Big Data for Policy

• Aspiring data scientists and data analysts interested in public policy and social impact
• Policy analysts and public sector professionals who use data to inform decisions and evaluate outcomes
• Program evaluators, researchers, and social scientists seeking to strengthen their data analysis skills
• City, regional, and community planners who rely on data to guide planning and policy decisions
• Business and financial analysts interested in applying data science techniques to public policy and social challenges

• Big Data for Policy Certificate from Cornell’s Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy
• 96 Professional Development Hours (9.6 CEUs)

Data is transforming how governments, researchers, and organizations understand complex social challenges and evaluate public policy. In this certificate program, you will learn how to apply data science techniques to analyze issues such as income inequality, educational opportunity, public health, and criminal justice, using data to better understand these challenges and inform policy decisions.

Throughout the program, you will use the R programming language and the RStudio development environment to analyze real-world datasets, perform statistical analyses, and create data visualizations that communicate meaningful insights. Along the way, you'll examine how data can be used to measure inequality, evaluate policy outcomes, and identify patterns across economic, demographic, and social issues.

By the end of the program, you will be prepared to analyze large public datasets, communicate findings through data visualization, and apply data-driven insights to support policy analysis and decision making.

To be successful in this program, you should have access to a New York Times subscription.

You will have six months to complete the program, with the flexibility to progress at your own pace and finish sooner if your schedule allows.