The scientific evaluation of policy has long been a strength of the Harris School faculty. This Policy Analysis certificate is designed to make students facile with modern methods of evaluating public policies, and enable them to determine whether these policies meet cost-benefit criteria.

Students who complete this certificate will be able to:

• Understand and analyze evaluations from experts

• Conduct evaluation methods using standard, appropriate methodologies

• Communicate findings of evaluations to lay audiences

• Demonstrate these skills in a Policy Lab

Application Process

The certificate is open to any University of Chicago graduate student. Harris students please indicate your intent to pursue this certificate using the Harris Certificate Application Form during the application period open in October and June of each academic year. If you are a non-Harris student and intend to complete the requirements for the Policy Analysis certificate please submit the Harris Certificate Application for Non-Harris Students to indicate you are pursuing 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 requires completion of three required courses. Students must take either Program Evaluation or Cost Benefit Analysis before enrolling in the Policy Lab. No certificate courses may be taken pass/fail. 

Required courses

• PPHA 34600 Program Evaluation (Any Program Evaluation Section)
• PPHA 41300 Cost-Benefit Analysis
• PPHA 60000 Policy Lab (Any Policy Lab)