importance and mechanisms of international humanitarian coordination in assembling the response. The simulation will include a day-long exercise followed by a day of debriefing, analysis, and identification of key challenges and lessons. The Humanitarian Crisis Simulation focuses on humanitarian operations from the perspective of humanitarian assistance agencies operating in the field. The course should likely, therefore, be of interest to those wishing to work with humanitarian agencies responsible for planning and conducting responses to vulnerable populations affected by disaster, or to those who want to better understand the humanitarian assistance system and the challenges confronting humanitarian decision-makers.

• SU 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Instructor: Jeffrey Klenk
  Info
• 1 points

Campaigning for Change through Media, Mo

This course will examine the full spectrum of strategies and skills for executing a successful campaign. We will focus on the role of traditional media, digital mobilization, and strategic communications intersect to raise awareness and move policy on human rights issues. By the end of the course, you will have built your own advocacy campaign, from developing the change theory to constructing a media plan to envisioning creative concepts to engage the public. We will also exercise the skills of advocacy letter and op-ed writing to influence change.

• R 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• 3 points

Energy, Corporate Responsibility & Human

Energy, Corp Resp & Hum Rights

This class examines how to reconcile the differing/conflicting interests/goals of energy, and mining, companies and the public interest (e.g. governments); how to negotiate PPP agreements; understand the function/impact of laws and international trade agreements; and determine how CSR, especially environment and anti-corruption, and human rights apply. Case studies of multi-billion international energy pipeline projects, including TAP in Albania and Greece, TAPI in Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, BTC in Georgian and the Caucasus and , for comparative purposes, the controversial Keystone in US and Canada, will be the prism/focus for analysis. The class is dynamic and cross-disciplinary.

• TR 4:10 p.m.-5:25 p.m.
• Instructor: Jenik Radon
  Info
• 3 points

African Development Strategies

This course focuses on economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa from a political economy perspective. It is divided into three sections. The first section examines the broad economic trends, policies and strategies of the past 50 years. The Washington Consensus and the lost decades are examined in some detail. The focus of this part is on economic growth and structural change, notably the controversies around economic policies and institutions. In the second section the course turns to socioeconomic dimensions and aspects of development including poverty, inequality, employment, health, education, and gender. The final section concludes with an examination of the implications of climate change, debates around foreign aid and an overview of what we have learned. Some readings are to be finalized.

• W 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Akbar Noman
  Info
• 3 points

Innovation for Development in Practice

Innovation-Developmt Prac

The Sustainable Development Goals have garnered remarkable momentum across the globe, providing a framework for thinking and acting on the world’s most urgent challenges. Since they were agreed upon there has been growing recognition that more, and better, innovation will be needed if they are to be achieved. Development organizations and governments across the globe are increasingly investing in different forms of innovation to advance development outcomes. Innovation has also played a crucial role in addressing the direct and indirect impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines highlights the importance of innovation research and practice. Also innovation efforts led by people in low-income countries and middle-income countries have been of vital importance to local and national responses to COVID-19. In this course students will learn how to frame and advance innovation within international organizations and governments in support of development goals. Innovation in the development cooperation context can be conceptualized and operationalized in two pillars: 1. To help advance organizational reforms, change the institution and contribute to continued relevance. 2. To help advance development outcomes and more inclusive processes in low and middle-income countries through innovation. The course will discuss both aspects and outline their linkages. The course is designed to help students gain a critical conceptual understanding of the practice of innovation in development and humanitarian contexts, obtain skills in change management tactics to help organizations further embrace innovation, and learn the practical application of selected innovation approaches and methods. Students will be exposed to a variety of frameworks, along with case studies and practical exercises. Students will gain an understanding of advancing innovation in development cooperation and humanitarian affairs in practice. The syllabus will also cover central questions related to the ethics of innovation and to inclusive innovation, especially with regard to equitable outcomes. Students will explore the relationship between innovation practices and management practices that emerged over the last decade to infuse more flexible and adaptive practices. These include ‘working and thinking politically’, adaptive management, problem-driven iterative adaptation, doing development differently and lean impact. These approaches intersect at times with innovation efforts in develo

