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Working the Policy Ecosystem

90-897

Units: 6

Description

This course is designed to immerse you in the real-world process of policy development—where ideas are born, negotiated, and turned into action. Focusing on the federal level, you’ll learn both the theory and the practical mechanics behind how policy gets made, shaped, and implemented.

By the end of the course, you’ll know how to craft sharper policy proposals, design effective strategies to build support, and navigate the complex network of players that make up the policy ecosystem—from Capitol Hill to executive agencies, non-profits, and think tanks. You’ll also gain insight into where your skills and passions fit within that system, whether as a legislative staffer, policy advocate, or public servant.

Through hands-on exercises, you’ll produce rapid-response policy memos modeled on the fast-paced work of real policy professionals. You’ll brief your memos in class just as if you were advising a member of Congress, contributing to a federal agency, or shaping strategy for a non-profit or research organization.