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  2. EDU A709

The Economics of Higher Education: Trends, Challenges, and Debates
EDU A709

Course Information

Description

Higher education holds the promise of numerous benefits for individuals, communities, and society. In the U.S., there are nearly 6,000 colleges and universities that vary in their missions, governance structures, and resources—from large, research universities to local community and technical colleges—but all must navigate changing conditions and challenges. This course examines the critical trends, funding issues, and policies that influence who goes to college, what is provided, and the outcomes realized. Students will explore how government programs, demographic change, competition, and technological advances have shaped the system and affected both students and institutions. Topics include affordability, admissions policies, faculty and staff issues, student supports, and the effects of ranking systems and accountability initiatives.

The course uses frameworks from Economics to understand educational trends, decisions, and distributional issues. We will examine how colleges use their scarce resources in the face of evolving demands, tradeoffs, and incentives. Additionally, we will explore how individuals make educational decisions, the impact of government and institutional policy on those decisions, and the factors that determine student outcomes. Discussions will focus on state and institutional examples to foreground real-world dilemmas and debates. 

Past exposure to Economics is not required. The course is designed to teach students how to apply concepts and frameworks from Economics and related disciplines to analyze issues in higher education. Assignments encourage students to demonstrate a clear and critical understanding of the pros, cons, tradeoffs, and impact of current and potential future developments, as well as to develop recommendations to improve the system. For students with prior coursework in Economics, the course provides the opportunity to expand their disciplinary knowledge and understanding of education. For students in the EPA Program, A709 can be taken to fulfill the core experience (PCE) requirement.

School Graduate School of Education
Credits 4
Cross Reg

Available for Harvard Cross Registration

Department Education
Course Component Regular Course
Instruction Mode In Person
Subject Education
Grading Basis HGSE Student Option (Letter Graded, Sat/Unsat)
Learning Goals The course uses frameworks from Economics to understand educational trends, decisions, and distributional issues. We will examine how colleges use their scarce resources in the face of evolving demands, tradeoffs, and incentives. Additionally, we will explore how individuals make educational decisions, the impact of government and institutional policy on those decisions, and the factors that determine student outcomes. Past exposure to Economics is not required. The course is designed to teach students how to apply concepts and frameworks from Economics and related disciplines to analyze issues in higher education. Assignments encourage students to demonstrate a clear and critical understanding of the pros, cons, tradeoffs, and impact of current and potential future developments, as well as to develop recommendations to improve the system. For students with prior coursework in Economics, the course provides the opportunity to expand their disciplinary knowledge and understanding of education.
Career Focus <p>The course is appropriate for those interested in college student access and success, higher education policy, and college administration and leadership, including those seeking to develop research ideas or proposals. The focus is primarily on the U.S. context, but we will regularly incorporate international examples, making the course valuable for students with global interests.</p>