Course Syllabus

FALL 2026

SPEA-V 379 - PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT & PROGRAM EVALUATION

Dr. Jennifer Silva, Associate Professor

jensilv@iu.edu

Prof. Silva Office Hours: MW 11:00-12:00 PM

Alternative office hours can be set up via email as needed.

Office: SPEA 351

Course Description

This course provides an overview of program evaluation as it relates to public affairs, criminal justice, health policy, and environmental science with particular emphasis on measuring program outcomes. The course is designed for students who envision themselves working in management, policy-making, or research roles.

We will examine program performance and evaluation through the lens of policies shaping growing up in the contemporary United States. We will begin by examining the various causes of rising inequality among youth, including growing economic insecurity, lack of high-quality childcare, transformations in family structure and parenting practices, the unraveling of communities, growing distrust in institutions, and the skyrocketing costs of higher education. We will also explore the economic, political, and moral consequences of economic and social injustice. For each arena of inequality, we will investigate policy solutions and discuss and debate how to improve the opportunities for youth.

We will then focus on current policy debates around boosting upward mobility, conducting an evaluation and analysis together with the knowledge we have learned throughout the course.

Student Learning Outcomes
By the end of the semester students should be able to:
1. Identify the key drivers of social inequality in the US.
2. Apply what they learn in class discussion, lectures, and in the readings to real-world case
studies.
3. Evaluate existing social programs and debate and discuss their merits and pitfalls.
4. Build a learning community based on mutual respect, curiosity, active engagement, and
integrity.
5. Effectively communicate policy ideas and solutions to different audiences: discipline
specific, researchers across multiple disciplines, and the general public.

How much time should you be spending on this class:

You are expected to spend an average of 6 or more hours outside of class per week on reading, studying, assignments, etc.