• USSU 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Benjamin Kumpf
  Info
• 1.5 points

Accounting for International and Public

Priority Reg: MIA and MPA. 
The purpose of this course is to enable you to become an informed user of financial information. To be properly informed you need to understand financial statements, the note disclosures and the language of accounting and financial reporting. We will focus on the three major financial statements – the balance sheet, the income statement and the statement of cash flows - that companies prepare for use by management and external parties. We will examine the underlying concepts that go into the preparation of these financial statements as well as specific accounting rules that apply when preparing financial statements. As we gain an understanding of the financial information, we will look at approaches to analyze the financial strength and operations of an entity. We will use actual financial statements to understand how financial information is presented.

• W 1:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• W 6:10 p.m.-9 p.m.
• F 11 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
• R 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
• Instructor: Norman Bartczak
  CULPA: 1 Info
• 3 points

Internet Governance and Human Rights

Internet Governance & Hum

Whoever controls the future of the internet, controls the future of the world. We'll look at the technical roots of the internet, and the people and entities -- telecom companies and their regulators, technologists and idealists, security forces and hackers -- shaping it today. Each group faces challenges. Policymakers have reached consensus that human rights apply online, but need to update and replace laws, regulations, and norms for the digital age. Companies have responsibilities to law and policy, but vary widely in their respect for users and governments. The UN Sustainable Development Goals identify internet access as essential to development, but policy environments fail to extend connectivity to vulnerable or marginalized communities. And the cat-and-mouse game between cyber offense and defense continues, leaving many less-resourced groups -- and the right to privacy -- lagging behind. Will national sovereignty reassert itself, breaking the internet, or will the vision of a borderless cyberspace prevail? Will the European approach to data protection set global standards? Does network neutrality function amidst the internet of everything? To find the answers, we nimbly role-play, enjoy small group activities, welcome guest experts, and hone tech policy skills under time pressure. Expect to participate frequently, and learn to navigate the most pressing issues facing companies, governments, and technologists today.

• W 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
• Instructor: Peter Micek
  Info
• 3 points

Political Economy of Finance

This course provides an introduction to the political economy of financial and international monetary policy, presenting both theoretical perspectives and more policy-oriented concerns.  The course requires no knowledge of formal economic models, but it does presume familiarity with basic concepts in open economy macroeconomics and finance. Students without this background may find several sections of the course very difficult. The course has three main sections.  The first examines the political economy of the global monetary system.  We begin by surveying the evolution of international monetary arrangements from the gold standard period to the present day.  Then we analyze the difficulties posed by floating rates and capital mobility as well as the global imbalances that have been frequent features of contemporary times.  In addition, we examine the Euro crisis and trace its origins to the establishment of the monetary union.  The second section examines the political economy of financial policy, regulation and central banking.  The role of financial policy in economic development, especially of industry, in developing and emerging market countries is the primary lens for exploring this topic.  The final section considers financial crises, with a special focus on the Asian financial crisis of 1997/98 and 2007/08 global crisis that had its origins in the United States.

• W 11 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
• Instructor: Arvid J Lukauskas
  CULPA: 2 Info
• 3 points

Women s Economic Security in the Unite

Womens Econ Security in t

Women in the United States face economic insecurity – too many families do not have access to high-quality, affordable care, including child care and long-term care; the United States is the only OECD country and one of only six nations worldwide without nationally guaranteed paid leave; and the gender wage gap persists across nearly every occupation and education level. Improving women’s economic security and boosting women’s labor force participation are critical for advancing gender equality in the United States and imperative for overall growth and stability of the U.S. economy. This policy lab will introduce students to the main causes contributing to women’s economic insecurity in the United States and the growing body of federal and state law and legislative proposals to address these causes.

