PUBPOL-901
CHOICE AND PUBLIC POLICY
Offered Fall 2026
Term
Overview
Feedback is mostly positive. The strongest signal is that discussion is a clear strength. Best for students who will actually talk in class instead of sitting silent. The sample is still thin, so treat this as directional rather than definitive.
DepartmentPPS
Terms offeredFall
Typical enrollment10–10
Semesters of data1
6.5
Hrs / week
6
Responses
10
Enrollment
60%
Response Rate
Evaluation Scores
Overall quality
Teaching, content, and experience combined.
4.0
Intellectually stimulating
Challenges students to think deeply.
4.2
Instructor effectiveness
Explains concepts and facilitates learning.
4.3
Difficulty
Higher means harder.
3.2
Feedback Analysis
Feedback Analysislow
Analysis based on student evaluations
Based on 13 comments across 1 sections
Feedback is mostly positive. The strongest signal is that discussion is a clear strength. Best for students who will actually talk in class instead of sitting silent. The sample is still thin, so treat this as directional rather than definitive.
Student Reports
How hard is the A?
A is doable but not automatic
The signal here is more do-the-work-and-you-should-be-fine than easy-A chatter. Students do not describe the A as automatic, but the evidence also does not paint grading as punishing.
Homework Load
Moderate homework load
Homework load looks moderate. The recurring signal is steady weekly work, but not a course that turns every assignment into a grind.
Lecture Load
Lighter lecture burden
Student comments describe this as more discussion-, seminar-, or workshop-driven than lecture-dependent. The lecture burden itself does not sound like the main source of friction.
Student Responses
- start to think about research interest during this class - interactions of different actors: markets / communities / governments - Psychology perspectives
Fall 2025 · Pfaff, Alex
Broader understanding of diverse aspects of policy research across economics, political science, and sociology through engaging readings. Stronger critical thinking skills through in-class discussions and thought-provoking questions. Practiced academic writing.
Fall 2025 · Pfaff, Alex
critical thinking. Tragedy of common goods. Market choice.
Fall 2025 · Pfaff, Alex
1. An economic way of thinking. 2. How to critically engage with peers' research. 3. How to effectively communicate understandings from literature.
Fall 2025 · Pfaff, Alex
Rating History
Rating history
Error bars show \u00B11 std dev
| Term | Instructor | Overall | Difficulty | Hrs/wk | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2025 | Pfaff, Alex 3.4Rate My ProfessorsQuality3.4Difficulty3.9Would retake40%Based on 8 ratingsClick to view on RMP → | 4.0 | 3.2 | 6.5 | 10 |
Instructor
Pfaff, AlexPPS
Also teaches
PUBPOL-303D MICROECONOMIC POLICY TOOLS4.2PUBPOL-574 ECON EVAL OF SUSTAINABLE DEVEL4.5