INDEP STUDY IN GLOB & POP HEALTH

INDP STUD GLOB & POP HLTH

• Department: Medicine
• Instructor: Kim Hekimian
  h-index: 7 Info
• 0-3 points

Human Rights Advocacy in Practice

Human Rights Advocacy-Pra

This course equips students with both time-honored and cutting-edge advocacy skills to advance and protect human rights. Working on a current issue of their choice, students will develop a full advocacy strategy, defining goals, identifying targets, and selecting tactics grounded in rigorous research.

Using real-world case studies, the course explores how successful campaigns are built, including coalition-building, media engagement, and advocacy with UN bodies and national policymakers. Students will analyze what makes campaigns effective and how to adapt strategies across different political and institutional contexts. Students will also debate how human rights advocacy can meet the challenge of the rise of authoritarian power, closing civic space, dramatic reductions in funding, and human rights threats exacerbated by new technologies.

Throughout the semester, students will develop a toolkit of practical skills widely used in the human rights field. Assignments are designed to mirror professional advocacy work and include drafting advocacy letters, op-eds, and submissions to UN mechanisms or treaty bodies, as well as producing a final advocacy strategy.

The course includes a diverse set of guest speakers who have designed and led impactful advocacy and also features interactive simulations, giving students hands-on experience with engaging policymakers and communicating persuasively in high-stakes settings.

• Department: Human Rights, Gender, and Equity
• F 10 a.m.-11:50 a.m.
• 3 points

MECHANISMS & PRACTICE

• Department: Medicine
• 0 points

Human Rights Research and Reporting

Human Rights Research & R

This course introduces students to the diverse methodologies, actors, and outputs involved in human rights research and reporting. Students will examine how governments, international organizations, NGOs, and journalists approach documentation and advocacy, while developing skills in interviewing, document analysis, data collection, and report writing. The course emphasizes ethical considerations, sociocultural awareness, and gender sensitivity throughout the research and reporting process.

Through case studies, simulations, and guest speakers, students will explore the strategic use of human rights documentation in advancing justice and accountability. Assignments include analytical reflections, response papers, and a final research report tailored to one of the core reporting perspectives studied.

• Department: Human Rights, Gender, and Equity
• M 10 a.m.-11:50 a.m.
• Instructor: Andrew C Heinrich
  Info
• 3 points

Civic Innovation: Design in Practice & I

This course explores how human-centered design and innovation methods are used to drive public-sector change. Students will learn how to apply design tools to complex policy and service delivery challenges while also engaging with the ethical, philosophical, and institutional questions that shape civic innovation work. Weekly sessions follow the full arc of a design-based innovation project, from scoping and research to prototyping and implementation, paired with critical themes such as power, embodiment, ethics, and systems change.

Students will practice design methodologies, develop speculative future policy proposals, and refine storytelling skills for public impact. The course culminates in a PechaKucha presentation reflecting personal insights into innovation practice.

• Department: Tech Policy and Innovation
• M 10 a.m.-11:50 a.m.
• Instructor: Chelsea Mauldin
  Info
• 3 points

Corporations and Human Rights

This course explores the evolving relationship between the private sector and human rights, with emphasis on legal frameworks, global standards, and practical approaches to corporate accountability. Students examine the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and other key instruments that shape responsible business conduct across sectors.

Through case studies, role-playing exercises, and guest speakers, students analyze human rights risks and strategies in industries such as apparel, extractives, finance, and tech. Topics include human rights due diligence, corporate complicity, responsible disengagement, and litigation. The course equips students to assess business conduct, engage stakeholders, and advance rights-based accountability.

• Department: Human Rights, Gender, and Equity
• W 5:10 p.m.-7 p.m.
• 3 points

International Energy Project Finance

Int'l Energy Project Fina

CEE Concentration Registration Priority.
This course introduces students to the structure and strategy of international project finance in the energy sector, with emphasis on projects central to the global energy transition and LNG market expansion. Through real-world case studies and hands-on modeling exercises, students will analyze project risks, develop risk ratings, and assess cashflows to determine equity returns and lender credit metrics.

Topics include contract structuring, completion and market risk mitigation, the role of development finance institutions, renewable energy incentives, and evolving trends in merchant power and virtual PPAs. Students will examine investment drivers for energy infrastructure and gain a practical understanding of how project economics align with capital source expectations. The course concludes with student team presentations applying course concepts to real-world energy finance challenges.

Enrollment in this course is restricted to students who have officially declared the CEE concentration, as reflected in their Stellic profile. If space allows, enrollment may be extended to additional students at a later date.

• Department: Climate, Energy, & Environment
• W 5:10 p.m.-7 p.m.
• 3 points

Storytelling and The Art of Creating Soc

Storytelling & Social Imp

• Department: Tech Policy and Innovation
• T 10 a.m.-11:50 a.m.
• Instructor: Stephen Friedman
  Wikipedia Info
• 3 points

Politics of History and Reconciliation

Politics of History & Rec

This course examines the political and ethical challenges of confronting historical violence and the demands for redress in transitional, democratic, and post-conflict societies. Through case studies from across the globe, students explore how memory, historical responsibility, and justice intersect in efforts toward reconciliation. The course analyzes evolving norms around historical redress, reparations, and accountability, particularly in light of expanding debates on colonialism, race, and slavery in established democracies. Topics include the emergence of transitional justice, the politics of reparations, competing narratives of victimization, and the contested role of history in national and international reconciliation efforts.

• Department: Human Rights, Gender, and Equity
• M 7:10 p.m.-9 p.m.
• Instructor: Ariella Lang
  CULPA: 2 Info
• 3 points

HPDP PRIMARY MEDICINE CLINICAL ROUNDS

• Department: Dental and Oral Surgery
• 0 points

SPECIAL NEEDS ROTATION PEDIATRICS

• Department: Dental and Oral Surgery
• 0 points

Renewable Energy Asset Development

CEE Concentration Registration Priority.
This seminar examines the development of utility-scale renewable energy projects from the perspective of project developers while exploring the roles of key stakeholders, including regulators, policymakers, utilities and other offtakers, equipment suppliers, financiers, and local communities. Through case studies of recent and ongoing projects in different regions of the world, students analyze how technology, policy, permitting, global supply chains, project finance, energy markets, construction, and existing infrastructure shape project outcomes. The course follows the renewable energy development process from site and technology selection through permitting, financing, construction, and operations. It also examines major policy initiatives and political developments that influence renewable energy deployment, including industrial policy, tax incentives, tariffs, and regulatory frameworks. Students will develop an understanding of the factors that determine project success and evaluate the policy and market levers available to accelerate the energy transition.

• Department: Climate, Energy, & Environment
• M 7:10 p.m.-9 p.m.
• Instructor: Samuel Byrne
  Info
• 1.5 points

Transnational LGBTQI+ Rights: Law, Polic

In May 2016, the UN Human Rights Council passed a highly contested resolution condemning discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and establishing the first-ever Independent Expert on these issues. The protracted debate surrounding the resolution underscored how lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) rights remain among the most contentious topics in international human rights, law, and public policy.

