Rapidly shifting demographics across the country are upending traditional political campaigning strategy and tactics. More and more, the demand is growing for data modeling to help predict the changing landscape, analyze voter behavior, mitigate divisions, and inform sound policy. As the use of artificial intelligence also becomes more prevalent, and the demand for evidence-based political strategies continues to grow, the field of political analytics and consulting will require leaders well-skilled in the history and substance of politics as well as the quantitative abilities necessary to perform, understand, and communicate effectively.
To meet this need, Columbia University has launched a new Master of Science in Political Analytics, a degree program developed in collaboration between the School of Professional Studies and the Department of Political Science. “While analytics and data-driven decision-making are playing an ever larger role in modern politics, there are very few academic programs that prepare individuals to excel at these tasks,” said Political Science Professor Greg Wawro, the program’s founder and leader.
Led by some of the most distinguished and accomplished scholars of political science and data analytics in the nation, the program will equip students with the substance of politics and the quantitative methods necessary to lead in this emerging field. The program has begun accepting applications this fall for its inaugural class to convene in fall 2023.
On October 24, faculty members from the Political Science program, including Professor of Political Science Greg Wawro; Wallace S. Sayre Professor of Government and Professor of International and Public Affairs Robert Y. Shapiro; Burgess Professor of Political Science Donald P. Green—as well as Shailagh Murray, executive vice president for Public Affairs at Columbia University; Aaron Strauss, program director at OpenLabs; and Doug Usher, partner at Forbes Tate Partners—will discuss sound analytics strategies and emerging trends in play in the 2022 U.S. midterm elections. Join us in Low Library at 6:30 p.m. for an academic panel discussion, “Analytics and the 2022 Midterm Elections: Strategy, Prediction, and Explanation,” to be followed by a reception to celebrate the launch of the new M.S. in Political Analytics. RSVP.
Learn more about Columbia University’s M.S. in Political Analytics.
