Columbia University in the City of New York · Courses
GAPP IA
6 courses with the subject GAPP IA, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
GAPP IA2100Contemporary Debates in Global Affairs and Public Policy3.00
This course examines many of the central concepts, theories, and analytical tools used in contemporary social science to understand and explain international affairs and public policy. The theoretical literature is drawn from different fields in the social sciences, including comparative politics, international relations, political sociology, psychology, and economics. The course is designed to enhance students' abilities to think critically and analytically about current problems and challenges in international politics, and the decision making processes for addressing them
GAPP IA2150Policymaking: Politics, Ethics, and Communication3.00
This course examines how public policy is developed, debated, and implemented, with a focus on political institutions, ethical considerations, and effective communication. Students explore how policymakers navigate competing interests, institutional constraints, and moral dilemmas in designing and advancing policy solutions. The course emphasizes practical skills in policy analysis, including problem definition, evaluation of policy alternatives, stakeholder and institutional analysis, and strategic communication. Students produce professional policy writing, including memos and op-eds, and engage in discussion and critique of policy proposals. By integrating political, ethical, and analytical perspectives, the course prepares students to participate effectively in the policymaking process
GAPP IA2200Intro to Quantitative Analysis for Global Affairs and Public Policy3.00
This course provides an introduction to statistical methods for analyzing data in global affairs and public policy. Students learn how to summarize and visualize data, understand probability and sampling, and conduct basic statistical inference, including hypothesis testing and regression analysis. Using real-world datasets and applied examples, the course builds practical skills in interpreting quantitative evidence and assessing how data inform policy debates and decisions. No prior background in statistics is required. Emphasis is placed on developing confidence in quantitative reasoning and the ability to critically evaluate empirical claims in policy contexts
GAPP IA2250Analytical Tools for Global Affairs and Public Policy3.00
This course introduces the core research methods used in the study of global affairs and public policy, including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods approaches. Students learn how to design research, collect and analyze data, and evaluate evidence across a range of methodologies such as case studies, interviews, surveys, and basic statistical analysis. The course emphasizes how different methods can be combined to address complex policy questions. Students develop the ability to critically assess research and design feasible research proposals that integrate multiple forms of evidence. By the end of the course, students are equipped with foundational tools for rigorous analysis and evidence-based policymaking
The Policy Practicum Preparatory Seminar is the first course in a required two-course sequence for the Global Affairs and Public Policy (GAPP) major. Offered in the fall semester, this seminar prepares students for the spring Policy Practicum by introducing the objectives, expectations, and professional skills needed to complete a client-based policy consulting project. Working in teams under the guidance of a faculty advisor, students develop the foundation for their Practicum project through project planning, client engagement, and team management. Students are introduced to their client organization and faculty advisor, establish team roles and norms, design a preliminary project methodology, and develop a detailed work plan that outlines project objectives, research strategies, deliverables, milestones, and timelines. The seminar also provides training in project management, professional communication, and collaborative problem solving. Students are evaluated on their participation and the successful development of a comprehensive project work plan that clearly defines the project's objectives, methodology, division of responsibilities, operational roles, and implementation timeline in preparation for the spring Policy Practicum
GAPP IA3999Policy Practicum in Global Affairs and Public Policy3.00
The Policy Practicum is the culminating academic experience for students in the Global Affairs and Public Policy (GAPP) major. Working in small teams under the guidance of a faculty advisor and in collaboration with an external organization, students apply the knowledge and analytical skills developed throughout the major to address a contemporary public policy or management challenge. Through interdisciplinary research, qualitative and quantitative analysis, and engagement with practitioners, students develop evidence-based policy recommendations that respond to the needs of their partner organization. The course emphasizes critical thinking, collaborative problem solving, research design, professional communication, and ethical engagement while providing students with the opportunity to integrate theory and practice in a substantial applied policy project
