PLCY388A: Special Topics in Public Policy- Child and Family Policy Impact
Also offered as FMSC498P. Credit only granted for PLCY388A or FMSC498P.
For poor and low-income families, federal programs such as Medicaid, Child care, SNAP and child nutrition programs are a lifeline every day. Some programs also have policies that consider more than income eligibility, such as number of hours of work, disability, and immigration status. Budget choices have a significant impact on policy intentions. Students will learn about and analyze the major federal programs and federal budgets for these policy areas; understand from data the impact of such programs and policies; and be introduced to significant advocacy efforts and considerations that shaped these policy decisions.
For poor and low-income families, federal programs such as Medicaid, Child care, SNAP and child nutrition programs are a lifeline every day. Some programs also have policies that consider more than income eligibility, such as number of hours of work, disability, and immigration status. Budget choices have a significant impact on policy intentions. Students will learn about and analyze the major federal programs and federal budgets for these policy areas; understand from data the impact of such programs and policies; and be introduced to significant advocacy efforts and considerations that shaped these policy decisions.
PLCY401: Contemporary Issues in Public Policy- Modern Warfare: Origins, Current Landscape, and Policy Debates
An integrative course that allows policy students to explore the complexities of the policy-making process from the perspective of specific policy topics. Students will learn about and discuss subject- based issues in a seminar format led by faculty and policy experts.
This course examines the history, debates, and policies that make up modern warfare. We discuss the reasons nations go to war including national strategy, law of war and just war theory, along with economic and domestic political incentives. With this foundation, we survey the various types of warfare conducted in the modern age in the form of terrorism, cyber war, intelligence activities, irregular warfare, full-spectrum military operations, special operations, covert action, peace-keeping and defense support to civil authorities. We will examine several in-depth case studies including Desert Storm, Bosnia-Kosovo, the second Iraq war, Afghanistan and the role of military in disaster relief. Throughout, we will discuss how to use lessons learned from these past experiences to shape current policy decisions. At the conclusion of the class students will have a better understanding of the reasons nations go to war, the legal, financial, ethical and political nature of war, and the challenging policy decisions involved when national leaders move their countries to engage in modern warfare.
