This course analyzes the development of the US Congress by focusing on the competing theoretical lenses through which legislatures have been studied. In particular, it compares sociological and economic models of legislative behavior, applying those models to floor decision-making, committee behavior, political parties, relations with other branches of the Federal government, and elections.

D-Lab Development addresses issues of technological improvements at the micro level for developing countries—in particular, how the quality of life of low-income households can be improved by adaptation of low cost and sustainable technologies. Discussion of development issues as well as project implementation challenges are addressed through lectures, case studies, guest speakers and laboratory exercises. Students form project teams to partner with mostly local level organizations in developing countries, and formulate plans for an IAP site visit. (Previous field sites include Ghana, Brazil, Honduras and India.) Project team meetings focus on developing specific projects and include cultural, social, political, environmental and economic overviews of the countries and localities to be visited as well as an introduction to the local languages.

D-Lab: Design addresses problems faced by undeserved communities with a focus on design, experimentation, and prototyping processes. Particular attention is placed on constraints faced when designing for developing countries. Multidisciplinary teams work on semester-long projects in collaboration with community partners, field practitioners, and experts in relevant fields. Topics covered include design for affordability, design for manufacture, sustainability, and strategies for working effectively with community partners and customers. Students may continue projects begun in EC.701J D-Lab I: Development.

Student projects in D-Lab classes are defined by community partners and social ventures around the world. We don't always know what is needed, but our community partners do, and our students have technical knowledge and skills to contribute to that work.
Each semester, through a selection of full-semester classes, our students form into teams to work on projects framed by community partners – NGOs, local nonprofits, and social entrepreneurs. At the end of each semester, students present their work to their peers, partners, and guests.

This course introduces methods for harnessing data to answer questions of cultural, social, economic, and policy interest. We will start with essential notions of probability and statistics. We will proceed to cover techniques in modern data analysis: regression and econometrics, design of experiments, randomized control trials (and A/B testing), machine learning, and data visualization.
We will illustrate these concepts with applications drawn from real-world examples and frontier research. Finally, we will provide instruction on the use of the statistical package R, and opportunities for students to perform self-directed empirical analyses.
MITx Online
This course draws materials from 14.310x Data Analysis for Social Scientists, which is part of the MicroMasters Program in Data, Economics, and Design of Policy offered by MITx Online. The MITx Online course is entirely free to audit, though learners have the option to pay a fee, which is based on the learner’s ability to pay, to take the proctored exam and earn a course certificate. To access that course, create an MITx Online account and enroll in the course 14.310x Data Analysis for Social Scientists.

This course provides rigorous introduction to core microeconomic issues in economic development, focusing on both key theoretical contributions and empirical applications to understand both why some countries are poor and on how markets function differently in poor economies. Topics include human capital (education and health); labor markets; credit markets; land markets; firms; and the role of the public sector.

In recent years, the redistribution of risk has created conditions for natural and technological disasters to become more widespread, more difficult to manage, and more discriminatory in their effects. Policy and planning decision-makers frequently focus on the impact that human settlement patterns, land use decisions, and risky technologies can have on vulnerable populations. However, to ensure safety and promote equity, they also must be familiar with the social and political dynamics that are present at each stage of the disaster management cycle. Therefore, this course will provide students with: An understanding of the breadth of factors that give rise to disaster vulnerability; and A foundation for assessing and managing the social and political processes associated with disaster policy and planning.

Nutrition education, menu planning, childhood diseases and illness, and sanitation and safety in group settings. Protecting the health and safety of young children and promoting the development of lifelong health habits. Communication with health professionals and parents on health, safety, and nutrition issues.

Directed field experiences with young children (birth to eight years) in varied early childhood education settings; applying child development theories and principles in support of developmentally effective approaches; planning and facilitating small and large group play-based learning experiences aligned with Arizona Early Learning Standards; refining observation and evaluation skills; adapting curriculum to children’s abilities and interests; practicing effective interactions and child guidance techniques; and evaluating the components of quality early childhood education programs. Required practicum experiences in at least two of the three early childhood groups (B-3, 3-5, or 5-8 years) and in at least two different approved early childhood settings.

Covers the study of the economic system as a whole, including the level of employment and diversity in income, fiscal and monetary policies, and the role of government in the economy. Also covers the economics of resource issues related to market failure and sustainability.

Covers the study of economic elements of supply and demand analysis. Also covers an examination of market structures, market allocation and externalities, labor markets and income distribution, and decision making by the individual firm.

Overview of education profession and U.S. educational system; historical development and foundations of education and educational institutions. Includes theories of teaching, the student as learner, current issues and trends in education, the school and community, and roles and responsibilities of the teacher. Includes a field and observation practicum.

Prepares potential teachers to examine how race, ethnicity, and cultural differences influence students’ experiences in school. Assists teachers in implementing a multicultural approach to teaching by fostering critical thinking and identifying effective teaching styles and practices for a diverse student population.

School and family relationships with a focus on communication, ethics, professionalism and problem-solving. Impact of the community, its resources and referral systems. Emphasis on families, diversity, multicultural issues and parent involvement.

This subject examines the interactions of East Asia with the rest of the world and the relationships of each of the East Asian countries with each other, from ca. 1500 to 2000 A.D. Primary focus on China and Japan, with some reference to Korea, Vietnam, and Central Asia. Asks how international diplomatic, commercial, military, religious, and cultural relationships joined with internal processes to direct the development of East Asian societies. Subject addresses perceptions and misperceptions among East Asians and foreigners.

Choice of material has implications throughout the life-cycle of a product, influencing many aspects of economic and environmental performance. This course will provide a survey of methods for evaluating those implications. Lectures will cover topics in material choice concepts, fundamentals of engineering economics, manufacturing economics modeling methods, and life-cycle environmental evaluation.

This introductory course is designed to address the rapidly changing nature of computer technology and information systems in teaching and learning considering its practical and ethical impact on social, organizational, personal, and ethical issues. Students will explore new and emerging education technologies and consider their impact on the future of teaching and learning while also developing an understanding of the history of technology integration.  Students will consider the digital divide and its impact on ethnicity and race pertaining to school equality and technology innovation.

These are slides for a masters-level course with the following course description:An intensive course in which students will create sophisticated work in multiple modalities (e.g. text, images, audio, etc.) that develops and expresses ideas focused on the needs of the audience to increase its knowledge, foster understanding, or promote a change in its attitudes.The audience for this course was primarily working professionals with a wide range of prior knowledge of these practices, so this material could easily be (and was) adapted for undergraduate students. I think it would also be possible to adapt for high schoolers, if desired.

This course examines the choices and constraints regarding sources and uses of energy by households, firms, and governments through a number of frameworks to describe and explain behavior at various levels of aggregation. Examples include a wide range of countries, scope, settings, and analytical approaches. This course is one of many OCW Energy Courses, and it is a core subject in MIT’s underGraduate / Professional Energy Studies Minor. This Institute-wide program complements the deep expertise obtained in any major with a broad understanding of the interlinked realms of science, technology, and social sciences as they relate to energy and associated environmental challenges.

This course explores the theoretical and empirical perspectives on individual and industrial demand for energy, energy supply, energy markets, and public policies affecting energy markets. It discusses aspects of the oil, natural gas, electricity, and nuclear power sectors and examines energy tax, price regulation, deregulation, energy efficiency and policies for controlling emission.