In recent years, the movement toward open data has made data sets available that have enormous potential value for policymakers, governments, and think tanks. But the ability to sift through all that data and analyze it in a way that is useful for organizations has lagged behind, leading to new staff roles for data analytics.

With the Certificate in Data Analytics, students will acquire sought-after skills in programming, manipulating data sets, and creating insightful visualizations. Students will also learn to harness the power of machine learning to optimize their analysis. Hands-on experience is key to the curriculum, and students will have the opportunity to work with real data sets to tackle important and current public policy questions.

Application Process

The certificate is open to any Harris student. Students should contact their academic advisor to indicate their intention to pursue this certificate.

Planning for the Certificate

For information on which quarter(s) each course will be offered see the Harris Courses page and filter by certificate. For courses offered by other divisions the typical quarter(s) offered has been indicated.

Certificate Requirements

The Certificate in Data Analytics for Public Policy will be awarded to students who complete the following 3 courses (to be taken in a sequence)

• Introduction to Programming for Public Policy (PPHA 30550)
• Data Skills for Public Policy (PPHA 30531)
• Machine Learning (PPHA 30545)

And at least one of the following:

• PPHA 34600 Program Evaluation
• PPHA 41400 Applied Regression Analysis
• PPHA 38820 Machine Learning and Policy
• PPHA 42000 Applied Econometrics I
• PPHA 42100 Applied Econometrics II
• Policy Labs projects, with permission of certificate head

Students must pass the three required courses and the elective with a grade of at least a B–, without the option of pass/fail.

Consider a Policy Lab As Well

Harris Policy Labs can be an excellent complement to certificates. Certificate programs allow students to specialize in particular areas of inquiry, while Policy Labs allow students to apply their knowledge to real world policy challenges for actual client organizations.

Descriptions of Policy Labs projects for the current academic year are available in the Current Student portal. Please consult with Policy Labs staff, or the certificate program director, to see which one is right for you.