500

This course will research educational policies and their outcomes. The focus will be on how current and past policies affect student learning and how to use available resources in the most efficient way. It will discuss past experiences in public policies towards education, as well as contemporary ones, such as school vouchers and charter schools. Prerequisite(s): No prerequisites for graduate credit. For undergraduate credit, senior standing with at least six prior social science courses, or department approval. 3 semester hours or 5 quarter hours

This course is designed to provide the student with an understanding of the political process involved in policymaking, especially with regards to the legislative process. Students will learn how public policies are amended, modified, and approved during the political process. Awareness of how the differences between a proposed policy and its final version will be developed. Students will learn that the legislative approval process is an integral part of policymaking. Prerequisite(s): No prerequisites for graduate credit. For undergraduate credit, senior standing with at least six prior social science courses, or department approval. 3 semester hours or 5 quarter hours

This course introduces students to qualitative research methods essential to effective policy formation and evaluation. Students learn of various approaches to qualitative research including case study, narrative study, ethnography, grounded theory, and phenomenology. Topics include problem definition, research design, observation, interviews, content analysis, historical and archival research, and action research. Students will develop the skills necessary to design and conduct qualitative research and apply those skills is a study of their own design. Pre-requisite(s): LAS 500, LAS 502, LAS 505, LAS 510, LAS 565. Co-requisite(s): None. 3 semester hours