Hardest courses in Public Affairs and Public Policy
Plan ahead for courses where students have earned lower grades.
Lowest historical GPA first. At least 100 letter grades over the five years through the
selected term. Grades reflect past outcomes, not workload or a guaranteed result.
Find your fit
13 courses
Ranked courses have at least 100 recorded letter grades.
The class involved a large group project and lots of readings, with students expecting a lot of work overall. One reviewer described the grading as arbitrary, while another noted the course was very difficult and advised against taking it for an easy A.
A general primer on large-scale US federal and state policies, explaining the policy process and analyzing how funding is spent and its associated policy outcomes in contemporary areas.
This course builds skills for using research and evidence in policymaking, covering how to judge research rigor, communicate findings via written and oral formats, and distinguish education-based from advocacy-based approaches.
Introduction to US health policy examining government roles in health care provision and regulation, covering economics, outcomes, quality, disparities, and special topics like the ACA.
Explores how US public policies shape the distribution of income, wealth, and opportunity, focusing on racial and ethnic disparities across labor, education, tax, health, housing, and justice systems.
Introduction to Policy Analysis develops skills in policy analysis by setting out conceptual foundations for its role in democratic politics and providing training in policy analysis craft.
Public Management examines the role of administration in American government, focusing on organizational problems, bureaucracy, control mechanisms, and how public policy emerges from the administrative process.
Training in analytical skills and tools for complex public policy decisions, covering quantitative and qualitative analysis methods for policy decision-making.
Discovering What Works in Health Policy introduces conceptual and methodological tools for public program evaluation, focusing on causal inference and policy solutions for health and disease.
A workshop in program and policy analysis where student teams work on real problems for public agencies, developing analytical, writing, and presentation skills.
An administrative internship integrating classroom theory with practical application in a public policy professional setting, emphasizing reflection and skill development.