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Course Description

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.

Faculty Author

Maria Fitzpatrick; Matthew Hall

Benefits to the Learner

  • Examine how data is used to compare income inequality and intergenerational mobility across race, ethnicity, gender, and geography
  • Analyze and visualize data to determine the impact of racial-ethnic segregation on education and neighborhood inequality
  • Use regression techniques to analyze the relationships among variables to measure the social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the effectiveness of government policies during this time period
  • Examine trends in crime and incarceration that inform criminal justice policy and analyze this data with statistical models that reduce bias

Target Audience

  • 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

Applies Towards the Following Certificates

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Type
Mentored Learning
Dates
Jul 16, 2026 to Dec 31, 2030
Total Number of Hours
96.0
Course Fee(s)
Standard Price $3,750.00

Section Notes

IMPORTANT COURSE INFORMATION

  • Your course access begins today! Get started at learn.ecornell.cornell.edu. You’ll have six months to complete the required elements, but this flexible program lets you finish sooner based on your schedule.
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