Fall 2026 - 66019 - 388K - Advanced Topics in Public Policy

Almost 70% of today’s jobs require a college degree or postsecondary credential, yet barely half of Americans have any education beyond high school. This skills mismatch is rapidly expanding with the advancement of artificial intelligence. As AI reshapes jobs across the economy, many are wondering what jobs will remain and what skills will be needed to fill them. What should the public policy response be to this growing societal challenge?

This course examines that question in the context of workforce development policy, an interdisciplinary area of public policy at the intersection of education and the labor market. Students will build a foundational understanding of the current workforce preparation ecosystem and learn to critically evaluate workforce programs by examining historical policy responses to past technological and economic disruptions. Classes will use experiential, “learning by doing” approaches—a core component of workforce development policy—and will integrate the use of a range of AI tools.