Course Review: Using Public Policy for Social Change by University of Michigan (Coursera)
Learn how public policy works and how it can solve social problems. Explore policy design, analysis, and advocacy to drive real social change.
Instructor: Paula Lantz
Course Overview
Using Public Policy for Social Change is a beginner-friendly course that explains how public policy works in real life. It shows how laws, programs, and decisions shape society. The course focuses on fairness, access, and social justice. It is taught by Paula Lantz from the University of Michigan. You will learn each step of the policy-making cycle, from defining a problem to testing results. The course covers issue framing, agenda setting, policy design, and evaluation. Real examples come from health, education, welfare, the environment, and criminal justice. Lessons are clear, practical, and easy to follow. This course is ideal for students, activists, and early-career professionals. No prior policy knowledge is needed. In one flexible week, you gain skills in analysis, problem solving, and advocacy. It helps you see how your ideas can support real social change.
Duration: 1 week. The course takes about 10 hours to finish. You can study at your own pace.
Modules: 4 modules. Each module covers one key step of the policy process. Lessons are short and clear.
Tutor: Paula Lantz. She teaches public policy at the University of Michigan. Her focus is social change.
Pros & Cons
👍Pros
- Clear and simple lessons make policy easy to understand.
- Strong focus on real social issues and fairness.
- Short duration fits busy schedules well.
👎Cons
- Too basic for advanced policy professionals.
- Limited hands-on projects or case work.
- Focuses more on theory than deep data analysis.
🧑🎓 Who is This Course Best For?
This course is ideal for anyone who wants to understand how public policy works and how it can create social change. It helps learners build skills in policy analysis, advocacy, and problem solving while exploring real-world social issues. The content is beginner-friendly and practical, making it easy to apply what you learn in work or community projects.
- Students studying social sciences: Gain a clear view of how policies shape society. Learn concepts that support coursework and research projects.
- Early-career professionals: Build foundational knowledge in public policy. Enhance decision-making and advocacy skills in your job.
- Community organizers and activists: Learn to frame issues and influence policy. Strengthen advocacy efforts for social causes.
- Nonprofit workers: Understand government processes and program design. Apply knowledge to improve services and outcomes.
- Policy enthusiasts: Explore topics like social welfare, public health, and education. Gain insight into how governments address inequality.
- Career changers: Acquire skills to enter policy, public administration, or social work fields. Build confidence to engage with policy-making processes.
- Volunteers and civic leaders: Learn strategies to influence local and national policies. Understand evaluation and impact of social initiatives.
- Educators and trainers: Apply policy knowledge to curriculum, workshops, or community programs. Inspire learners with real-world examples.
📘 What You’ll Learn
In this course, you will gain a clear understanding of how public policy shapes society and impacts social change. You will learn to follow each step of the policy-making cycle, from defining problems to evaluating results. The lessons show how policy works in areas like health, education, welfare, and the environment. You will also explore the role of advocacy and learn how to use your skills to influence decision-making and create positive outcomes. By the end, you will be able to analyze issues, design solutions, and take practical steps to support fairness and equality in your community.
- Identify and define each stage of the public policy-making process.
- Analyze social issues from a policy perspective.
- Understand the role of advocacy in shaping policy decisions.
- Frame issues clearly and set policy agendas.
- Design effective policies to address social challenges.
- Implement and evaluate policies to measure impact.
- Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills for real-world policy work.
- Apply knowledge to social welfare, public health, education, environment, and criminal justice issues.
- Gain practical skills for community engagement and policy advocacy.
❓FAQs
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