Disputes over LGBTI rights are often framed as a clash between ‘human rights’ and ‘traditional values,’ highlighting a central challenge in advancing LGBTI claims: how to assert universal principles based on identities that are historically contingent and culturally shaped.

This course examines how LGBTI rights intersect with broader debates in areas such as bilateral relations and good governance, while also addressing challenges including legal recognition of same-sex partnerships and transgender identities. It explores the political uses of anti-LGBTI sentiment and investigates how LGBTI rights become flashpoints for deeper societal and political divisions.

Students will reflect on the complexities of advancing LGBTI rights in transnational contexts, engage with current scholarly debates, and develop the tools to address LGBTI rights across academic and professional domains. Contemporary developments and breaking news will be integrated into course discussions and assignments.

• Department: Human Rights, Gender, and Equity
• M 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
• Instructor: Jessica Stern
  Wikipedia h-index: 24 Info
• 1.5 points

Carbon Pricing

CEE Concentration Registration Priority.
Carbon pricing has become a central tool in global climate policy, with over 70 jurisdictions implementing carbon taxes or emissions trading systems that now cover more than one quarter of global emissions. This course explores how carbon markets and taxes are designed, reformed, and evaluated, using real-world case studies from Europe, the Americas, Asia, and beyond.

Students will engage with a structured, step-by-step framework for designing effective carbon pricing policies across sectors, including energy, transportation, industry, and land use. The course examines market-based mechanisms such as cap-and-trade, carbon taxes, and crediting programs, along with emerging policy innovations and debates around integrity and equity.

Topics include carbon border adjustments, voluntary markets, the role of carbon pricing in trade, investment, and corporate climate strategies, and the intersection of pricing with complementary policies. Students will assess existing policies, model policy impacts, and develop informed policy proposals.

• Department: Climate, Energy, & Environment
• M 5:10 p.m.-7 p.m.
• Instructor: Ruben N Lubowski
  Info
• 3 points

Human Rights Simulation

Fall 2026 Course Dates: September 18 & October 2, 2026. 
This simulation course is a short two-day course designed to enable participating students to weigh and apply human rights principles, best practices, and standards to simulated human rights emergencies. The simulation exercise challenges student participants with issues facing human rights practitioners when responding to human rights crises and provides practice operating within the human rights system and devising innovative solutions to complex challenges.  Participants will evaluate data reports, assess relevant human rights tools and mechanisms, and propose interventions.  The simulation will include a day of simultaneous exercises, followed by another day of debriefing, evaluation, and identification of key challenges and lessons.

• Department: Human Rights, Gender, and Equity
• F 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
• 1.5 points

Energy Systems Fundamentals

CEE Concentration Registration Priority.
Existing energy sources and the infrastructures that deliver them are undergoing a period of rapid change. Limits to growth, fluctuating raw material prices, and the emergence of new technologies contribute to heightened risk and opportunity in the energy sector. This course aims to establish a core energy skill set for students and prepare them for more advanced coursework by introducing a foundational language and toolset for analyzing energy issues.

Through both theoretical and practical approaches, students will examine how energy technologies are developed, financed, and deployed. The course highlights root drivers of change in the industry, emerging technologies, and the critical factors that influence their successful commercialization. Understanding these dynamics is also essential to designing effective energy policy aligned with broader social welfare goals.

By the end of the course, students will have a working knowledge of conventional and emerging forms of energy generation and delivery. They will also develop the analytical tools to assess which technologies may succeed, which may not, and what innovations may help drive further deployment.

Enrollment in this course is restricted to students who have officially declared the CEE concentration, as reflected in their Stellic profile. If space allows, enrollment may be extended to additional students at a later date.

• Department: Climate, Energy, & Environment
• M 10 a.m.-11:50 a.m.
• M 1:10 p.m.-3 p.m.
• F 1:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Travis Bradford
  CULPA: 1 Wikipedia Info
• 3 points

Corporate Finance

IFEP Concentration Registration Priority. Prerequisite: SIPA IA6200 Accounting.
(Note: Based on their performance in SIPA IA6260 Accounting Fundamentals, IA6260 students may be allowed to register if space remains.) 

This course provides an introduction to corporate finance, focusing on how firms assess funding needs, evaluate investment opportunities, and select financing strategies. The course equips future policymakers and practitioners with core analytical tools in financial decision-making. Topics include working capital management, cost of capital, security valuation, capital structure, and free cash flow analysis. Emphasis is placed on applying financial concepts to real-world situations through case studies, quantitative problem sets, and hands-on modeling. Students will gain exposure to Excel-based analysis and decision-making under uncertainty. Prior coursework in accounting is required, and fluency in Excel is essential.

• Department: International Finance & Economic Policy
• T 1:10 p.m.-3 p.m.
• F 10 a.m.-11:50 a.m.
• Instructor: Deborah McLean
  Info
• 3 points

SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE IN ALCOHOL AND SUBS

SW PRAC ALCOHL & SUBSTANC

• Department: Social Work
• T 9 a.m.-10:50 a.m.
• W 6:20 p.m.-8:10 p.m.
• W 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
• Instructor: Andrew Hamid
  Info
• 3 points

Pediatric Primary Care for the FNP

PED PRIM CARE FOR THE FNP

This course is designed to introduce the student to routine and episodic primary care of the pediatric patient.  The focus will be placed on age-appropriate physical, cognitive, and emotional development, as well as frequently encountered illnesses seen in an outpatient setting.

• Department: Nursing
• W 9 a.m.-10:50 a.m.
• Instructor: Ellen M Fahey
  Info
• 2 points

HUMAN SEXUALITY

• Department: Social Work
• S 11:10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Instructor: Gabriel San Emeterio
  Info
• 3 points

Economics of Sustainable Development

D&G Concentration Registration Priority.
This course will provide students with a framework for historical and current debates on development. It will offer students a basic understanding of what constitutes “development” (ends) and how to promote it (means). The initial lecture presents the broad issue of development trends and the multidisciplinary approach, as seen today through the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015. The subsequent classes then look at classical and contemporary theories of economic development. They will be followed by a critical comparative analysis of development experiences. A series of lectures will then concentrate on institutional issues, social development, and environmental sustainability (climate change).

• Department: Development and Governance
• M 10 a.m.-11:50 a.m.
• W 1:10 p.m.-3 p.m.
• Instructor: Jose A Ocampo
  Wikipedia h-index: 77 Info
• 3 points

Climate Change, Rights, and Development

Climate, Rights & Develop

This interdisciplinary course examines the complex intersections of climate science, human rights, and sustainable development. Students will first explore the fundamentals of Earth’s climate systems and core human rights frameworks. The course then analyzes how global climate disruption intersects with social vulnerability, equity, and justice. Topics include the science of climate variability, international climate governance, climate change litigation, migration and displacement, adaptation strategies, and sector-specific impacts on food, health, and livelihoods. Special attention is given to the experiences of frontline communities and small island states, as well as to policy responses grounded in climate justice.