• F 10 a.m.-noon
• Instructor: Lauren T Hoffman
  Info
• 0.5 points

Policy Through Partnerships for the Liva

Much has changed for cities in the United States and around the world. In the last five years alone, cities have faced unprecedented challenges, from the global COVID-19 pandemic to increased climate crises, affordability issues, and social and political unrest. At the same time, cities have never had more opportunities to innovate, drawing on the creative minds of visionaries from all sectors. They are exploring the future of smart cities, improved service delivery, and more precise data-driven policymaking and incident response.

As city governments confront many of these challenges, they often find themselves lacking the resources, skills, and time to tackle them independently. This has contributed to the modern-day rise of public-private partnerships (PPPs) with city governments. For more than half a century, PPPs were most commonly found in developing nations or primarily utilized for infrastructure expansion. Today, however, PPPs can be seen across virtually all major public policy areas, with the lines between the public and private sectors often blurred.

Within this context, we will examine the roles of these intersectional partnerships across three key urban policy areas: housing, education, and economic development. What are the limitations and strengths of each sector? What opportunities do multisector collaborations provide? What concerns arise regarding equitable service delivery? And what does the expansion of these partnerships mean for the future of urban policy and the development of a 21st-century livable city?

• R 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Ashley R Macquarrie-Tomey
  Info
• 3 points

History for Future Policymakers

Leaders often invoke the lessons of history, but rarely talk about anything but a few familiar episodes. Even if we can all agree that we should avoid another attack on Pearl Harbor or war in Vietnam, does this actually help us make decisions about the future? In this course, students will explore both the problems and the opportunities with using historical analysis to grapple with present and future challenges. They will develop a deeper understanding of the most often cited historical episodes, but also learn how to avoid using analogies in the place of more original thinking. That means thinking like a historian, and the course will introduce key concepts that can be used to analyze a range of complex challenges, including continuity and change, contingency and inevitability, human agency and structural constraints. But they will also learn how NOT to think like a historian, such as using history as a weapon, and extrapolating into the future.

• T 11 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
• Instructor: Sarah C Kovner
  Info
• 3 points

Comparative Social Welfare Policy

Priority Reg: USP Concentration. 
This course explores welfare systems from a comparative perspective and analyzes the political, economic, socio-cultural, and historical factors that shape and sustain them in various parts of the world.  It pays particular attention to the development of critical national social welfare policies, such as social security, health care, unemployment insurance, social assistance, public employment and training, and emerging best practices and challenges in these areas.  The course also analyzes pressing global/regional trends (e.g., the greying of societies, labor market stratification, social innovation, and affordable housing).

• T 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
• Instructor: Yumiko T Shimabukuro
  Info
• 3 points

Political Economy Seminar

This seminar surveys the defining political economy issues of our time. It explores the interplay between politics and economics in the substantive issue areas of trade, finance, investment, development, and redistribution. The seminar surveys the most provocative, influential contributions in multiple disciplines utilizing a wide range of research methods. Contemporary debates are studied in depth, including the fragmentation of production, causes and consequences of financial crises, growing inequality, economic development challenges, and the determinants of public goods provision. The course equips students with the conceptual and empirical tools to better understand current developments, provides exposure to multiple perspectives, and builds confidence in development one's own point of view.

• R 6:10 p.m.-9 p.m.
• Instructor: Yumiko T Shimabukuro
  Info
• 3 points

International Relations Theory for Globa

IR Theory for Glob Policy

This course is designed to upgrade the students’ skills to design global policies by providing an in-depth understanding of essential International Relations theories and instructing how to apply them to solve real-world issues through exercises. As global cooperation is difficult to build yet critical for solving global issues, this course focuses on theories that are helpful to achieve such cooperation and employs issues related to the U.S.-China competition, a key obstacle to global cooperation, as case studies. At the end of the course, students will be able to define a fundamental structure in each complex and dynamic global issue and tailor policy recommendations that reflect this structure.

