This Social Policy Analysis and Advocacy course is designed for master’s-level graduate students, offering an advanced, interdisciplinary exploration of policy theory, research methods, and strategic advocacy. Emphasizing both normative frameworks and practical applications, the curriculum integrates historical perspectives on welfare, rigorous analytic models, and contemporary approaches to equity and social justice. Students will engage with quantitative and qualitative research designs, stakeholder mapping, coalition-building, and communication strategies to influence policy across local, national, and global contexts. Through case studies, participatory exercises, and applied projects, learners will develop the skills necessary to design, implement, and evaluate social policies that address systemic disparities and foster sustainable reform. By the end of the course, graduates will be equipped to lead evidence-based advocacy initiatives that align with democratic principles and advance the public good.
Key Points Covered in the Course
- Foundations and Principles of Social Policy
This module examines the historical evolution of social welfare systems and the core principles—equity, universality, subsidiarity, and rights and responsibilities—that underpin policy design. Learners analyze landmark reforms and ideological shifts from early charitable aid through modern welfare states to neoliberal adjustments. Emphasis on normative values equips students to critically assess existing programs and articulate principled policy alternatives. - Policy Process and Analytic Frameworks
Students explore the policy cycle—agenda setting, formulation, adoption, implementation, evaluation, and feedback—and apply seven major analytic models, including rational choice, institutional analysis, advocacy coalition, and systems thinking. This segment cultivates the ability to select and adapt frameworks appropriate to diverse policy challenges, anticipate stakeholder behavior, and identify leverage points for change. - Research Methods and Evidence-Based Decision-Making
This component addresses advanced quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods designs tailored for policy evaluation, including randomized control trials, ethnographic studies, and big-data analytics. Attention to validity, reliability, ethics, and utilization-focused evaluation ensures that students can generate credible evidence to inform policy recommendations and foster accountability. - Equity, Intersectionality, and Justice in Policy Design
Focusing on distributive, procedural, and recognition justice, this section integrates equity impact assessments and intersectional analysis to address systemic disparities across race, gender, class, and ability. Participatory design methodologies and targeted universalism frameworks enable students to co-create inclusive policies and anticipate distributional effects, reinforcing democratic engagement and social empowerment. - Strategic Advocacy: Stakeholders, Coalitions, and Communication
Learners develop skills in stakeholder mapping, power/interest analysis, grassroots mobilization, coalition governance, and legislative lobbying. Emphasis on media framing, message segmentation, and crisis communication equips students to craft persuasive narratives across platforms. Applied exercises in coalition building and digital outreach prepare graduates to mobilize diverse actors and sustain reform campaigns effectively. - Monitoring, Evaluation, and Sustainable Reform
This final module integrates monitoring frameworks, formative and summative evaluations, and impact assessments to measure policy outcomes and guide iterative improvements. Students design M&E systems with SMART indicators, data quality protocols, and utilization-focused practices. Strategic planning for leadership succession, resource mobilization, and adaptive governance ensures that advocacy efforts translate into enduring policy impact.