In their final year in the program students must submit a final project of professional quality on a topic in their area of specialization.

After identifying a faculty member whose research interests align with desired independent study topic, the student will work with faculty to create a course plan.

Three main objectives: to deepen students’ understanding of important issues and topics in the design of empirical research, to further develop students’ ability to critically evaluate research designs and policy-related products, and to aid in developing a research paper, dissertation, or other product.

Logic of designing research for the analysis of planning problems and the formulation of public policies. Elements of research design, case study, survey research, quasi-experimental designs, and the social experiment are covered.

This course provides an introduction to research design methods for planning and applied policy research. The design of a research endeavor is arguably the most important part of the investigation, together with what data is collected, how it is collected, and how the data are analyzed.

Applied work experience in a professional setting.

This course provides further applications of economic theory to public policy including risk and uncertainty, information economics, general equilibrium and welfare policy, externalities, public goods and taxation, and game theory.

The course will focus on environmental services related to: drinking Water, wastewater, storm-water, watershed protection, energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainability, and wetlands.

Basic theory, process, and techniques of public investment planning and decision making, involving synthesis of economic, political, and technologic aspects. Theory underlying benefit-cost analysis, adaptation to a descriptive and normative model for planning public projects and programs.

Water resources planning and management. Federal and state water resources policies. Analytical skills to identify environmental problems associated with urban water resources development.