This course moves beyond the traditional economic approach to public policy and explores the role of psychological analysis. Decision-making is not always rational, but involves various cognitive biases that can result in mistrust and prejudice, preference for avoidance of loss rather than maximization of gain, and overweighting of short-term outcomes.

This course is intended for participants in the Undergraduate Student Opportunities in Academic Research (USOAR) program.

Social entrepreneurship is an approach to creating system-level change through the application of entrepreneurial thinking to social ventures, non-profit organizations, government institutions, and NGOs to create economic, environmental, and social value for multiple stakeholders. In this course you will be introduced to a range of entrepreneurial approaches aimed at solving social problems - from the non-profit to the for-profit.

"This course offers an exploration into the evolution of constitutional rights, liberties, and justice from 1953 to the present day, focusing on the tenures of Chief Justices Warren, Burger, Rehnquist, and Roberts. Emphasis is placed on landmark Supreme Court cases and the distinct personalities and leadership styles of the aforementioned Chief Justices. Students will examine the means by which the Constitution can be ""changed,"" such as through interpretation, convention, or societal shifts. By the end of the course, students should be able to critically engage with constitutional debates, understand the evolving nature of rights and liberties in the U.S., and appreciate the significance and power of the Supreme Court in shaping American society."

This course focuses on the basics of financial reporting, to include key vocabulary & concepts, emphasis on understanding direct impact of recording transactions on financial statements. Students will gain an understanding of how to read, interpret, & analyze the balance sheet, income statement, & statement of cash flows. Students will also be introduced to managerial decision making (fixed vs. variable costs).

Students will survey the main currents of US & international sustainability policy (air & water quality, endangered species protection, public land management, private land conservation), consider their origins in conservation thought, and learn to evaluate these policies via examples and assignments from current natural resource and environmental challenges. Students will learn about the actors and processes by which policy decisions are made.

Explore US mental health policy & analyze effectiveness of policies to address behavioral health needs. Examine how US Fed govt perceives mental illness, impact of science on policy initiatives & why US remains in state of crisis. Topics include: COVID, Social Determinants of Health, institutionalization vs community based svcs, impact of adverse childhood experiences, PTSD & military, brain science, financing mental health svcs & opioid crisis.

Introduction to core data science concepts and skills, including computing environments, visualization, modeling, and bias analysis. Think like a Data Scientist as you engage through lectures, discussions, labs, and guest talks while applying learning in a guided semester-long project. Concludes with an independent project to reinforce and extend skills.

In this class, students will learn to critically reflect on one's own situation and perspective in relations to one's expanding knowledge of other human experiences, seeking to cultivate a framework for informed reflection on human diversity and social complexity while developing empathy as a foundation for democratic citizenship.

In this class student will learn to describe, analyze, and create aesthetic phenomena, think critically about the nature of art and artistry, become aware of how aesthetic experience underlies social life and can frame our politics, reflect on the historical, geographical, and cultural differences that shape aesthetic expressions and hierarchies, and respond to and take stock of the moral and ethical capacities of the arts.