printer friendly pagePUBLPOL 141: Monitoring the Crisis (PSYCH 145A, SOC 141, SOC 241, URBANST 149)
A course devoted to understanding how people are faring as the country's health and economic crisis unfolds. The premise of the course is that, as important and valuable as surveys are, it's a capital mistake to presume that we know what needs to be asked and that fixed-response answers adequately convey the depth of what's happening. We introduce a new type of qualitative method that allows for discovery by capturing the voices of the people, learn what they're thinking and fearing, and understand the decisions they're making. Students are trained in immersive interviewing by completing actual interviews, coding and analyzing their field notes, and then writing reports describing what's happening across the country. These reports will be designed to find out who's hurting, why they're hurting, and how we can better respond to the crisis. Students interested should submit the following application:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfdOZsnpOCg4zTRbVny0ikxpZEd1AFEEJh3K9KjvINyfbWMGw/viewformnnThe course is open to students who have taken it in earlier quarters, with repeating students allowed to omit the training sessions and, in lieu of those sessions, complete additional field work and writing. Field work will include unique interviews with new participants each lab period, along with corresponding coding, analyses, and reports.
Last offered: Winter 2021
| UG Reqs: WAY-EDP, WAY-SI
| Repeatable
2 times
(up to 10 units total)
PUBLPOL 154: Politics and Policy in California
State politics and policy making, including the roles of the legislature, legislative leadership, governor, special interests, campaign finance, advocacy groups, ballot initiatives, state and federal laws, media, and research organizations. Case studies involving budgets, education, pensions, health care, political reform, environmental reforms, water, transportation and more. Evaluation of political actions, both inside and outside of government, that can affect California policy and social outcomes. Meetings with elected officials, policymakers, and advocates in class and during a day-long field trip to Sacramento, assuming no COVID or related restrictions.
Terms: Win
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: WAY-SI
PUBLPOL 155: Solving Social Problems with Data (COMM 140X, DATASCI 154, EARTHSYS 153, ECON 163, MS&E 134, POLISCI 154, SOC 127)
Introduces students to the interdisciplinary intersection of data science and the social sciences through an in-depth examination of contemporary social problems. Provides a foundational skill set for solving social problems with data including quantitative analysis, modeling approaches from the social sciences and engineering, and coding skills for working directly with big data. Students will also consider the ethical dimensions of working with data and learn strategies for translating quantitative results into actionable policies and recommendations. Lectures will introduce students to the methods of data science and social science and apply these frameworks to critical 21st century challenges, including education & inequality, political polarization, and health equity & algorithmic design in the fall quarter, and social media, climate change, and school choice & segregation in the spring quarter. In-class exercises and problem sets will provide students with the opportunity to use
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Introduces students to the interdisciplinary intersection of data science and the social sciences through an in-depth examination of contemporary social problems. Provides a foundational skill set for solving social problems with data including quantitative analysis, modeling approaches from the social sciences and engineering, and coding skills for working directly with big data. Students will also consider the ethical dimensions of working with data and learn strategies for translating quantitative results into actionable policies and recommendations. Lectures will introduce students to the methods of data science and social science and apply these frameworks to critical 21st century challenges, including education & inequality, political polarization, and health equity & algorithmic design in the fall quarter, and social media, climate change, and school choice & segregation in the spring quarter. In-class exercises and problem sets will provide students with the opportunity to use real-world datasets to discover meaningful insights for policymakers and communities. This course is the required gateway course for the new major in Data Science & Social Systems. Preference given to Data Science & Social Systems B.A. majors and prospective majors. Course material and presentation will be at an introductory level. Enrollment and participation in one discussion section is required. Sign up for the discussion section will occur on Canvas at the start of the quarter. Prerequisites:
CS106A (required),
DATASCI 112 (recommended as pre or corequisite). Limited enrollment. Please complete the interest form here:
https://forms.gle/8ui9RPgzxjGxJ9k29. A permission code will be given to admitted students to register for the class.
Terms: Aut, Spr
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: WAY-AQR, WAY-SI
Instructors:
Nobles, M. (PI)
;
Weinstein, J. (PI)
;
Castro Pena, D. (TA)
...
more instructors for PUBLPOL 155 »
Instructors:
Nobles, M. (PI)
;
Weinstein, J. (PI)
;
Castro Pena, D. (TA)
;
Charmot, S. (TA)
;
Dann, C. (TA)
;
Ma, S. (TA)
;
Ross, D. (TA)
;
Upadhyay, R. (TA)
;
Vasilenok, N. (TA)
PUBLPOL 156: Health Care Policy and Reform (HUMBIO 122A)
Focuses on U.S. health care policy. Includes comparisons with health care policy in other countries and detailed examinations of Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and proposed reforms. Examines health policy efforts at state and local levels. The course includes sessions on effective memo writing as well as presentation and the politics of health policy and reform efforts. HUMBIO students must enroll in
HUMBIO 122A. Graduate students must enroll in
PUBLPOL 156. **Enrollment will be decided via application. Applications will open on Aug. 30 at 6:00 p.m. and close on Sept. 6 at 5 p.m. To apply, visit
https://forms.gle/thzX6CYjvRvaz5Ra8 **
Terms: Aut
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: WAY-SI
PUBLPOL 163: Land Use: Planning for Sustainable Cities (AMSTUD 163, EARTHSYS 168, URBANST 163)
Through case studies with a focus on the San Francisco Bay Area, guest speakers, selective readings and interactive assignments, this survey course seeks to demystify the concept of land use for the non-city planner. This introductory course will review the history and trends of land use policies, as well as address a number of current themes to demonstrate the power and importance of land use. Students will explore how urban areas function, how stakeholders influence land use choices, and how land use decisions contribute to positive and negative outcomes. By exploring the contemporary history of land use in the United States, students will learn how land use has been used as a tool for discriminatory practices and NIMBYism. Students will also learn about current land use planning efforts that seek to make cities more sustainable, resilient and equitable to address issues like gentrification, affordable housing, and sea level rise.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-SocSci, WAY-SI
Instructors:
Rich, D. (PI)
;
von Borck, J. (PI)
PUBLPOL 164: The Psychology of Communication About Politics in America (COMM 164, COMM 264, POLISCI 124L, POLISCI 324L, PSYCH 170)
Focus is on how politicians and government learn what Americans want and how the public's preferences shape government action; how surveys measure beliefs, preferences, and experiences; how poll results are criticized and interpreted; how conflict between polls is viewed by the public; how accurate surveys are and when they are accurate; how to conduct survey research to produce accurate measurements; designing questionnaires that people can understand and use comfortably; how question wording can manipulate poll results; corruption in survey research.
