James B. Hudak Professor of Health Policy
Using Public Policy for Social Change
What You'll Learn
- Learn to identify and define each step of the public policy-making cycle
- How to analyze social issues from a policy perspective
- Learn how advocacy work plays a part in policy-making
4 Modules
16 Hours
4 hrs per module (approx.)
Rating
About Using Public Policy for Social Change
Using Public Policy for Social Change provides a comprehensive introduction to public policy and its role in addressing societal challenges, with a focus on social inequalities. You’ll explore various areas of policy work, including social welfare, public health, the environment, education, and criminal justice. Learn the fundamentals of public policy design and analysis, and how policymaking functions across all levels of government in democracies worldwide.
The course offers the opportunity to delve into social issues you care about, learn from real-life policymakers and advocates, and strengthen your analytical, critical thinking, and advocacy skills to create positive social change. Using Public Policy for Social Change leads you through each step of the policymaking process and encourages you to see how your talents and passions can play a role in making the world a more equitable place.
Skills You'll Gain
- Community Advocacy
- Decision Making
- Policy Analysis
- Problem Solving
- Public Administration
- Public Policy Research
- Social Justice
- Social Policy
What You'll Earn
- Certificate of Completion:
- Certificates of completion acknowledge knowledge acquired upon completion of a non-credit course or program.
Welcome Message
Welcome to Using Public Policy for Social Change, a course that introduces how public policy can be used as a tool to address social challenges and promote equity. You will explore how policies are defined, framed, designed, implemented, and evaluated, while developing skills to analyze real-world policy issues. The course emphasizes practical frameworks for understanding how policy decisions shape social outcomes and opportunities for change.
This abbreviated syllabus description was created with the help of AI tools and reviewed by staff. The full syllabus is available to those who enroll in the course.
Course Schedule
Module 1: What Is Public Policy and What Is It Good For?
- Video: Using Public Policy for Social Change: Welcome to the Course
- Reading: Course Syllabus
- Reading: Course Glossary
- Discussion Prompt: Meet Your Fellow Learners
- Reading: Help Us Learn About You!
- Video: The Important Roles of Public Policy in Society
- Video: What Public Administration & Public Policy Mean?
- Video: What is the Public Sector & What are Public Goods/Services?
- Video: What is Policy and Why it Matters
- Reading: Up Next: A View from Professionals on Public Policy Practice
- Video: Public Policy in Practice: A View from Professionals
- Discussion Prompt: What Are Your Public Policy Interests?
- Video: Typologies or Frameworks for Policy Levers
- Video: Examples of Policy Levers
- Reading: Understanding and Applying Basic Public Policy Concepts
- Video: Facts about Public Policy
- Video: International Examples of Public Policy
- Graded Assignment: Check Your Knowledge: Primer on Public Policy
- Video: General Steps in the Policymaking Process—Part 1
- Video: General Steps in the Policymaking Process—Part 2
- Reading: Policy Making: Political Interactions
- Video: Navigating Politics—Basic Skills
- Video: Perspective on Public Policy
- Graded Assignment: Check Your Knowledge: General Steps in the Policymaking Process
- Video: Policy Making: A View from a Legislator
- Video: Public Policy and Social Change: A Real Story
Module 2: Issue Framing and Agenda Setting
- Video: Social Problem Framing
- Reading: Framing and Policy Making
- Video: Policy Target Groups: Benefits vs. Burdens
- Video: Issue Framing: Perspectives from Advocates
- Reading: Systemic Inequality: Displacement, Exclusion, and Segregation
- Graded Assignment: Check Your Knowledge: Issue Framing
- Video: The Public Good: Equity vs. Equality
- Video: Example: Digital Equity
- Video: Public Policy and Structural Inequality
- Video: The Importance of Equity in Public Health: Interview with Dr. Joneigh Khaldun
- Discussion Prompt: Framing an Issue You Care About
- Video: Policy Agenda Setting: Stakeholders and Gatekeepers
- Discussion Prompt: Who are the Stakeholders of the Issue You Care About?
- Video: Advocacy 101: 8 Steps (Part 1)
- Video: Advocacy 101: 8 Steps (Part 2)
- Video: Advocacy 101: 8 Steps (Part 3)
- Video: Agenda Setting Example
- Reading: Develop Your Advocacy Plan: Instructions
- App Item: Share Your Advocacy Plan
- Video: Issue Framing and Agenda Setting: A Real Story
- Reading: Week 2 Optional Readings & Resources
Module 3: Public Policy Design — What Should We Do?
- Video: Public Policy Change
- Video: Basics of Policy Design
- Reading: Good Sources of Information on Public Policies: An Evidence-Based Policymaking Primer
- Discussion Prompt: Policy Priorities of Interest to You
- Video: Policy Design: Practitioners Perspectives
- Graded Assignment: Check Your Knowledge: Policy Design
- Video: Prospective Policy Analysis: What Should We Do? (Part 1)
- Video: Prospective Policy Analysis: What Should We Do? (Part 2)
- Video: Introduction to Forecasting and Policy Simulation Modeling
- Graded Assignment: Check Your Knowledge: Policy Options Analysis
- Video: Example: Mexico Pensions for the Poor Case Study
- Video: Crafting a Policy Opinion and Justification
- Video: Two Applications of Policy Justification Framework
- Graded Assignment: Check Your Knowledge: Policy Justification Framework Considering Ethics and Equity
- Video: Policy Design: A Real Story
- Reading: Week 3 Optional Readings & Resources
- Video: Applying the Framework: Crafting a Policy Opinion
- Reading: Policy Justification: Assignment Instructions
Module 4: Policy Implementation and Evaluation — Did It Work?
- Video: Program Evaluation Definition and Framework
- Video: Types of Program Evaluation
- Video: Research Designs and Concepts for Causal Inferences—Part 1
- Video: Research Designs and Concepts for Causal Inferences—Part 2
- Graded Assignment: Check Your Knowledge: Evaluation Steps
- Video: Program Evaluation Examples Part 1
- Video: Program Evaluation Examples Part 2
- Video: Implementation Evaluation: A Real Story
- Video: Real-World Examples of Experimental Design: Voter Information & Political Selection in India
- Graded Assignment: Check Your Knowledge: Evaluation Phase in the Policy Process
- Video: Using Research in the Policy Cycle
- Reading: Systematic Literature Reviews
- Discussion Prompt: Finding Policy Resources for Issues You Care About
- Video: Public Policy Evaluation: A Real Story
- Video: Finding Your Niche in Public Policy
- Discussion Prompt: What Excites You the Most?
- Reading: Week 4 Optional Readings & Resources
- Video: Public Policy Practitioners: Concluding Remarks
- Video: Public Policy for Social Change: Course Wrap-Up
- Reading: Post Course Survey
Grading Policy
Learners are assessed through weekly quizzes that evaluate understanding of public policy concepts and applications. Honors assignments are optional and may be completed to earn honors distinction but do not affect the overall grading weights. The course grade is based on four quizzes worth 25% each.
Course content developed by U-M faculty and managed by the university. Faculty titles and affiliations are updated periodically.
Beginner Level
No experience needed.