• Department: Human Rights, Gender, and Equity
• T 1:10 p.m.-3 p.m.
• 3 points

SW PRAC & GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

Students examine the issue of violence against women and families. The demographics of the population, theories of domestic violence, crisis intervention, and short- and long-term clinical issues will be examined, as will service modalities for women victims and survivors, batterers, and their children.

• Department: Social Work
• W 10 a.m.-11:50 a.m.
• Instructor: Verena Salvi
  Info
• 3 points

Seminar on International Strategy

S. International Strategy

This graduate seminar analyzes and compares national security strategies, including military doctrine, alliance policies, and foreign economic policy. The course examines how international structure, domestic politics, and leadership psychology contribute to policy outcomes. Students will explore how different strategies serve as stabilizing or destabilizing forces in the international system.

Specific topics include great power strategies before the two World Wars, American Cold War containment strategy, China's Cold War strategies, and sources of stability and instability since the Cold War’s end.

Students should have a strong background in international relations theory and/or international security. Those without such preparation are permitted to enroll but may find it difficult to keep up with the readings.

• Department: International Security & Diplomacy
• M 10 a.m.-11:50 a.m.
• Instructor: Thomas J Christensen
  CULPA: 2 Wikipedia Info
• 3 points

Impact Measurement and Evaluation for Su

Impact Measure & Evaluati

As governments, multilateral organizations, philanthropies, corporations, and impact investors face increasing pressure to demonstrate meaningful and lasting results, the ability to generate and use credible evidence has become central to advancing sustainable development. This course examines how impact measurement and evaluation (M&E) supports decision-making across these sectors, combining technical rigor with real-world application. Students will learn to design theories of change, monitoring and evaluation frameworks, impact measurement and management (IMM) systems, and evaluation approaches while exploring how different organizations define and measure impact, navigate trade-offs related to scale and sustainability, and use evidence to strengthen learning, accountability, and strategic decision-making. Through applied cases and a semester-long client project, students will develop practical skills for designing M&E strategies that respond to complex development challenges.

• Department: Tech Policy and Innovation
• M 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
• Instructor: Veronica M Olazabal
  Info
• 3 points

Economic Development in Latin America

Econ Dev in Latin America

This course introduces students to major historical and contemporary debates on Latin American economic development and its social consequences. It adopts a comparative perspective, examining the region’s trajectory relative to North America, Western Europe, East Asia, and other developing regions. Particular attention is given to the institutional, political, geographic, and social factors that help explain Latin America’s comparatively low long-run growth, productivity, equality, and social development.

The course begins with long-term economic trends and competing explanations for the region’s relative performance. It then examines the colonial legacy, including institutions, labor systems, landholding patterns, and state formation, comparing Latin America with other world regions. The course also explores post-independence development, the effects of the Industrial Revolution, and the export era from the late nineteenth century to 1929.

The course then examines Latin American economic development during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, including the Great Depression, World War II, state-led industrialization, the debt crisis, the lost decade of the 1980s, market-oriented reforms, and recent economic transformations. These experiences are compared with East Asia, advanced economies, and other developing regions. The final section addresses current issues, including macroeconomic policy, trade, structural transformation, inequality, labor markets, social policy, technological change, climate transition, demographic slowdown, recent global crises, and Latin America’s future development prospects.

• Department: Development and Governance
• 3 points

ADULT PSYCHPATH/PATHWAY-WELLNS

• Department: Social Work
• T 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
• T 6:20 p.m.-8:10 p.m.
• M 8:30 p.m.-10:20 p.m.
• Instructor: Lorraine M Pirro
  Info
• Instructor: Pascale Jean-Noel
  Info
• Instructor: Sarah E Strole
  Info
• 3 points

Public-Private Partnerships To Foster Ef

This case-based seminar explores the evolving role of nonprofit organizations and their partnerships with government and business in advancing social impact. Students will examine the structure, challenges, and opportunities within the nonprofit sector, including social entrepreneurship, public-private partnerships, and venture philanthropy. The course emphasizes real-world cases across global contexts and diverse sectors such as housing, health, education, environmental conservation, and urban development. Through discussion, stakeholder role-play, and group presentations, students will deepen their understanding of how cross-sector collaboration can scale solutions to public challenges and create lasting value.

• Department: Tech Policy and Innovation
• T 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
• Instructor: Lynn Thoman
  Info
• 1.5 points

Finance for the World's Poorest

Finance Tools for the Poo

Some of the most powerful financial tools for fighting poverty are not found in banks, but in communities. This course explores how the world’s poorest people save, borrow, share risk, and build resilience through informal savings systems such as tandas in Mexico, susus in West Africa, dhikutis in Nepal, voluntary savings and lending groups largely in Africa, and self-help groups in India.

Students will compare community-based finance with cash transfers, remittances, microfinance, mobile banking, and fintech to ask what truly works, what falls short, and how financial inclusion can build on local wisdom rather than simply adapt Western financial models. Our motto is: “from our ideas to theirs.”

Through case examples, guest presentations, and hands-on project design, students will learn practical tools for creating initiatives that reach people at the bottom of the economic pyramid, including goal setting, methodology, selection, staffing, budgeting, monitoring, and evaluation. Working in small groups, students will design practical projects presented on the final day of class.

This course is ideal for students interested in development, social entrepreneurship, public policy, philanthropy, community finance, or poverty reduction. No technical or financial background is required—only curiosity and a willingness to question conventional assumptions about finance.

Taught by Jeffrey Ashe, a pioneer in microcredit—spreading solidarity group lending to more than thirty countries—and savings groups, whose work through the Saving for Change Initiative  helped 850,000 poor village women gain access to savings groups. His current work focuses on promoting rotating savings and credit associations (ROSCAs) in immigrant communities through Grassroots Finance Action, which he directs. Students will have access to his books on savings groups and ROSCAs, as well as his earlier writing on microfinance

• Department: Development and Governance
• T 5:10 p.m.-9 p.m.
• Instructor: Jefferey Ashe
  Info
• 3 points

Strategic Philanthropy

This seven-week Strategic Philanthropy course offers students an overview of the U.S. and global philanthropic landscape, with an eye toward the bespoke ability of philanthropy to fill gaps in public systems, mine for innovation to thorny problems, and drive targeted impacts. For reference: Philanthropic and foundation funding comprises roughly 20% of US charitable giving which totaled $103.5 billion in 2024; and global philanthropic giving reached approximately $2.3 trillion worldwide in 2024. Students will examine case studies, hear from guest speakers who are leaders in the field, and engage in class discussions to lay a foundation for understanding an array of complex approaches to philanthropy and how it interacts with the public and private sectors. Course topics will range from the crucial role of measurement in strategic philanthropy, the relationship of private philanthropy to the red tape and restrictions of public dollars, the potential impact of family wealth, and common grantmaking strategies. We will also explore and examine U.S. and international cases and best practices in philanthropy, including the differences in grantmaking in the U.S. and globally. By the end of the course, students will have a baseline understanding of the philanthropic sector and the critical role philanthropy plays in shaping pressing social, economic, environmental, and political challenges.

