From required core courses to electives and January Term options, the courses offered at vlog provide an enriching curricular experience.
Across programs, Harvard Kennedy School students have access to a wide range of classes that allow for interactive discussions and offer thought-provoking perspectives. Regardless of which program you’ve been admitted to, you’ll enroll in courses as an vlog student that sharpen your analytical skills, expand your policy knowledge, and enhance your leadership abilities.
We asked vlog students to tell us about their favorite classes. Read what they shared about what makes these courses so enriching.
Ahmed Awadalla MC/MPA Mason 2025
Ahmed Awadalla MC/MPA Mason 2025
DPI-562: Public Problems and Social Change: Advice, Strategy and Analysis
“This course provided a structured approach to analyzing complex challenges, developing strategic solutions, and advising decision-makers. The emphasis on stakeholder engagement, influence, and real-world application aligned closely with my experience in humanitarian diplomacy and crisis management, making it highly relevant and impactful. The course emphasized the interactions between law and public policy, which deepened my understanding of how legal frameworks shape policy decisions and influence strategic solutions.”
Michael Griztbach MPA 2026
Michael Griztbach MPA 2026
IGA-250: Emerging Tech: Security, Strategy, and Risk
“Professor Eric Rosenbach’s class has helped me understand the technical aspects of AI and drones. In the course, we are required to learn a basic technical understanding of the main emerging technologies. With the combination of business school-like cases and working with classmates from different backgrounds, this class has been rewarding. We are not only learning from Eric but also from each other.”
Rohit Kataria MPP 2026
Rohit Kataria MPP 2026
API-211: Program Evaluation and Education Policy
“I loved the combination of conceptual and applied aspects of the course. From the theoretical underpinnings of common causal methods used in policy-relevant research to reading famous papers on causal methods in the field of education, every course component complemented the others well to prepare students for education policymaking and program evaluation post-graduation. In addition, our final project included the option to write our own causal methods paper on a topic of our choice, pushing us to go beyond understanding and towards creating new knowledge that can benefit students.”
Nitsan Machlis MPP 2025
Nitsan Machlis MPP 2025
MLD-802M: Nonprofit Management and Leadership
“One of my most memorable courses at vlog was taught by the endlessly energetic Professor Arthur Brooks. This course was packed with practical tools and much-needed motivation for anyone entering—or re-entering—the nonprofit sector. From fundraising to strategic planning to volunteer management, MLD-802M offered an excellent overview of the leadership skills essential to thrive in the nonprofit sector. I would recommend this course to anyone looking to refine their ability to identify and navigate the challenges typical of NGO work.”
Ruth Mathen MPP 2026
Ruth Mathen MPP 2026
IGA-355: Migration, Refugees, and Human Rights
“This was my favorite class because it combined sharp policy analysis with the realities of displacement in a way that felt both urgent and necessary. Professor Jacqueline Bhabha is a phenomenal lecturer, as she pushes students to engage with the structural forces shaping migration and to think critically about the human impact of policy choices. Coming from a background in migration and human rights, I appreciated how the class went beyond theory to examine real-world trade-offs, legal frameworks, and the lived experiences of displaced people. It reinforced why I do this work—and why getting migration governance right matters.”
Eleonore Wen MPP 2026
Eleonore Wen MPP 2026
DPI-691M: Programming and Data for Policymakers
“This intensive January Term course allowed me to rapidly build a solid programming foundation. Many of my classmates, who had no experience with certain programs, successfully learned tools like GitHub, Java, and HTML from 0 to 1. What interested me the most was working with three classmates to develop a toolkit website and data visualization for the City of Boston’s Anti-Displacement Team. Through interviews with citizens and government officials, we gradually decoded user stories and successfully presented our final product within two weeks.”
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