Core Courses
PUPOL 100: Introduction to Public Policy (2 sections)
PUPOL 100 is an interdisciplinary course designed to introduce students to basic concepts in policy studies. It is taught by faculty from different disciplines. It will acquaint students with public policy as a field of study, the basic elements of the policy-making process, and a variety of approaches for applying distinct modes of analysis (political, economic, demographic, statistical, qualitative, normative). In addition to a textbook and select articles that have defined the field, the course uses practical case studies that address a range of policy problems. This course is open to students who declare the Public Policy Minor.
Section 1: Wednesday, 10:10am-1:00pm (Roosevelt House Room 204), with Robyn Rowe
Section 2: Monday/Thursday, 9:45-11:00am (Roosevelt House Room 304), with Joyce Miller
PUPOL 400: Public Policy Capstone Seminar
Roosevelt House’s Public Policy Capstone course serves as the culminating educational experience for students pursuing the 18-credit Public Policy Minor and/or 27-credit certificate. During this semester-long seminar, each student develops a substantive project that integrates the practical skills and topical knowledge learned in the Public Policy Program. The Capstone presents students the opportunity to go in- depth with real-world policy questions and ideas, with the aim of discovering, developing, and refining individual policy interests and goals.
Time: Wednesdays, 10:10-1 pm (Roosevelt House Room 304) with Shyama Venkateswar, Director, Public Policy Program and Distinguished Lecturer, Hunter College
Elective Courses
POLSC 27400: American Foreign Policy: From the Cold War to the War on Terror
The Cold War and Terrorism constitute two of the gravest challenges to the United States in the history of the country. How the nation has attempted to deal with these challenges provides an important perspective into policy-making, leadership, and public-government relations that offers interesting parallels and contrasts. This course examines these topics, studying how U.S. foreign policy approached the threat of communism (1947-1989) and terrorism (post-2001). The class studies these topics from the executive branch decision-making process, as well as the State Department, public opinion, and the media. We assess these battles from both an ideological perspective but also through actual case studies, including the Korean War, Cuba, the Vietnam War, the Southern Cone, Afghanistan (x2) and Iraq. In the end, we investigate how the vast foreign policy apparatus has employed both soft and hard power initiatives to deal with containing communism in the latter part of the twentieth century and combating terrorism in the twenty-first.
Section 1: Thursday, 1:10-4:00pm (Roosevelt House Room 304) with Oliver Murphey, Adjunct Professor, Hunter College
URBS 403.1B / SOC 425.21: Public Policy in New York City
This course will examine the governmental and societal processes for addressing major public policy problems and issues in America’s largest urban centers, with an emphasis on the New York City context. Discussions will encompass the economic, social and political context as well as how cities function within the American federal system. The course will explore a range of urban policy areas drawn from New York City’s current challenges, including economic change; economic development and urban planning; state and local budgeting and tax policy; income polarization and the role of local policy levers in addressing polarization; housing; public safety; immigration; urban regeneration; transportation; and poverty, welfare, work, and work supports.
Section 1: Wednesday, 3:10-6:00pm (Roosevelt House Room 304) with James Parrott, former Deputy Director, Fiscal Policy Institute
SOC 325.1P: Criminal Justice and Public Policy
The U.S. has over 2 million people incarcerated, making it the largest prison system in the world. Therefore, this course will survey policies, specifically surrounding punishment in several ways. First, this course will delve into historical practices of punishment and the (un)intended purposes of prisons. Second, how laws create (in)equality in understanding race, gender, and class. Third, understand policies that impact specific marginalized populations (e.g. juveniles, disabilities, etc.) within the criminal justice system. Fourth, discuss policies that impact immigration and criminal justice, specifically deportation. Fifth, understand the role prisoner reentry plays for individuals exiting the criminal justice system. Sixth, examine research that focuses on the interconnections of policy of human and non-human animals in captivity. Finally, theorize a reimagined criminal justice system through prison abolition. Drawing on scholarship in these respected areas will provide students with a broad knowledge of policy to develop and articulate major issues in contemporary society.
Section 1: Monday, 1:10-4:00pm (Roosevelt House Room 204) with Calvin Smiley, Professor, Department of Sociology
GEOG 383.25: Energy Policy
Energy use is required for the organization, maintenance and development of societies. At the same time, our use of fossil fuel energy sources has led to a series of challenges, including air pollution, resource depletion and climate change. This course is designed for undergraduate and graduate students seeking an introduction to the challenges associated with energy use and potential policies for a low-carbon, clean and lasting energy future. We focus on the connections between energy use, climate change and air pollution. After identifying and describing energy trends, climate dynamics and general US policies, students are presented with specific sectoral policies from around the world, whose main goal is to create low carbon energy systems, but have co-benefits to other policies areas, including air quality. The class is run twice a week in lecture fashion, but requires significant student participation.
Section 1: Monday/Thursday, 11:10am-12:25pm (HN 1022) with Peter Marcotullio, Professor, Department of Geography
