The Andrew Young School’s Digital Landscape courses and certificate programs help policy and public management professionals harness the new digital and technological skills they need to serve and protect the public good. Informed by digital policy experts from around the country who gathered for the first Data Science for Public Service (DS4PS) Workshop, these programs will expand into new areas as need and demand grow.

The school has launched several new policy analytics courses taught by faculty and alumni who bring to the classroom their experiences in the field.

Introduction to Data Science for Economists

Learn to work with economic data and to ask and answer questions using data analysis software by using, manipulating and analyzing large data sets. This introductory course provides the foundations for careers in economic data analyses and other advanced quantitative pursuits.

Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics: Data Reasoning in the Digital Age

Taught by alumna Dawn Randolph (M.P.A. ’96), this course creates a solid foundation upon which to identify facts based on proven methodology and science. Understanding scientific methods and findings leads to reliable and sustainable answers to global problems and offers a better path to solutions.

Coding in R for Policy Analytics

Modern performance management and evaluation processes require strong data literacy and the ability to combine and analyze data from a variety of sources to inform managerial processes. This course introduces students to the field of data science and its applications in the public and nonprofit sectors, offering a practical, tools-based approach designed to build strong foundations for people that want to work as analysts, data-driven managers or data-driven journalists. It will cover data programming fundamentals, visualization, text analysis, automated reporting and dynamic reporting using dashboards.

Big Data for Public Good (CRJU 8900/ECON 8000/PMAP 8921)

Want to learn more about how big data intersects with public policy? This course provides students with exposure to the possibilities and limitations of data science and its applications to public problems. It explores best practices for using existing data assets of public organizations and innovative approaches to application development while ensuring commitment to the public values of access, equity, and sustainability. Students also will make connections with alumni and community members with careers in data analytics.

The course meets online on Tuesdays from 12:45-2:00pm during Fall 2021.

Leading Equity, Diversity & Inclusion in Organizations (PMAP 8921)

This course is designed to provide graduate-level students with the theoretical and experiential knowledge and skills necessary to successfully lead DEI efforts in their organizations. Guest lecturers from a variety of fields led by Dr. Sharon Hill, a clinical associate professor in the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, will show students how to analyze organizational approaches to leading DEI efforts and recommend strategies that will create more equitable experiences and outcomes.

Class begins Spring Semester 2022.

Data Visualization with R

This course shows how to use R, ggplot2 and the principles of graphic design to create beautiful and truthful visualizations of data.

Introductory Data Management and Analysis

Serving as a building block in applied economic and data analysis, this course is designed to show how to use and analyze data in an economics context and introduce students to software used to analyze data, such as Microsoft Excel and R.

Various academic unit and research centers in the Andrew Young School occasionally offer workshops and training. Interdisciplinary by its very nature, this training may also be offered through other Georgia State University partners. Some examples include:

• The Tech Tuesday Brown Bags series is designed for students by students to show the digital tools students and alumni of the Andrew Young School are using to improve services for citizens and the impact of digital technologies on our society. All programs are taped and available on the site.
• The Georgia Policy Labs (GPL) draws on the expertise of AYS faculty, researchers and GPL partners to provide provides virtual workshops for free on its website. Several workshops currently exist there on:
  • R Project for Statistical Computing
  • Python
• PIT-UN Data Literacy Workshops. Planned to begin in Fall 2021, the Georgia State Library will offer learning tools that may include learning modules, videos, and invited speakers on various topics – e.g., how data visualization, GIS and statistics are used in various disciplines and professions; discussions of the ethical implications of data science in various fields; and other vital topics.