• Department: Tech Policy and Innovation
• M 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
• Instructor: Eric Weingartner
  Info
• 1.5 points

ESTHETIC DENTISTRY

• Department: Dental and Oral Surgery
• 0 points

EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE

• Department: Social Work
• W 2 p.m.-3:50 p.m.
• Instructor: Amy S Kapadia
  Info
• 3 points

Corporate Social Impact: Funding Global

CSI: Funding Global Innov

• Department: Tech Policy and Innovation
• FS 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
• 1.5 points

Personal Finance

• Department: Finance
• S 8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
• Instructor: Paulo Costa
  Info
• 1.5 points

Strategic Equity Finance

• Department: Finance
• S 8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
• Instructor: David Erickson
  Info
• 1.5 points

Financial Risk Management and Public Pol

Financial Risk Mgmt & Pub

IFEP Concentration Registration Priority.
This course explores the intersection of financial risk management and public policy, focusing on the regulatory and institutional frameworks that have evolved since the global financial crisis. Students will learn to apply core risk management concepts—such as market, credit, counterparty, and liquidity risk—in assessing financial stability and regulatory policy. The course emphasizes intuition and applied techniques, using graphical and numerical methods rather than advanced math. Topics include Value-at-Risk, leverage, securitization, risk regulation, systemic crises, and macroprudential oversight. Students will engage with real-world cases and financial data, develop familiarity with regulatory reforms (e.g., Basel III), and understand the rationale behind central bank interventions and stress testing.

• Department: International Finance & Economic Policy
• W 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
• Instructor: Allan M Malz
  CULPA: 1 Info
• 3 points

Seminar in Value Investing

Columbia Business School is the academic home of Benjamin Graham and the birthplace of security analysis and value investing. Graham taught Advanced Security Analysis at Columbia from 1927 to 1956. Graham and David Dodd published their seminal work, Security Analysis, in 1934 and Graham published The Intelligent Investor in 1949. Roger Murray took over teaching the course upon Graham’s retirement and taught it until he retired in 1977. After a 16-year gap, value investing returned in the fall of 1993 under Professor Bruce Greenwald’s guidance and has been offered at the school ever since. Interestingly, the course was renamed Introduction to Value Investing, which was the first time the course referenced value investing in its name. Notable graduates from the program include Warren Buffett, Mario Gabelli, Leon Cooperman, Chuck Royce, Art Sandberg, Glenn Greenberg, William von Mueffling, and Todd Combs. This course introduces a framework for investing based on fundamental analysis and evaluates investment opportunities through the lens of an equity investor. Although much of the material in this course has a strong academic foundation, the goal is to develop practical tools that the student can use immediately to improve their investment process and decision making in the real world. The course will demonstrate how to determine a company’s fundamental value. Key inputs in the analysis will be the company’s level of profitability and financial returns, the duration of its competitive advantage, the value of its growth opportunity, the strength of its management team, and the risks inherent in the investment. These tools apply to public and private markets, and the course will show how to use the tools in each opportunity. The course material will be delivered through lectures, exercises, readings, in-class discussions, and homework assignments; the last day of the course will be devoted to student presentations of an investment recommendation using the tools from the course. This survey course is designed to introduce the fundamentals of the Graham and Dodd value approach to investment analysis. The basic analytical structure and its relationship to many elements from the MBA curriculum will be described through lectures, exercises, readings, in-class discussions, and homework assignments; the last day of the week will be devoted to student presentations of an investment recommendation.

• Department: Finance
• S 3:45 p.m.-6:45 p.m.
• Instructor: Paul Johnson
  h-index: 8 Info
• 3 points

Disruption in Development Finance: What

Disruption in Dev Finance

The international development landscape is being reshaped by skeptical policymakers at home and partner countries – both of whom increasingly see the need to adopt new approaches. This course examines several cases of successful innovation in development finance — not to recycle those models, but to identify patterns of what makes innovation work, so the next generation of policymakers can reshape the field as conditions demand.

Through looking at several case studies, notably the International Finance Facility for Immunization (IFFIm), the Advanced Market Commitment (AMC) and disaster risk insurance pools, we will identify some of the factors for success and failure. Students will experiment with developing new ideas through practical application.

The instructor will draw on personal experience in global health and education financing. Guest speakers will provide practitioner perspectives on what works, what doesn’t, and why.

By the end of the course, students will develop their own innovative proposal to address a current development challenge and present it as a pitch to a hypothetical CEO, applying lessons learned from historical cases to contemporary problems.

• Department: Development and Governance
• F 10 a.m.-11:50 a.m.
• Instructor: Alice P Albright
  Info
• 1.5 points

Global Energy Policy

CEE Concentration Registration Priority.
This course examines global and national energy policies with international implications, focusing on the intersections of energy sustainability, energy security, and energy equity, commonly referred to as the "energy trilemma." Students will explore how national decisions shape global outcomes and how international frameworks influence domestic policies. Special attention is given to the political economy of the energy transition, with case studies on fossil fuels, renewables, subsidies, and critical mineral supply chains.

The first half of the course covers technical and market dimensions of high- and low-carbon energy sources, fiscal policies, and transition projections. The second half explores geopolitical drivers of energy policy, international trade and investment, and the financing of the low-carbon transition in developing economies. Students will assess real-world policy challenges through a data-driven and interdisciplinary lens, applying a political economy approach to sustainability and global energy governance.

• Department: Climate, Energy, & Environment
• R 1:10 p.m.-3 p.m.
• 3 points

Global Gender Equality Law and Policy

HRGE Concentration Registration Priority.
This course examines the global legal and policy frameworks aimed at promoting gender equality and advancing women’s rights. Drawing on international human rights instruments, national policies, and multilateral commitments, students will explore both the moral case and the strategic rationale for closing gender gaps. The course investigates how law, policy, and evidence intersect in shaping outcomes across development, health, economic growth, political participation, peace and security, climate resilience, and social protections. Students will also evaluate backlash to gender equality, the evolving discourse on gender rights and identity, and the implications of intersecting factors such as class, race, religion, and sexual orientation. Students will develop policy recommendations and deepen their understanding of global trends and debates surrounding gender justice.

• Department: Human Rights, Gender, and Equity
• R 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
• Instructor: Rachel Vogelstein
  Info
• 3 points

Engaging Non-State Armed Groups: Lessons

This is a two-day intensive course. Over the past decade, the number of civil wars globally has increased dramatically, driven by a proliferation of non-state armed groups, illicit transnational networks and regional actors. The rise of civil wars has meant conflicts are not only harder to resolve via traditional forms of diplomacy, but also more likely to relapse; in fact, 60 per cent of the civil wars that reached peace agreements in the early 2000s have since fallen back into conflict. As an organization created to prevent wars between states, the UN has struggled to meet the challenges of today’s conflicts, particularly when it comes to engaging non-state actors. At the same time, the UN is often uniquely positioned to make contact with armed groups that may be blacklisted by key member states, and it is often UN peace operations that are best placed to implement strategies to address the various threats they pose.

