Courses

POS 426

Spring 2006

Elements of Public Policy: Science & Technology Policy
Tuesday/Thursday, 3:15pm - 4:30pm

Coor L1-20

Professor: David Guston
 

COURSE CONTENT: This class examines the institutions and processes of public policy in the United States, with a focus on how those institutions operate for science and technology policy.  In particular, we will investigate public policy for nano-scale science and engineering (NSE, or nanotechnology) as a case in point.  The class will cover national legislative, executive, and bureaucratic policy making, state-level policy making, and policy processes like agenda-setting and framing, policy selection and choice, and policy implementation and evaluation.  Background in American government is helpful but not required.  Students with no familiarity with American government will likely have to perform supplementary reading.  Background in science is not required, and introductory texts to nanotechnology will be part of the assigned readings.  Students will be challenged with a number of individual writing assignments modeled after professional public policy writing activities, e.g., press releases, hearing testimony, issue briefs, position paper, etc.  The class will feature occasional guest speakers from different academic and public policy perspectives.