Policy Analysis Mastery

This sequence equips undergraduate students with technical policy analysis skills, covering root cause analysis, criteria evaluation, cost-benefit analysis, and professional memo writing. Students transition from data interpretation to synthesizing evidence-based recommendations for decision-makers.

DEDr. Erick Clinton Lear

Root Cause and Evidence

Students distinguish symptoms from root causes using logic models and fishbone diagrams while practicing credible data sourcing from government and think tank repositories.

Alternatives and Matrices

Students learn to generate policy alternatives and evaluate them using a Criteria-Alternatives Matrix (CAM), balancing efficiency, equity, and political feasibility.

Cost Benefit Analysis

Students are introduced to the economic principles of Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA), exploring monetization of public goods, net present value, and the ethical dilemmas of the Statistical Value of Life.

The Policy Memo

Focusing on technical communication, students learn the anatomy of a professional policy memo, practicing executive summaries and concise argumentation for high-level decision-makers.

Peer Review Workshop

Students participate in a blind peer-review workshop, applying a professional rubric to refine their policy memos, tighten logic chains, and eliminate unnecessary jargon.