What are the origins of the growth of today’s form of non-state armed groups and why have they increased in relevance in recent years? How has the rise of rebel and so-called “terrorist” groups affected the character of war today, and what implications does this have for conflict prevention and management? What challenges (and opportunities) do non-state actors pose to traditional forms of conflict resolution, and what can be learned from the UN’s experiences in places like Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Mali?

Drawing on a mix of academic literature, case studies and first-hand accounts of those involved directly in UN-led operations in the field, students will explore these questions and grapple with the very real predicaments that face today’s mediators and peacekeepers around the world. By the end of this course, students will have a firm grasp of the core theories and concepts that drive UN engagement with non-state actors, how the UN and its partners have developed strategies in asymmetrical and complex environments, and a practical experience of the difficulties of applying principles to reality.  This course will be of interest to those wishing to pursue academic research on the UN, scholars of critical studies of international relations, and those hoping to build a career in conflict resolution and management.

• Department: International Security & Diplomacy
• SU 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Instructor: Adam Day
  Info
• 1.5 points

CLINICAL PRACTICE OF DENTISTRY

• Department: Dental and Oral Surgery
• 0 points

PSYCHEDELIC-ASSISTED THERAPY I

• Department: Social Work
• T 11:10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Instructor: Heidi L Allen
  Info
• 3 points

CLINICAL PRACTICE OF PERIODONTICS

• Department: Dental and Oral Surgery
• Instructor: Dana L Wolf
  h-index: 7 Info
• 0 points

Strategic Communications in Internationa

Strategic Comms-Intl Orgs

Effective communication is critical to the success of international organizations (IOs). Whether securing funding from member states, raising awareness of global challenges, or countering misinformation, IOs rely on strategic communications to fulfill their mandates. As noted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, “strategic communications is central to the success of all our work.”

This course equips students with interdisciplinary tools to understand and support the communications work of IOs. Students will explore the unique structures and missions of IOs, the role of public and digital diplomacy, brand management, and communication for development (C4D). The course also addresses specialized practices such as peacekeeping communications and celebrity diplomacy.

By bridging theory and practice, students will gain the knowledge and skills needed to analyze, critique, and contribute to communications efforts in IOs. The course prepares students for careers in IO communications teams or for policy and academic analysis in this evolving field.

• Department: International Security & Diplomacy
• W 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
• Instructor: Stefan Tschauko
  Info
• 3 points

CLINICAL PRAC OPERATIVE DENTISTRY

• Department: Dental and Oral Surgery
• 0 points

PRINCIPLES & PRAC ORAL & MAXILLOF SURGRY

• Department: Dental and Oral Surgery
• Instructor: Sidney Eisig
  h-index: 24 Info
• 0 points

CLINICAL FOUNDATIONS IN PSYCHEDELIC-ASSI

CLINICL FOUNDATIONS IN P.

• Department: Social Work
• T 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
• Instructor: Brooke Stott
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• 3 points

CLINICAL PRACTICE OF ENDODONTICS

• Department: Dental and Oral Surgery
• Instructor: Mona R Boside
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• 0 points

PRINCPLES & PRAC ORAL&MAXILLOF SURGY II

• Department: Dental and Oral Surgery
• Instructor: Sidney Eisig
  h-index: 24 Info
• 0 points

Geopolitics of Energy Transition and Cli

Geopolitics-Energy Transi

CEE Concentration Registration Priority.
Geopolitics is complicating the already difficult task of moving from a carbon-intensive energy system to one of net-zero emissions. Today’s geopolitical tensions risk slowing the pace of the urgently needed clean energy transition, while some dynamics within the transition itself are exacerbating existing geopolitical challenges. Competition between great powers—a defining feature of the emerging global order—now threatens progress through trade disputes and national security concerns. The uneven global transition is also deepening divides between developed and developing countries. War, conflict, and political backlash against transition costs further hinder coordinated climate action.

This course explores the complex entanglement of geopolitics with energy and climate change. Through lectures, guest speakers, and discussion of current developments, students will: Analyze how geopolitical tensions influence the pace and structure of the energy transition. Examine net-zero scenarios from institutions like the IEA and IPCC. Develop practical skills to communicate energy policy recommendations effectively. Participate in structured debates to sharpen critical thinking and strategic analysis.

• Department: Climate, Energy, & Environment
• M 10 a.m.-11:50 a.m.
• Instructor: Jason E Bordoff
  Wikipedia Info
• 3 points

The Geopolitics of Oil and Natural Gas

Geopolitics-Oil & Natural

CEE Concentration Registration Priority.
Despite growing pressure to decarbonize, oil and natural gas continue to shape global power and politics. This course examines how energy markets drive foreign policy, economic security, and international conflict. Students will explore the central role of oil and gas in geopolitical relations, from OPEC+ and the petrodollar to the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.

The course is organized in three parts: the geopolitics of oil, the geopolitics of natural gas (with a focus on LNG), and shifting dynamics as the world transitions toward lower-carbon energy. Case studies include Russia’s energy leverage, US–Saudi relations, the rise of US LNG exports, and Venezuela’s paradox of poverty amid vast oil reserves.

Students will assess global energy trade patterns and analyze the political impact of price shifts, sanctions, and infrastructure development. Classwork emphasizes oral analysis, policy writing, and active debate.

This course is ideal for students interested in energy diplomacy, security studies, or climate and foreign policy intersections. No technical background is required.

• Department: Climate, Energy, & Environment
• T 10 a.m.-11:50 a.m.
• Instructor: Natasha Udensiva
  Info
• 3 points

CLINICAL PRACTICE OF PROSTHODONTICS

• Department: Dental and Oral Surgery
• Instructor: Seung Jun Song
  Info
• 0-10 points

PAIN AND ANXIETY CONTROL

• Department: Dental and Oral Surgery
• Instructor: Jennifer P Bassiur
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• 0 points

Mainstreaming Gender in Global Affairs

Mainstreaming Gender Glob

This course introduces students to gender mainstreaming, gender analysis, and intersectionality as both theoretical frameworks and applied methodologies in global affairs. Students will examine how gender perspectives are integrated into international policymaking, development programming, and institutional change across diverse fields, including education, public health, economic development, international finance, peace and security, and sustainability. The course draws on feminist theory, empirical research, and case studies to analyze how power, identity, and inequality shape policy design and outcomes. Students will engage with foundational concepts and tools used by multilateral institutions, governments, and civil society to promote gender equity and inclusion. Through workshops and mini-research assignments, students will gain experience with applied methods such as interviewing, text analysis, and gender-based program evaluation. Emphasis is placed on participatory learning and collaborative inquiry. This course equips students with the critical skills and practical knowledge necessary to engage in gender-responsive policy work in global and local contexts.

