'Impact Investing' is the proactive deployment of financial resources to organizations for a positive return on investment and an additional, intentional social impact beyond financial returns. Impact Investing explores how funders (grant funders, investors, and policymakers) deploy capital to support social entrepreneurs. This course provides an introductory understanding of utilizing finance as a tool for solving social problems worldwide.

Courses examine special topics in public policy and/or leadership.

In this class, students will learn to critically reflect on one's own situation and perspective in relations to one's expanding knowledge of other human experiences, seeking to cultivate a framework for informed reflection on human diversity and social complexity while developing empathy as a foundation for democratic citizenship.

An introduction to the craft of writing fiction, with relevant readings in the genre. For more details on creative writing courses, see our program website at creativewriting.virginia.edu.

This course will center on exposing students to contemporary pipelines for data analysis through a series of steadily escalating use cases. The course will begin with simple local database construction such as SQLite and evolve to cloud base systems such as AWS or Google Cloud. This progression will include topics such as data lakes and other non-SQL applications as appropriate.

In this class students will learn to reflect upon and evaluate human conduct and character, consider the ethical components of individual and collective behaviors, and engage in the articulation of ethical questions and moral deliberation.

Explores principles and applications of data ethics within a broader social framework that prioritizes conversations about policy, regulatory frameworks, accountability, transparency, and governance models. Will discuss who is responsible for doing responsible data science, question how our work shapes the world around us, and understand the impacts of big data on people and communities.

The adjustment from HS to college is filled with turbulent transitions and with opportunities for discovery, growth, and development of critical life skills. Course focuses on development of broad skills to create fulfilling lives and successful careers after college, especially in 4 areas: (1) development of emotional resilience skills, (2) development of life management skills, (3) intro to leadership concepts, and (4) establishment of small communities of students.

This course will introduce students to both the process of public policy and the tools of policy analysis. The first part examines the actors, institutions, and procedures involved in the adoption, implementation, and evaluation of public policy. The second part introduces students to the basic concepts and tools of policy analysis including problem definition, specification of alternatives, and solution analysis.

Students study complex & ambiguous problems like a strategy consultant. The immersive, case-based course gives students the skills & confidence to navigate complex business problems & facilitate discussion around the psychology of decision making teams. Learn hypothesis driven structured problem-solving approach & apply to mock case interviews & live consulting project w/a real-world client. Final case competition is presented to alumni leaders.