What is public policy?

Public policy is the system by which a government responds to issues in the world. A government uses the institutions at its disposal—lawmaking, regulations, the court system, and funding—to enact its public policy. Public policy also concerns itself with the evaluation and analysis of a government's actions by the press, academia, and political parties that are out of power. Governments create public policy by identifying issues and responding to them, and organizations and individuals can help shape the government's public policy. Policies can come from the highest levels of government, or they can originate in local jurisdictions.

Why is it important to study public policy?

At the most basic level, studying public policy can help you achieve a better grasp of what governments do and why they take such actions. The study of public policy also allows you to have a more informed role in helping shape public policy, whether you're doing so as part of your vocation or simply speaking out as a citizen. When you have a better knowledge of public policy, you can more easily understand the process that goes into making public policy decisions, whether or not you agree with those decisions.

What are typical careers that use knowledge of public policy?

Two of the most common career paths that you can undertake if you study public policy include lobbying lawmakers in the halls of government or studying and writing at a "think tank," or public policy organization. You can also find work in government organizations at the federal, state, or local level. Career opportunities within corporations working as liaisons between the company and government officials are options too. Other choices for public policy careers include teaching or researching at the university level and writing about public policy as a journalist or opinion writer.

How can online courses on Coursera help me learn public policy?

The online courses on Coursera can help you gain a thorough understanding of the principles that drive public policy and the applications of public policy in the world today. When you take online courses on Coursera you can learn the basics of public policy or study more specific topics like the effect of technology on public policy, the ramifications of tax law, or government health care policy.

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Public Policy

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274 results for "public policy"

Columbia University
Construction Project Management
Skills you'll gain: Project Management, Strategy and Operations, Leadership and Management, Operations Management, Change Management, Entrepreneurship, Planning, Supply Chain and Logistics, Collaboration, Communication, Contract Management, Design and Product, Finance, Innovation, Problem Solving, Product Design, Research and Design, Risk Management, Business Psychology
4.8
(5.8k reviews)
Beginner · Course · 1-3 Months
University of London
Cyber Security Fundamentals
Skills you'll gain: Security Engineering, Finance, Operating Systems, Risk Management, System Security, Algorithms, Computer Security Incident Management, Cryptography, Leadership and Management, Theoretical Computer Science, Application Development, Communication, Entrepreneurship, Journalism, Probability & Statistics, Sales, Software Architecture, Software Engineering
4.7
(60 reviews)
Beginner · Course · 1-4 Weeks
Free
Erasmus University Rotterdam
Cybersecurity in Healthcare (Hospitals & Care Centres)
Skills you'll gain: Security Engineering, Cyberattacks, System Security, Human Computer Interaction, Human Factors (Security), Leadership and Management, Security Strategy, Software Security, Business Psychology, Communication, Culture, Finance, Marketing, Regulations and Compliance, Social Media
4.6
(190 reviews)
Beginner · Course · 1-3 Months
Free
Northwestern University
Career 911: Your Future Job in Medicine and Healthcare
Skills you'll gain: Communication, Entrepreneurship, Leadership and Management, Research and Design, Business Analysis, Problem Solving, Software Engineering, Application Development, Computer Programming, Creativity, Data Analysis, Design and Product, Human Computer Interaction, Market Research, Professional Development, Software Testing, User Research
4.5
(128 reviews)
Mixed · Course · 1-3 Months
Free

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In summary, here are 10 of our most popular public policy courses

Positive Psychology: Martin E. P. Seligman’s Visionary Science: University of Pennsylvania
Construction Project Management: Columbia University
Cyber Security Fundamentals: University of London
Cybersecurity in Healthcare (Hospitals & Care Centres): Erasmus University Rotterdam
Multistate Taxation: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Living with Dementia: Impact on Individuals, Caregivers, Communities and Societies: Johns Hopkins University
Understanding Europe: Why It Matters and What It Can Offer You: HEC Paris
Being Smart about Cycling Futures: University of Amsterdam
Aromatherapy: Clinical Use of Essential Oils: University of Minnesota
Career 911: Your Future Job in Medicine and Healthcare: Northwestern University

Frequently Asked Questions about Public Policy

Public policy is the system by which a government responds to issues in the world. A government uses the institutions at its disposal—lawmaking, regulations, the court system, and funding—to enact its public policy. Public policy also concerns itself with the evaluation and analysis of a government's actions by the press, academia, and political parties that are out of power. Governments create public policy by identifying issues and responding to them, and organizations and individuals can help shape the government's public policy. Policies can come from the highest levels of government, or they can originate in local jurisdictions.‎
At the most basic level, studying public policy can help you achieve a better grasp of what governments do and why they take such actions. The study of public policy also allows you to have a more informed role in helping shape public policy, whether you're doing so as part of your vocation or simply speaking out as a citizen. When you have a better knowledge of public policy, you can more easily understand the process that goes into making public policy decisions, whether or not you agree with those decisions.‎
Two of the most common career paths that you can undertake if you study public policy include lobbying lawmakers in the halls of government or studying and writing at a "think tank," or public policy organization. You can also find work in government organizations at the federal, state, or local level. Career opportunities within corporations working as liaisons between the company and government officials are options too. Other choices for public policy careers include teaching or researching at the university level and writing about public policy as a journalist or opinion writer.‎
The online courses on Coursera can help you gain a thorough understanding of the principles that drive public policy and the applications of public policy in the world today. When you take online courses on Coursera you can learn the basics of public policy or study more specific topics like the effect of technology on public policy, the ramifications of tax law, or government health care policy.‎

This FAQ content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

Filter by

274 results for "public policy"

Positive Psychology: Martin E. P. Seligman’s Visionary Science

Construction Project Management

Cyber Security Fundamentals

Cybersecurity in Healthcare (Hospitals & Care Centres)

Multistate Taxation

Living with Dementia: Impact on Individuals, Caregivers, Communities and Societies

Understanding Europe: Why It Matters and What It Can Offer You

Being Smart about Cycling Futures

Aromatherapy: Clinical Use of Essential Oils

Career 911: Your Future Job in Medicine and Healthcare

Hot Topics in Criminal Justice

Electric Vehicles and Mobility

Searches related to public policy

In summary, here are 10 of our most popular public policy courses

Frequently Asked Questions about Public Policy

What is public policy?‎

Why is it important to study public policy?‎

What are typical careers that use knowledge of public policy?‎

How can online courses on Coursera help me learn public policy?‎

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Filter by

274 results for "public policy"

Searches related to public policy

In summary, here are 10 of our most popular public policy courses

Frequently Asked Questions about Public Policy

What is public policy?‎

Why is it important to study public policy?‎

What are typical careers that use knowledge of public policy?‎

How can online courses on Coursera help me learn public policy?‎

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