• Department: Human Rights, Gender, and Equity
• W 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
• Instructor: Kristy Kelly
  h-index: 3 Info
• 3 points

Rethinking Care: Towards Gender Equality

The organization of care is an essential element of any society – and a fundamental determinant of gender relations. Who can and who must care for whom, when and on what terms? The answers to these questions are often regarded as “private matters;” they are, in fact, reflected in, and impacted by, public policies. In recent years, care policies have been a matter of intense debate. Remarkable social innovations in some contexts have been accompanied by attempts to mold care in ways that bolster more traditional family arrangements in others. Focusing on the care of young children in reference to countries in Europe and Latin America as well as to the United States, this 7-week course will explore the assumptions on which care systems rest, their interactions with labor markets and family structures, their implications for gender equality and social stratification, and how more equitable solutions might be structured. Students will engage with a broad range of materials, including data sets, legal texts, policy briefs, case studies and theoretical analyses.

• Department: Human Rights, Gender, and Equity
• W 1:10 p.m.-3 p.m.
• Instructor: Yasmine Ergas
  CULPA: 2 h-index: 10 Info
• 1.5 points

Procreation and The Politics of Reproduc

Politics of Reproduction

All societies rest on the continuity of their populations. How – and if – that continuity is assured is deeply implicated in gender relations. Who has children? Rather, who can, who should, who must, have children – and who cannot or may not do so-- and at what conditions? Most fundamentally, who decides, how, with what consequences, for whom? Who, for example, is most at risk of dying of child-bearing, and where? Who can access ARTs and at what conditions? Have we moved past, or are we returning to, what was once thought of as compulsory motherhood, or is motherhood becoming more elusive, and for whom? Are similar trends affecting fathers? Or parents generally? And how do policies intended to encourage or discourage the physical reproduction differentiate among social groups, distinguishing, for example, on the basis of citizenship and residency, marital status, disability,race, ethnicity and class? Finally, what are the implications of assisted reproductive technologies – from IVF to womb transplants and gene editing – both for procreation and for how we understand sex and gender?

• Department: Human Rights, Gender, and Equity
• R 1:10 p.m.-3 p.m.
• Instructor: Yasmine Ergas
  CULPA: 2 h-index: 10 Info
• 1.5 points

The Global Payments Ecosystem

IFEP Concentration Registration Priority.
This course will outline the Global Payments System, both domestic and cross-border, emphasizing Large Value Transfers and the infrastructure of the global financial and monetary system. Payment system operators, by definition, pose systemic risks to the global financial system and the global economy, given their criticality and interconnections to businesses, financial institutions, and households worldwide. The course will also examine the digital transformation in payments, the implications of sanctions, and financial crimes such as fraud, Know Your Customer (KYC), Anti-Money Laundering (AML), and cybersecurity. Financial market Infrastructures (FMIs) and Payment Settlement Systems (RTGSs) like Fedwire, CHIPS, Target, DTCC, SWIFT, and CLS will be reviewed in the context of their economic functions, interconnectivity, governance, and regulation. There will be a particular focus on regulation, application of relevant law, and the risk environment for payment system operators and their customers. A review of relevant policy considerations will be undertaken. The impact of emerging technologies, including tokenization, Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC), Stablecoins, and AI, will be explored in a rapidly changing environment. No discussion on the Global Payments System is complete without discussing the geopolitical environment. This course will explore how these forces have played out in the past and the near future, including a student mock debate about how they might evolve in an increasingly divided world.

• Department: International Finance & Economic Policy
• M 1:10 p.m.-3 p.m.
• Instructor: Yawar Shah
  Info
• 1.5 points

Blockchain & Cryptocurrencies

• Department: Finance
• MTWRU 9 a.m.-10:15 a.m.
• 3 points

Gender, Conflict, and Peacebuilding

Gender, Conflict & Peaceb

Over 25 years ago, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 1325 on women, peace, and security, and since then, it has adopted an additional 9 related resolutions. This agenda marks the first time in the UN’s 80-year history that women’s experiences, particularly their contributions to promoting peace and security in contexts of violent conflict, closed political spaces, and rising extremism, are acknowledged. It is also the first time that the need for women’s protection has been strongly noted. The resolution marks a clear watershed in the evolving efforts to promote human security as a normative framework for the international community. Although the primary focus is on women, the emerging discourse has drawn increasing attention to the need for gendered analysis – i.e., addressing the conditions/experiences of women and men with intersecting identities – in conflict and peacebuilding.

This intensive 2.5-day seminar will provide an overview of the evolving field of women, peace, and security. Drawing on empirical research and practice, the modules will address the following issues:

● Historical and geopolitical evolution and context in which the WPS field has arisen;

● Attaining UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and the expansion of the WPS policy agenda with attention to subsequent resolutions and key pillars of this agenda – notably women’s participation in peace and security, protection issues, peacekeeping and conflict prevention including conflict related sexual violence.

● Implications of ongoing conflicts, rising authoritarianism, and violent extremism on gender, peace and security issues.

● Gender analysis and the practical application of a gendered lens to key mediation, security, and peacebuilding processes.

● Experiences and lessons from women’s peace coalitions and women’s contributions to peacebuilding including countering/preventing violent extremism

● Efforts to prevent and address sexual violence in conflict.

● Women and peacekeeping, including issues of sexual exploitation and abuse.

• Department: Human Rights, Gender, and Equity
• S 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Instructor: Sanam Naraghi-Anderlini
  Info
• 1.5 points

International Humanitarian Law for a New

Armed conflict and violent crisis situations are undergoing profound transformation. Interstate wars, alongside prolonged internal conflicts, seem more than ever before to have global effects, while artificial intelligence, drones, attacks on energy supplies and critical infrastructure, and the use of mercenaries are reshaping the conduct of hostilities. At the same time, the emerging international order increasingly departs from the long-established principles of International Humanitarian Law, which are intended to protect victims of war and to restrain the methods and means of warfare.  Against this background, the course gives particular attention to the interaction between legal norms, political decision-making, military realities, and humanitarian action, enabling students to critically assess the role of international law in shaping and responding to the emerging international order. 

Designed for students interested in understanding how the emerging new international order must be based on the legal protection of the individual in war and on the regulation of the use of force between and within states, the course equips participants with the conceptual and practical tools to identify, interpret, and apply international legal norms in complex, real-world conflict situations. In an era of rapidly advancing artificial intelligence, the course also emphasizes the enduring importance of human judgment, equipping students with the analytical and critical thinking skills needed to interpret legal norms, compare competing arguments, and make informed decisions in complex and often uncertain conflict situations.