• T 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
• Instructor: Fumiko Sasaki
  Info
• 3 points

Politics & Policy of Urban Sustainabilit

Politics & Policy-Urban Sustai

This is a course for thoughtful people who wish to influence actual policy outcomes related to sustainability challenges in major cities. Its objective is not to provide a primer on urban sustainability solutions; this is readily available from textbooks and will change by the time you are in a position to act. Rather, the course’s objective is to prepare you for the kind of challenges that will face you as a policy practitioner in the field of urban sustainability. Cities are increasingly recognized as a key level of government for environmental and sustainability policy. As at all levels, politics and policy are intensely intertwined, and perhaps more so at the local level because the decisions involved often affect constituents directly and intimately --in their neighborhoods, in their homes, in their commutes. This reading-heavy colloquium explores the politics and the policy of urban sustainability from the perspective of someone who wishes to effect change. It culminates in a team project in which students act as a sustainability policy team in a mayoral (or equivalent) office in one of the world’s major cities. The course considers key components of the city itself, with the objective of understanding what shapes the city and its impact on the environment. It mainly uses case studies from the twentieth-century United States, paired with international readings to allow a comparison with other experiences. The focus on deep case studies allows the consideration of the situations, constraints, and political dynamics of specific situations. It is intended to provide students with the ability to recognize patterns in urban political and policy dynamics related to sustainability. These are paired with an overview of leading solutions and how the professor believes practitioners should evaluate them for their own cities. The course also prominently features in-class presentations and discussions of the students’ main project: a team-based memo making a specific recommendation to solve a problem in a specific major world city, which is presented twice, once for a diagnosis of the problem in a given city and a second time with a policy recommendation. This project is the major portion of the overall grade for the class, and is used to allow the students to wrestle with the challenge of turning ideas from past and present into successful urban sustainability policies that can get implemented in a political and institutional world. In order to cover issues in depth, this course is not exhaustive;

• T 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
• Instructor: Rohit T Aggarwala
  Wikipedia h-index: 5 Info
• 3 points

Development Practice Lab I

Development Practioner's Lab I

DP-Labs I & II are two full-semester, 3-credit courses with a first-year spring course focused on skills and tools around program design and a second-year fall course focused on skills around program management and leadership. The DP-Labs will bookend MPA-DP students’ 3-month professional summer placements, allowing for DP-Lab I skills to be applied over the summer and for DP Lab II to process those experiences as real case studies and examples. These skills will be applied to final semester capstone projects and allow students to synthesize lessons learned for their eventual job search and career development. DP-Lab I is designed to introduce students to key tools, techniques, and approaches used by development practitioners when diagnosing problems and designing programs.  Throughout the semester, students will receive hands-on training by experienced practitioners in high priority skill areas, while looking at communications and ethics and power as cross-cutting themes that can be applied to all skills.

• M 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Barbara M Magnoni
  Info
• 3 points

Cities in U.S. Federalism: Policy Innova

Cities can and do develop innovative policies to address problems and respond to residents. Examples include ordinances involving workers rights, LGBTQ rights, and environmental regulation. However, local policies are regularly overturned by state legislatures and courts. Cities are constrained by state and federal policies and laws as well as local voters and taxpayers. This course explores the ways in which the dynamics of American federalism influence public policy and policymaking in U.S. cities. We will review how cities fit into the U.S. federal system and examine both city-state and city-federal relations. To better understand the real-world impact of federalism, we will focus on specific policy domains, including fiscal policy and budgeting, zoning and land use, employment, and the environment.

• M 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Patricia A Kirkland
  Info
• 3 points

Practicing Clean Energy Policy in the US

The purpose of this course is to provide students with an understanding of the issues, opportunities, and challenges in advancing public policy to support the clean energy transition in the United States. Students will examine the US energy landscape, emerging pathways for a decarbonized energy system, and opportunities for government action. The course will address the interaction of policy and politics in setting clean energy policy, as well as policy, political and stakeholder engagement necessary for policy success.  The course will equip students with the tools to develop and communicate energy policy recommendations, as well as to participate as advocates in the policy process. The course welcomes students of all nationalities and perspectives, to encourage lively and engaged exploration of clean energy policy challenges and approaches.