Terms: Win
| Units: 4-5
| UG Reqs: WAY-SI
Instructors:
Krosnick, J. (PI)
;
Dalton, M. (TA)
PUBLPOL 165: How Cities Can Save the World (URBANST 166)
In our cities, we find the greatest concentrations of the world's great problems - poverty, homelessness, violent crime, and GHG emissions, to name a few. So too, cities present many of the most innovative, impactful solutions to these challenges. In this seminar, we'll look at three great challenges that confront Americans - the dearth of affordable housing, the growing impacts of climate change, and violent crime - in the urban context. We'll explore the legal, fiscal, and political limitations that constrain the terrain of local policymaking, and we will assess best practices among cities for enacting meaningful change within that landscape. Readings and discussion will overwhelmingly focus on U.S. cities, but we will consider a few examples from abroad as well. We will seek to move beyond familiar ideological battles to emphasize outcomes, evidence-based solutions, and analytical rigor. From contemporary academic studies and journals, news articles, case law, and guest speakers, students will gain an appreciation for cities as policy laboratories for pragmatic solutions that often elude binary labelling as "progressive" or "conservative." Students will be better prepared to understand and engage in cities as civic leaders, legal advisors or adversaries, participants in economic transactions, and constituents. This class is limited to 25 students, with an effort made to have students from SLS (15 by lottery) and 10 non-law students by consent of the instructor. Admitted non-law students should forward instructor consent to Grete Howland greteh@stanford.edu for a permission number to enroll in
PUBLPOL 165 or Sonia Chan Schan23@stanford.edu to enroll in
URBANST 166. Elements used in grading: Class Participation, Written Assignments, and Final Paper. Cross-listed with Law School (
LAW 7119) and Urban Studies (
URBANST 166).
Last offered: Spring 2023
| UG Reqs: WAY-SI
PUBLPOL 174: The Urban Economy (URBANST 173)
Applies the principles of economic analysis to historical and contemporary urban and regional development issues and policies. Explores themes of urban economic geography, location decision-making by firms and individuals, urban land and housing markets, and local government finance. Critically evaluates historical and contemporary government policies regulating urban land use, housing, employment development, and transportation. Thematic focus on impacts of the pandemic and long-term work-from-home employment patterns on urban form, density, and fiscal policies.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: WAY-SI
Instructors:
Wolfe, M. (PI)
PUBLPOL 178: The Science and Practice of Effective Advocacy (CSRE 178P, URBANST 178)
How can purposeful collective action change government policy, business practices and cultural norms? This course will teach students about the components of successful change campaigns and help develop the practical skills to carry out such efforts. The concepts taught will be relevant to both issue advocacy and electoral campaigns, and be evidence-based, drawing on lessons from social psychology, political science, communications, community organizing and social movements. The course will meet twice-a-week for 90 minutes, and class time will combine engaged learning exercises, discussions and lectures. There will be a midterm and final. Students will be able to take the course for 3 or 5 units. Students who take the course for 5 units will participate in an advocacy project with an outside organization during the quarter, attend a related section meeting and write reflections. For 5 unit students, the section meeting is on Tuesdays, from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Last offered: Spring 2020
| UG Reqs: WAY-SI
PUBLPOL 183: Human and Planetary Health (MED 103, SOC 103, SUSTAIN 103)
Two of the biggest challenges humanity has to face ? promoting human health and halting environmental degradation ? are strongly linked. Gains in health metrics in the last century have coincided with dramatic and unsustainable planetary-level degradation of environmental and ecological systems. Now, climate change, pollution, and other challenges are threatening the health and survival of communities across the globe. In acknowledging complex interconnections between environment and health, this course highlights how we must use an interdisciplinary approach and systems thinking to develop comprehensive solutions. Through a survey of human & planetary health topics that engages guest speakers across Stanford and beyond, students will develop an understanding of interconnected environmental and health challenges, priority areas of action, and channels for impact. Students enrolling in just the lecture should enroll for 3 units. Students enrolling the lecture and weekly discussion sections should enroll for 4 units.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 3-4
| UG Reqs: WAY-SI, WAY-SMA
Instructors:
Abid, A. (PI)
;
Burke, K. (PI)
;
De Leo, G. (PI)
...
more instructors for PUBLPOL 183 »
Instructors:
Abid, A. (PI)
;
Burke, K. (PI)
;
De Leo, G. (PI)
;
Luby, S. (PI)
;
Veidis, E. (PI)
;
Abid, A. (TA)
;
Gomez, L. (TA)
;
Lieu, B. (TA)
;
Martins, K. (TA)
;
Miller, R. (TA)
;
Spencer, R. (TA)
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