In the Human Ecology .
Course Offerings
Faculty
R. Avery, Chair (MVR Hall, (607) 255-2578); T. Evans, Director of Undergraduate Studies; M. Lovenheim, Director of Graduate Studies; S. Nicholson; Academic and Research Director of Sloan Program, B. Hollis, Executive Director of Sloan Program; J. Carmalt, Associate Director of Sloan Program; Faculty: R. Burkhauser, C. Carey, J. Cawley, R. Dunifon, M. Fitzpatrick, R. Geddes, M. Hall, T. Homonoff, H. Kim, D. Kenkel, S. Kleiner, D. Lichter, M. Lovenheim, A. Mathios, J. Matsudaira, K. Musick, S. Nicholson, A. Parrot, Z. Pei, N. Sanders, S. Sassler, L. Tach, S. Tennyson, W. Trochim, M. Waller, W. White, C. Wildeman, N. Ziebarth. Emeritus faculty: J. Allen, R. Babcock, R. Battistella, K. Bryant, L. Noble, E. Peters, B. Yerka. Lecturers: H. Allen, J. Bastable, J. Carmalt, A. Chatterjee, C. Dredge, T. Evans, N. Fabrizio, B. Hollis, R. Lancey, E. McDermott, J. Reagan, W. Schlesinger, M. Sherman, M. Weidner
Policy Analysis and Management Major
In the Policy Analysis and Management major, students and faculty study the effects of government policies on individuals and families, public health, education, crime, product markets, financial markets, and a wide variety of other social impacts. The research tools learned and used—robust theory, rigorous empirical quantitative skills, and practical applications to real-world policy issues—are highly sought after by the best in both industry and government.
Federal, state, and local governments have a central impact on all aspects of American life. The federal government alone taxes and spends in excess of 25 percent of gross domestic product. Public policy is ubiquitous, covering almost all aspects of societal and market interaction, from the environment to immigration, banks to farming, and social security to crime. Among current major government legislative initiatives are national health care, financial market regulation, education policy, immigration, and tax policy. Getting legislation right is crucially important to individuals, families, and society at large. Studying, understanding, and learning from the impacts and externalities of government policy are at the heart of Policy Analysis and Management.
Making full use of the theories and methods from economics, sociology, psychology, and demography, Policy Analysis and Management majors first seek to understand the theoretical effect of government policy. Using robust data analysis techniques, PAM majors learn how to measure the magnitude of policy effects. Through published findings, Policy Analysis and Management faculty members help to inform the public debate.
Current Policy Analysis and Management faculty members have expertise in health care, family/social welfare, demography, regulation of financial markets, transportation policy, social security, FDA regulation of pharmaceutical advertising, education, crime, law, and the economics of obesity, among others. Undergraduate and graduate students take courses from, and conduct research with, experts in the field.
In addition to students entering the labor market into management, government, and research positions, PAM attracts large numbers of pre-law and pre-MBA students, students interested in health administration, and students intending to pursue graduate studies in economics, sociology, and public policy. After graduation there is the potential to complete a one-year program resulting in an M.S. in Policy Analysis and Management. In addition, the department offers both a five year BS/MHA and two-year Master of Health Administration through the department’s Sloan Program.
In addition to learning basic policy analysis and management skills, the student will be expected to apply these skills within particular areas of policy focus. Upper-level family/social welfare courses cover a panoply of governmental and private-sector income maintenance, social, and human service delivery programs and policies that range from child adoption, neglect, and abuse policies and antipoverty programs to policies and programs that impinge on or regulate marriage, divorce, and fertility. Upper-level health policy courses cover programs and issues such as health care access, the Medicare and Medicaid programs, long-term care, managed care, public health issues such as obesity, and substance abuse policies. Upper-level market regulation courses cover programs and policies governing the regulation of advertising, the regulations of financial institutions, risk and insurance markets, food and drug safety, and public utility markets. They also deal with issues such as privacy, the Internet, and crime.
In addition to meeting college requirements, all PAM majors are expected to take the following core courses: Introductory and Intermediate Policy Analysis, Population and Policy, Statistics, Multivariate Statistics, Intermediate Microeconomics, and Economics of the Public Sector. Multivariate Statistics and Intermediate Microeconomics must be completed by the second semester of the sophomore year.
PAM Honors Program
The honors program, which leads to a B.S. degree with honors in Policy Analysis and Management, gives official recognition to students who have demonstrated excellence in their academic work and their capacity for independent research. In addition to fulfilling the requirements for the major, students in the honors program will participate in an honors seminar and prepare an empirically-based honors thesis. Honors students work with a research mentor in preparing for their thesis. Interested students should obtain a PAM Honors Program application form from the PAM Undergraduate Office (2250A MVR). For more information, students should contact the PAM director of undergraduate studies.
PAM Minor Program
Students from outside of PAM can complete a 15-credit official minor in Policy Analysis and Management with emphasis on Health Policy, Demography, Social Policy, and/or Regulatory Policy. For further information, see the PAM website or pick up information at the PAM Undergraduate Office (2250A MVR).