• W 9 a.m.-10:50 a.m.
• Instructor: John Rhodes
  Info
• 3 points

Financing and Investing in Sustainable D

Financing Sustainable Developm

Priority Reg: MPA-DP students. 
This is a course about how the global financial system operates and how resources are mobilized to support sustainable development. Over fourteen weeks, the course investigates most of the key institutions, organizations and structures that constitute the global financial system. Students will understand how they function, what incentives drive their management, how decisions are made, and what would be required to move them to support the goals of sustainable development.

• F 9 a.m.-10:50 a.m.
• Instructor: Aniket A Shah
  Info
• 3 points

Agricultural Environmental Policy

Agric Energy & Enviro Pol

Farming, ranching, and forestry provide food, fiber, and other products to feed, clothe and satisfy other human needs. However, given the scope and scale of impacts on planetary systems, agricultural objectives cannot be limited to these albeit critically important outcomes. Agriculture’s vast dependency on land, water, energy, and mineral resources and, in turn, its impacts on people and the biological systems that sustain all life demand that systems be managed to not only optimize yield and resulting profitability but also managed to optimize ecosystem, natural resource, nutritional and broader societal outcomes. Fortunately, research, demonstration, and commercialization of environmentally sound and energy efficient agricultural practices present a cost effective alternative to business as usual. The challenge is to facilitate the expanded utilization of such proven practices and the continued research and innovation to demonstrate, disseminate and deploy at scale additional practices so   that agriculture can have a net positive impact on people and planet well into the future. This course will explore an array of critical environmental and energy issues and case examples from public and corporate policy perspectives to provide grounding for decision-makers working in these and civil society positions.

• R 11 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
• Instructor: Jeffrey Potent
  Info
• 3 points

Climate Tech and Regenerative Entreprene

Regenerative Enterprise

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.

• R 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
• Instructor: Rajiv Joshi
  Info
• 3 points

Introduction to Data Analytics for Publi

Data Analytics-Public Pol

This course aims to establish a first-principles understanding of qualitative and quantitative techniques, tools, and processes used to wield data for effective decision-making. Its approach focuses on pragmatic, interactive learning using logical methods, basic tools, and publicly available data to practice extracting insights and building recommendations. It is designed for students with little prior statistical or mathematical training and no prior pre-exposure to statistical software.

• M 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
• Instructor: Poranee Kingpetcharat
  Info
• 1.5 points

Introduction to Database Design, Managem

Database Design Mgmt & Se

The goal of this course is to train advanced students on the principles, practices, and technologies required for good database design, management, and security. An introduction to the concepts and issues relating to data warehousing, governance, administration, security, privacy, and alternative database structures will be provided. The course concentrates on building a firm foundation in information organization, storage, management, and security. Students planning to enroll in this course should be comfortable with the fundamentals of programming and basic data structures. This course prepares students to build and administer a database and covers representing information with the relational database model, manipulating data with Structured Query Language (SQL), database design, and database security, integrity, and privacy issues.

• M 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
• Instructor: Poranee Kingpetcharat
  Info
• 1.5 points

Affordable Housing Finance: Policy and A

Affordable Housing Finance is an introduction to the public policy concepts and technical skills necessary for development of both rental and owned housing for individuals and families earning less than 80% of the area median income (AMI). This immensely challenging field requires familiarity with the capital markets, knowledge of zoning, general real estate transactional concepts, contract and tax law and architecture, just to name a few trades. Affordable housing is often developed with public sector support (PPP’s) and with non-profit community development corporations (CDCs) and other development organizations with a mission to create affordable housing. The course will introduce the application of new digital tools to the assessment of investment opportunities and risks in these markets. Instruction in the use of these tools will be provided. Students should have a working knowledge of excel, real estate finance and securitization concepts.

