Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs is launching a new master of science in policy analytics, a STEM-designated program that prepares professionals to tackle complex policy challenges with effective, data-driven and responsible public policies.
Housed in the Public Administration and International Affairs Department, the 30-credit online program represents a first-of-its-kind integration of data analytics, behavioral insights, artificial intelligence, policy design and ethics within a single curriculum. It is designed for professionals and aspiring leaders across sectors who want to harness the power of data to improve lives and strengthen communities.
“This program reflects Maxwell’s commitment to preparing the next generation of policy leaders with the analytical tools and ethical grounding they need to make a real difference,” says Len Lopoo, associate dean, chair and professor of public administration and international affairs. “By combining technical rigor with behavioral science and a deep focus on responsible data use, we’re offering something no other program in the country provides.”
The M.S. in policy analytics trains graduates to assess the quality and limitations of data used in policy decision-making, evaluate the capabilities of different analytical techniques, anticipate the impacts of data-driven policy, harness the power of AI, and identify ethical challenges emerging from the use of data and AI in public life.
Students will build fluency in data analytics tools and generative AI platforms, gaining hands-on experience with the technologies reshaping how governments and organizations design and deliver programs.
The program’s core curriculum spans quantitative methods and data analytics, behavioral science, data visualization and decision-making, AI and policy design, program evaluation, and the ethics of data science—areas of growing demand across the public, nonprofit and private sectors. Its STEM designation signals the quantitative rigor that makes graduates competitive in a job market where STEM skills are greatly desired.
“What sets the program apart extends well beyond the curriculum,” says Saba Siddiki, professor of public administration and international affairs. “Not only will students build fluency in policy analytics tools and generative AI platforms, but they will do so by learning directly from Maxwell’s core faculty members.”
Using a flipped classroom model, students will engage with on-demand recorded lectures alongside live virtual weekly sessions, developing relationships with Maxwell’s award-winning professors who conduct cutting-edge research shaping the field. Students will also gain access to Maxwell’s network of more than 43,000 alumni working across government, policy and public service worldwide.
The program serves early-career and working professionals in government, nonprofit and private sector mission-driven roles, as well as recent graduates in social sciences, public policy, economics or data analytics. It is also built for career changers looking to pivot into the growing field of policy analytics, or those looking to enhance their skills for their current organization. Students can complete the degree over 20 or more months part-time, with fully online delivery designed for working professionals.
Graduates will be prepared for roles as policy analysts, behavioral scientists, program evaluators, public sector data analysts, public affairs consultants and research associates in government agencies, legislative offices, think tanks, consulting firms, nonprofits, advocacy organizations, and more.
With the launch of the M.S. in policy analytics, Maxwell deepens its long-standing mission to train leaders who combine technical expertise with public purpose, equipping them to use data, technology and behavioral insights responsibly to design effective policy and promote social welfare.
Learn more about the M.S. in policy analytics program at Maxwell.
Source: www.maxwell.syr.edu
