PAM 2070 Big Data for Big Policy Problems

Course description

This course is an introductory overview of new innovations in data science, management, and programming, with accessible applications to a dynamic set of the most pressing social policy issues. Each semester, we will cover rotating topical modules ranging from income inequality to education to climate change to diversity and nativism to health. Students will learn about important policy issues through both the economics and sociological lenses, how big data are being used to address policy problems, and technical skills for how to begin using data in similar ways to address policy problems.

Outcome 1: Understand data sourcing, assembling, cleaning and management.

Outcome 2: Describe univariate and multivariate data distributions.

Outcome 3: Visualize data in spatial and temporal expressions.

Outcome 4: Conduct evaluations of big data for policy-relevant questions.

Outcome 5: Critique approaches to computational techniques.

Previously offered classes