• T 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
• Instructor: Richard Koss
  Info
• 3 points

The Politics of Defense in the United St

The Politics of Defense is concerned with the construction and implementation of American defense policy—including strategies, budgets, modernization and acquisition programs, personnel issues, and decisions on the use of force.  But it focuses on the politics, and process, of making policy more than on overarching theories or abstract ideas.  Who are the key players, inside the Beltway and beyond?  How do members of the Congress and Executive Branch wrestle with each other—and within their own organizations—as they collectively construct U.S. defense policy?  Which parts of the process are badly flawed and which work well?  How healthy is the relationship of the armed forces to American society?  How do Republicans and Democrats, civilians and uniformed personnel, soldiers and sailors (and airmen/women, Marines, and space guardians), cooperate and compete?  The readings of the course tend to focus on issues and debates of the past several decades.  But in the interest of preparing students for the here-and-now of modern U.S. defense policymaking, the midterm and final take-home exams will consider questions of immediate salience in today’s debate.  Is either major U.S. political party becoming isolationist?  Is America truly preparing for possible great-power war against China, and how likely do different parts of the policymaking process as well as the broader polity consider such a war to be?  Do we waste huge sums on the military?  Does Congress add too many earmarks or pork-barrel projects to that budget?  While the course emphasizes the United States system, its scope necessarily considers other countries and regions as well, if for no other reason than it is in regard to today’s international environment that U.S. defense policy is made.

• W 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
• Instructor: Michael O'Hanlon
  Wikipedia Info
• 3 points

Corporate Finance

Pre-requisite Course: SIPAU6200 - Accounting. 
Corporate finance is an introductory finance course and a central component for students pursuing the international finance track of the International Finance and Economic Policy (IFEP) concentration. This course covers key areas of business finance essential for all managers, regardless of their specialization in finance. Three fundamental questions are addressed: how much funding a firm requires to carry out its business plan, how the firm should acquire the necessary funds, and whether the business plan is worthwhile even if the funds are available.

To explore these questions, the course will cover topics such as analyzing historical uses of funds, formulating and projecting funding needs, analyzing working capital management, choosing among alternative sources of external funding for company operations, identifying costs of funds from various sources, valuing simple securities, evaluating investment opportunities, and valuing a company based on its projected free cash flow.

The course will combine lectures and in-class case discussions, for which students should prepare fully. The goal is to provide students with an understanding of both sound theoretical principles of finance and the practical environment in which financial decisions are made.

• T 11 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
• T 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• F 9 a.m.-10:50 a.m.
• F 11 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
• Instructor: Deborah McLean
  Info
• 3 points

Macroeconomics for International and Pub

Open to MIA, MIA, and MPA-DP Only. Prerequisite Course: SIPAU6300 - Microeconomics. Students in IFEP or DAQA
cannot
take this course.
 This course is the second part of the one-year core economics sequence and focuses on macroeconomics. The course covers the determinants of national income, money markets, inflation, unemployment, and business cycles. The ultimate objective is to help you develop skills to interpret macroeconomic issues and policies successfully in real-time. By the end of the semester, you will be able to (i) relate basic macroeconomic concepts to current macroeconomic issues, (ii) use basic macroeconomic theory to analyze current macroeconomic issues, (iii) compare arguments while viewing the world through internally consistent economic models

• MW 9:15 a.m.-10:45 a.m.
• MW 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• TR 2:15 p.m.-3:45 p.m.
• TR 9:15 a.m.-10:45 a.m.
• TR 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• R 12:40 p.m.-2:10 p.m.
• R 2:20 p.m.-3:50 p.m.
• R 4:10 p.m.-5:40 p.m.
• R 6:10 p.m.-7:40 p.m.
• F 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
• F 10:40 a.m.-12:10 p.m.
• F 12:20 p.m.-1:50 p.m.
• F 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
• F 3:40 p.m.-5:10 p.m.
• F 5:20 p.m.-6:50 p.m.
• Instructor: Martsella Davitaia
  Info
• 3 points

The Political Economy of Europe

Instructor: Michael Broening.
This seminar provides a bird’s eye view of Europe's political economy in the "poly-crisis" of overlapping global challenges ranging from the climate crisis and geopolitical tensions to migration and authoritarianism. Students will analyze patterns, responses, and repercussions of these challenges, with a critical focus on overcoming existing economic policy dilemmas. The course aims to equip students with the necessary tools to analyze the complex parameters of European integration and study the global implications of European politics at the intersection of economics and politics in times of crisis.

