teaching
Courses Offered - Fall 2011
Children in Contemporary Society
CCS 150.01/PubPol 124.01
Clara Muschkin, Assistant Research Professor of Public Policy
TuTh, 10:05 am-11:20 am
What does it mean to be a child in the 21st century? Using an interdisciplinary approach, this course provides an overview of issues facing today’s youth, from childhood through adolescence. We will begin by exploring social forces that shape the definition of childhood across place and time, and review how different disciplines study children. We will then consider the many social contexts of childhood, including the family, schools, the economy, the media, and the dynamics of race and gender. One of the objectives of this course is to gain an understanding of issues of childhood adversity - including poverty, violence, delinquency, and health inequities—and how some public policies are addressing these issues. This course is required for students working on the Children in Contemporary Society certificate.
Youth, Crime and Public Policy
CCS 49S.01/PubPol 49S.01
Joel Rosch, Senior Research Scholar
MW 4:25 - 5:40 pm
First-year seminar for students interested in learning more about public policies dealing with crimes committed by young people. This course uses the issue of crime to introduce students to the variety of issues involved in child and family policy. Students will learn about juvenile crime, the criminal justice system, how public policy is made, what different kinds of research tell us about juvenile crime, and the role of research in the policy making process. Students also learn about: 1) how juvenile crime policy is impacted by different kinds of societal values; 2) how the nature and “causes” of criminal behaviors are understood; and 3) the kinds of resources and technologies different societies have at their disposal.
Making Social Policy
PubPol 234S.01/CCS 270S.01/SOC 234S.01
Jenni Owen, Lecturer and Associate Director for Policy and Translation
TuTh 11:40 am - 12:55 pm
Looking at a range of social policy issues, this course focuses on 1) the policymaking process; 2) the role of different sectors in policymaking (public, non-profit, etc.); 3) when and why policymakers use research – and when and why they don’t; and 4) communicating with policymakers. The course exposes students to current social policy challenges stemming from health and human services, education, and other domains. Readings include research, policy, and practice articles and analyses from multiple disciplines. Experiential and written exercises will help students develop skills for using research to inform policy and practice. The course includes visits from policymakers and visits to policymaking “events;” student work that combines policy and research considerations; and the potential for students to contribute useable insights to policymakers and others. Students will learn about the value of research in informing policy and the constraints within which policymaking occurs. Students will complete independent and group assignments that combine their knowledge from the readings with their observations of “live” policy events.