Drawing on conflicts in the Middle East, Ukraine, Sudan, Myanmar and other areas the course addresses the protection of civilians and medical services, attacks on critical infrastructure, humanitarian access, displacement and detention, the use of drones and artificial intelligence, and accountability for serious violations of humanitarian law. Particular attention is also given to the role of international criminal law in addressing serious violations of international humanitarian law, including individual criminal responsibility, the prosecution of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, and the contribution of international and national courts to accountability and justice.

This seminar combines short reading assignments with close-reading exercises, small-group scenario analyses, role-play simulations with decision memos, peer-teaching activities, and brief

• Department: Development and Governance
• R 1:10 p.m.-3 p.m.
• Instructor: Horst Fischer
  Wikipedia Info
• 3 points

Basics of Cybersecurity

The purpose of this half-semester course is to familiarize students with how the Internet and cybersecurity works; to provide a foundation of knowledge for later courses; and to familiarize students with the devices, protocols, and functions of computers, the Internet, industrial control systems, and cybersecurity. This course is not intended to be a computer science course, but to provide the students with the lexicon of cyberspace and the understanding of how hardware, software, and networks fit together to create the Internet experience. We will also illuminate some essential and current cybersecurity policy topics, including privacy and risks of emerging technology.

It is a broader course meant to complement Cyber Risks and Vulnerabilities and other coursework throughout SIPA.

• Department: International Security & Diplomacy
• W 5:10 p.m.-7 p.m.
• Instructor: Ian W Gray
  Info
• 1.5 points

CLINICAL CASE EVALUATION

• Department: Social Work
• T 9 a.m.-10:50 a.m.
• Instructor: Jarron R Magallanes
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• Instructor: Victoria Rodriguez
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• Instructor: Kelsey G Reeder
  Info
• Instructor: Brandon Weiss
  Info
• Instructor: Trelan N Holder
  Info
• Instructor: Leny Bolivar
  Info
• Instructor: Michelle A Salvaggio
  Info
• 3 points

SEMINARS IN ORTHODONTICS

• Department: Dental and Oral Surgery
• Instructor: Christine O'Hea
  Info
• 0 points

Applied Econometrics

This course equips students with the tools to critically evaluate empirical research through the lens of causal inference. Emphasizing real-world policy relevance over statistical correlation, it introduces students to identification strategies that approximate randomized trials using observational data. Students will explore advanced econometric methods, including instrumental variables, difference-in-differences, fixed effects, regression discontinuity, and synthetic controls, while examining their strengths and limitations in drawing causal conclusions.

Designed for students with prior coursework in quantitative methods (U6500 and U6501), this course stresses conceptual rigor and applied skills. Assignments include STATA-based replication exercises, a research design proposal, and seminar engagement. Readings and examples draw from policy-relevant domains such as health, education, and environmental economics. Students will leave the course with a deeper understanding of how to produce, assess, and apply causal evidence to inform public decision-making.

• Department: Data Science for Policy
• T 8 a.m.-9:50 a.m.
• Instructor: Douglas V Almond
  Info
• 3 points

Cybersecurity: Technology, Policy, & Law

Cybersecurity: Tech, Pol,

This interdisciplinary course explores how technology, policy, and law intersect in addressing complex cybersecurity challenges. Taught by experts in each field, the course examines how different disciplines approach problems such as cybercrime, national security threats, and corporate intrusions. Students will gain foundational knowledge in Internet architecture and computer security, legal frameworks governing cyber activity, and policy strategies for defense and resilience.

The course is structured around four major cyber incidents—SolarWinds, NotPetya, Colonial Pipeline, and Sony Pictures—which serve as case studies to analyze vulnerabilities, responses, and policy implications. A team-based group project will link these “great hacks” to themes in the U.S. National Cybersecurity Strategy, encouraging students to develop interdisciplinary mitigation proposals.

Designed for students with prior cyber-related experience, this course strengthens the ability to think and communicate across technical, legal, and policy domains, preparing students to work effectively on cybersecurity in any professional context.

• Department: International Security & Diplomacy
• T 5:10 p.m.-7 p.m.
• 3 points

Sovereign Risk

IFEP Concentration Registration Priority.
This course explores sovereign risk through the lens of credit rating agency methodologies, historical debt crises, and contemporary developments in sovereign debt markets. Students will examine the interplay of fiscal, institutional, political, financial, and geopolitical dynamics that shape sovereign creditworthiness. Students will gain fluency in rating criteria, peer comparisons, and debt sustainability analyses, with a focus on Moody’s sovereign bond rating methodology. The course culminates in a mock credit rating committee exercise. Students will emerge with practical skills in sovereign risk assessment and a deeper understanding of global debt trends.

• Department: International Finance & Economic Policy
• T 5:10 p.m.-7 p.m.
• Instructor: Thomas Byrne
  Wikipedia Info
• 3 points

Humanitarian Engagement with Armed Actor

Humanitarian-Actor Engage

In many parts of the world, humanitarian actors cannot successfully alleviate and prevent the suffering of people living in areas affected by armed conflict without engaging with armed groups.  The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) estimates that there are over 450 armed groups of humanitarian concern worldwide, over 130 of which are parties to a non-international armed conflict. Africa accounts for over 40% of these groups, with about 20% in each of the Near and Middle East (NAME), the Americas, and in the Asia and Pacific. In 2024, the global population living in areas fully controlled or contested by armed groups is estimated by the ICRC to have increased to 210 million people, with 83 million living in areas fully controlled by armed groups, up by 19 million from 2023.

Many armed groups that control territory provide a degree of services and governance structures in areas they control, including health care, education, taxation, public utilities, justice/dispute resolution, security and taxation.  However, the basic needs of the population in areas controlled by many armed groups are often not fully met.  Humanitarian access, and dialogue on protection and assistance matters with such armed groups is an important part of humanitarian action worldwide. 

The last 30 years, however, have made these aspirations more difficult, as a multiplicity of armed conflicts and different types of non-state actors have emerged, posing significant challenges on the ability of humanitarian workers to effectively engage with belligerents, and hindering their access to these individuals. The lack of separation between those actively participating in conflict and those who do not have particularly made it difficult for external actors to identify who, when and how to engage on humanitarian issues, together with the level of engagement and the timing of such interactions. Additional existing inquiries relate to the strategies set in place for effective engagement: who should be in the lead of humanitarian engagements on the ground? And how can the humanitarian community best assist and increase the protection of civilians in areas controlled by entities designated as terrorist, or in fragile States?

This class will examine these inquiries, together with the parameters of engagement with a range of actors- from peacekeepers to formal armies to paramilitary groups and designated entities to community and religious leaders to determine what legal and moral bases exist for en

• Department: Development and Governance
• W 5:10 p.m.-7 p.m.
• Instructor: Christopher Harland
  Info
• 3 points

Cyber Risks and Vulnerabilities

The purpose of this course is to familiarize SIPA students with the function of the internet while focusing on the flaws and vulnerabilities that can be exploited in attacks or impact user privacy.  This course will approach each session in the following manner: discussion of recent cyber events, discussion topic(s) to be covered, and the ramifications when used in the real world.