• R 11 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
• 1.5 points

Selected Topics in Financial Inclusion:

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 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.

• T 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
• 1.5 points

Sovereign Debt and Power Dynamics

Sovereign Debt & Power Dy

The course will provide an in-depth analysis of the environments in which sovereign debt decisions occur. Understanding those environments requires to study both the economics of sovereign debt and power dynamics. The course provides tools for students interested either in pursuing academic work in the field of sovereign debt, acting as practitioners, or as policymakers. The current global juncture, considering the higher global debt levels than before the Covid-19 pandemic and the expected consequences for the sustainability of debts in a number of developing and emerging economies from the contractionary monetary policies that are being adopted by central banks of advanced economies in response to the global inflation problem, makes the field even more relevant from a practical viewpoint in the near term.

• M 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
• Instructor: Martin Guzman
  Wikipedia Info
• 3 points

Quantitative Techniques

Open to Executive MPA Only. 
The use of quantitative research techniques, statistics, and computer software in designing public policies and in evaluating, monitoring, and administering governmental programs. Practical applications include research, design measurement, data collection, data processing, and presentation of research findings.

• S 11 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
• S 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Stuart E Ward
  Info
• 3 points

Diplomacy in Practice: the EU & the Worl

Diplomacy in Practice:EU/World

The course will introduce students to the practice of modern diplomacy through case studies of global or regional crises and the EU’s response to them. Students will learn how foreign policy is devised and implemented from the perspective of a professional diplomat.

The course will start with an introduction to the history of EU foreign policy and then to the institutions and instruments involved in foreign affairs. Each class will then focus on specific case studies starting with the EU approach to its different international partners: allies (transatlantic partnership and UN system), neighbors (the Southern Neighboring policy, the Eastern Partnership, the new European Political Community), and the rest of the multipolar world (Russia, China, India, Turkey,…); then the situation in Ukraine; the conflicts in the Middle East region (Libya, Syria, Middle East peace process) and the Iran nuclear agreement; lastly, the migration crisis. The final class will wrap up the course with a reflection on lessons learned and possible future developments of EU foreign policy’s organization and agenda. In each case, students will explore the interplay between the various instruments of foreign policy, including crisis management, defense and security, trade, financial aid, humanitarian assistance, and public diplomacy.

• R 9 a.m.-10:50 a.m.
• Instructor: Pierre Vimont
  Info
• 1.5 points

Nonprofit Financial Management

Priority Reg: MIA and MPA. 
Nonprofits are businesses – corporations in fact – driven foremost by mission and their ability to achieve it, but also critically needing access to, and the ability to effectively manage, financial resources, in order to fulfill that mission. Therefore, successful nonprofits and their managers, supporters, overseers, regulators, and even their employees – basically anyone who has a financial relationship with nonprofits needs not only to understand the enterprise’s success in achieving its mission, but just as importantly, the skills to understand the nonprofit’s finances. If engaging with nonprofits is something you do, have done, or aspire to, then a basic understanding of nonprofit finances is essential, and this course is for you. The course provides an introduction to the finances of nonprofits: understanding and analyzing financial statements, budgets, cash flow, audits, overhead and cost allocation, and why these are all important. The course is practical, hands-on, and – believe it or not – fun! Please note: this course focuses on nonprofits and their financial management as regulated in the United States. While the concepts here have value globally, the legal and regulatory structures discussed are specific to the United States and may not be the same in other countries.

• R 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
• Instructor: Sarah M Holloway
  CULPA: 1 Info
• 3 points