Foundations of Public Policy and Urban Planning

Ever wonder how the rules that govern our cities and communities are made? Public policy is the framework that shapes everything from transportation systems to public health initiatives. Understanding this process is the first step to becoming an informed and engaged citizen. This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the world of public policy making. You will learn to navigate the entire policy lifecycle, from identifying a public problem and analyzing potential solutions to implementing and evaluating a policy's real-world impact. You'll gain the skills to critically assess policies and understand their effects on urban environments. What you'll learn: - Understand the core concepts, theories, and key actors in the public policy process. - Learn to define public problems and frame them effectively for policy analysis. - Practice analyzing policy alternatives using established frameworks and criteria. - Explore the challenges and strategies involved in putting new policies into action. - Master the fundamentals of policy evaluation to measure success and impact. - Apply policy principles to real-world urban challenges like housing, transportation, and sustainability. - Discover how data and evidence are used to inform modern policy-making decisions. The course starts with essential terminology and the stages of the policy cycle before moving into practical methods for analysis and evaluation, all grounded in examples from urban planning. It provides a structured path for understanding how decisions are made and how they shape our world. This course is designed for absolute beginners. No prior experience in political science, economics, or urban planning is required to get started. Begin your journey to understanding and shaping the policies that define our communities.