- Type Certification
- Level Intermediate
- Time Days
- Cost Paid
Certificate in Science and Technology Policy, Program Evaluation, and Analysis
Issued by
Science and Technology Policy Academy
Individuals who receive this certificate have completed four classes at the Science and Technology Policy Academy. These classes provided an overview of science and technology policy at the local, state, national, and international level and provided practical skills in policy analysis, benefit-cost analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis, cost-utility analysis, risk analysis, prince analysis, and program evaluation.
- Type Certification
- Level Intermediate
- Time Days
- Cost Paid
Skills
Earning Criteria
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Science & Technology Policy History and Organization: Overview of the history and organization of science and technology policy in the United States including the role of the White House, Congress, and federal agencies.
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Policy Analysis: Students learn what policy analysis is and why it is important, so they can participate more actively and with greater impact in dialogues about public policy during meetings with policymakers. They develop a better understanding of the core information of most interest to policymakers to enhance their foundation for discussions and written and visual policy communication products such as policy briefs infographics, policy memos, and white papers.
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Communicating to Policymakers and the Public: The scientist-engineer-health professional policymaker communications dynamic, communicating your message to policymakers, communicating your message to the public.
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Students apply an eight-step process for public policy analysis (a slight modification of Bardach’s Practical Guide to Policy Analysis) to an unstructured societal challenge. This includes identifying the audience for their analysis, the policy question, policy option development, and criteria to provide a neutral assessment of their policy options plus the status quo. They then project the outcomes, confront the tradeoffs, and identify and communicate their recommendation to policymakers.
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Students learn the principles of each of the following methods and apply them to a societal problem of their choice. Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) is used to provide information to support the "efficiency" portion of the 4E's of public policy analysis (effectiveness, efficiency, equity, and ease of political acceptability.) Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) is a partner to BCA focusing on health policy. Risk analysis is used to assess "equity" -- when a policy helping one group may harm another.
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Students learn the principle of program evaluation and apply it to the program of their choice. That is, what is the current program and how well does it work according to the 4E's: effectiveness, efficiency, equity, and ease of political acceptability. Based on this information, students can develop policy options to respond to what does not work well in the current program while maintaining those elements that do work well relative to the desired societal outcome.