New laws and social programs are being created in the U.S. even as you read this course description. Was the law or program even necessary? Was sufficient effort put into analyzing the problem before a solution was determined? Was adequate input solicited from all stakeholders? Was the best choice picked from among many or was there only one “choice?” How do we know if the law or program works, and works well? And if it doesn’t work, do we know why not? Were there unintended consequences that need to be addressed? Can it be salvaged or reworked, or does it need to be scrapped and a new law or program put in its place? These and many questions like these are at the heart of program evaluation and policy analysis. When done correctly, we can increase accountability and effectiveness. If done poorly or not at all, we waste valuable resources. The purpose of this course is for students to learn the tools that are frequently used to determine whether public policies and programs are achieving their intended goals.
POL 218