This course is intended to build on the Basics of Cybersecurity with a tighter focus on specific vulnerabilities and information transmission and how these can be exploited by hackers, criminals, spies, militaries, or business interests.

This course is intended to be an introduction to cyber risk and vulnerabilities and is thus suitable for complete newcomers to the area. It is a big field, with a lot to cover; however, this should get students familiar with all of the basics.  The class is divided into weekly topics; the first five iteratively build on each other, and the others either addressing recent technologies or hosting relevant guest speakers.

Many cyber jobs are opening up with companies that need international affairs analysts who, while not cybersecurity experts, understand the topic well enough to write policy recommendations or intelligence briefs.  Even if you don’t intend your career to focus on cyber issues, having some exposure will deepen your understanding of the dynamics of many other international, privacy, and public policy issues.

• Department: International Security & Diplomacy
• W 5:10 p.m.-7 p.m.
• Instructor: Elizabeth Cartier
  Info
• 1.5 points

Data Analysis for Policy Research Using

Data for Policy Research

This course develops the skills necessary to prepare, analyze, and present data for policy analysis and program evaluation using R. Building on the foundations from Quant I and II—probability, statistics, regression analysis, and causal inference—this course emphasizes the practical application of microeconometric methods to real-world policy questions. (Note: macroeconomic topics and forecasting methods are not covered.)

The central objective is to train students to be effective analysts and policy researchers. Key questions include: Given the available data, what analysis best informs the policy question? How should we design research, prepare data, and implement statistical methods using R? How can we assess causal effects of policies rather than mere correlations? What ethical considerations arise when working with data on marginalized populations?

Students will learn through hands-on analysis of datasets tied to a range of policy issues, including: caste-based expenditure gaps in India, racial disparities in NYPD fare evasion enforcement, water shutoffs in Detroit, Village Fund grants in Indonesia, public health insurance and child mortality, and Stand Your Ground laws and gun violence. The course culminates in a student-led project on a policy topic of their choosing.

• Department: Data Science for Policy
• T 1:10 p.m.-3 p.m.
• T 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
• R 10 a.m.-11:50 a.m.
• R 3:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
• Instructor: Harold B Stolper
  Info
• 3 points

Financing of Energy Systems in Emerging

Energy Finance: Emerging

CEE Concentration Registration Priority.
Emerging and developing economies are expected to account for the bulk of the energy demand and carbon emissions growth in the coming decades. Drastic changes are necessary to their current energy systems and future energy infrastructure so that it is in line with global climate goals—an effort that will require significant amounts of capital. This course will look at the formidable task of financing the energy transition in emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs). We will start by studying what the energy transition is, how it relates to climate goals, and what needs to be financed. The course will look at the different estimates of how much will the energy transition cost, particularly for emerging markets. The class will also survey the current financial energy landscape to assess what is working, what is missing, and the potential governance structures that are needed to mobilize the necessary financing. The existing sources of financing from the private sector, development agencies, and international financial institutions will be discussed to understand the specific challenges and opportunities of each source of financing for emerging markets. The course will look at the broad financing toolkit available, from blended finance vehicles, de-risking instruments, and the new ones that are being deployed like ESG investing and thematic bonds. Students will also be introduced to carbon markets and the role they can play in financing the energy transition in emerging markets. Lastly, the course will cover the financing of transition assets to understand how and when capital should be deployed for these assets, including the capital needed to retire or retrofit existing fossil fuel assets.

• Department: Climate, Energy, & Environment
• W 10 a.m.-11:50 a.m.
• 1.5 points

Global Financial Services in the 21st Ce

This course offers students a strategic and applied framework for understanding the global financial services industry, spanning commercial and investment banking, asset and wealth management, central banking, and financial regulation. Students will examine the sector’s evolution, current challenges, and future direction. Topics include risk management, regulatory change, financial technology, global competitive positioning, and the strategic dilemmas faced by CEOs in a post-2008 financial landscape. The course emphasizes leadership and critical thinking over technical specialization, and culminates in a team-based final project presented to industry executives. The course is intended for students preparing for leadership roles in global finance and policy.

• Department: International Finance & Economic Policy
• W 1:10 p.m.-3 p.m.
• Instructor: Richard Goldberg
  Info
• 3 points

Forced Displacement: Refugees, IDPs and

Displacement in Changing

A surge in violent conflict since 2010 has led to historically high levels of forced displacement. More recently, the war in Ukraine has caused the fastest-growing refugee crisis in Europe since the end of World War II. Globally, there are 
more than 100 million forcibly displaced people
 including refugees, internally displaced persons and asylum seekers who have fled their homes to escape violence, conflict and persecution. 

The majority of the world's refugees come from just a handful of countries, with Syria, Venezuela, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Ukraine and Myanmar being among the top countries of origin. These refugees often seek safety in neighboring countries, but many also attempt to make the dangerous journey to Europe or other parts of the world. In recent years, an upsurge of mixed migration has posed enormous practical, but also ethical and legal questions to host governments and aid organizations: in today’s world, what distinguishes a refugee from a migrant? And how does their ensuing treatment differ? Climate displacement, which is growing exponentially outside any normative framework, adds to the complexity of how to address the needs and rights of the displaced globally.

Internal displacement is also a major issue, with people being forced to flee their homes due to conflict, violence, natural disasters, and other factors. IDPs often face similar challenges to refugees, such as lack of access to basic needs like food, water, and healthcare, as well as limited opportunities for education and employment.

The course will allow students to examine the history, norms, principles, actors and governance related to forced displacement to assess with a critical lens whether the system is set up to respond to what forced displacement is today, with all its complexities. Through a combination of thematic sessions and case studies, it will provide an overview of the typologies of displacement, the different initiatives and durable solutions pursued, as well as the remaining questions the international normative and assistance system has to answer.

• Department: Development and Governance
• M 1:10 p.m.-3 p.m.
• Instructor: Andrew C Heinrich
  Info
• 3 points

Law and Society in Latin America

Law & Society in Latin Am

This course examines Latin American law through a socio-legal lens, analyzing how formal legal texts are actually practiced, adapted, or resisted by various social actors. Drawing on Law and Society scholarship, legal realism, and critical legal traditions, the course investigates different factors shaping law's effectiveness and its potential for social transformation. The first section explores foundational questions about legal obedience, judicial power, legal pluralism, and the gap between law in the books and law in action, while the second section applies these frameworks to specific Latin American problems, including access to justice and legal mobilization around social rights. Students will engage with theoretical and empirical texts, films, and podcasts while developing their own socio-legal research projects on topics such as health rights, anti-discrimination movements, anti-corruption initiatives, or accountability for atrocity crimes. By combining interdisciplinary perspectives from law and the social sciences with practical illustrations, the course explores the challenges and possibilities of using law as an instrument for social change in Latin America.

• Department: Development and Governance
• R 1:10 p.m.-3 p.m.
• Instructor: Paola Bergallo
  Info
• 3 points