The quantitative methods course requirement provides ISEC students with a useful skill for a wide range of public policy careers, which often involve use of data in analytic work and in policy advocacy and implementation. For the ISEC program, students are required to take POGO 511, a general statistics course.

This year, we are introducing a new option for ISEC students. Our colleagues in the International Commerce and Policy program have tailored their quant requirement to focus on different types of data analytics for their field. ISEC students are now able to opt for ITRN501, which will be accepted as a substitute for POGO 511. This alternative might appeal to students with some background in international economics, or an interest in trade as a security issue, or those who find the broad approach to data analysis appealing.

We want to encourage ISEC students who have taken stats courses as undergrads, or who are comfortable with statistics, to stick with the 511 course. But the new option may be the right choice for some of you. We are seeking formal approval of this option, and will continue to work to make the quant/data analysis required course relevant and useful for ISEC students and their career goals.