Public Policy Research Overview

Research is a critical component of the Department of Public Policy’s mission, linking education with public service. Four social science research centers spanning a range of disciplines support this mission. Research activities of faculty and our research centers are supported by federal agencies, private foundations and state and local governments. Students have the opportunity, and are in fact encouraged, to work with faculty members on research projects.

Examples of recent public policy research by UMBC faculty and students:

Urban Policy

Liquid Cities: Megalopolis and the Contemporary Northeast, a book by John Rennie Short

“Managing Population Growth in Harford County, Maryland,” a report by Public Policy master’s students

Health Policy

“Why African Americans Did Not Evacuate Before Hurricane Katrina: A Qualitative Study of Evacuees from New Orleans," an article co-authored by Nancy Miller

“Veteran’s Compensation for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder,” a National Institute of Medicine project with David Salkever

Public Management

A Shock to the System: Restructuring American’s Electricity Industry, a book co-authored by Tim Brennan

Maryland Registered Voters’ Opinions about Voting and Voting Technology, a survey by Don Norris

Evaluation and Analytic Methods

“Antidepressants and Suicide,” an article co-authored by Dave Marcotte

Focusing on Success, Pathways Out of Childhood Poverty, a study of the economic benefits of reducing childhood poverty by Marv Mandell, Dave Marcotte and others

Legal Policy

Setting Goals in the Federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise [DBE] Program, a legal and policy analysis by George LaNoue

Human Services

Cheryl Miller’s current research focuses on state policy innovations in welfare implementation and racial disparities in the impact of welfare devolution.

Resources

Policy Briefs
Concise, readable summaries of relevant public policy research by faculty and students.

Capstone Papers
The capstone paper is the culmination of a project that requires master's students to use the skills they have learned through coursework to conduct a policy analysis of an actual regional problem.

Research Centers
Find out about UMBC's outstanding social science research centers.

Research@UMBC
Learn more about the importantce of research to UMBC's mission.