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Topic 6: Quantitative Skills

Picture of a calculator Basic Math Tutorial
The Basic Math Refresher provides a review of math concepts which with all SPP students are expected to be familiar. This familiarity is particularly important for those students who are required to take Statistical Analysis for Public Policy (PUBP 704) or Methods of Analysis for International Commerce and Policy (ITRN 501). The math refresher will help you to be better prepared for these courses.

Basic math refresher tutorial

Math for Economics Tutorials
In addition to the general quantitative skills you will need for many SPP courses, "Microeconomics for Policy Analysis (PUBP 720)" uses more specific mathematical concepts and principles. Many of these concepts are introduced in our general quantitative skills tutorial and reviewed in a special "math camp" offered to students in the weeks prior to the semester they take the microeconomics course.

While the quantitative requirements for microeconomics can vary by instructor, all students should be very familiar with certain topics related to graphs and functions. We have found that once students build a strong base in a discrete number of quantitative topics, they are able to better enjoy and understand the models presented in PUBP 720. This enables instructors to focus the course on applications rather than elementary quantitative requirements.

The video tutorials below review the key mathematical concepts used in SPP’s microeconomics courses. These topics are generally covered in pre-algebra, algebra and pre-calculus math courses in high school and college; students that want additional resources in any of these topics should refer to the appropriate math (not economics) textbooks and/or discuss the issue with their professors. Knowledge of the material presented in the video tutorials is generally assumed in PUBP 720, and may not be reviewed in detail during the course.

Math for Economics Tutorials

Math Camp
Each semester, SPP offers a two-day math camp (PUBP 555) designed to review fundamental mathematical concepts associated with microeconomics (PUBP 720) - particularly basic algebraic and calculus principles. All students taking PUBP 720 should plan to enroll in the math camp the semester in which they are taking PUPB 720. The free workshop is open to all SPP students. Students taking PUBP 720 will receive instructions for registering for the workshop.

Spring 2013 Math Camp Day 1 video
Slides for Math Camp - Day 1

Spring 2013 Math Camp Day 2 video
Slides for Math Camp - Day 2

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SPP tuition for in-state students is approximately half the cost of the tuition at private competitors in the D.C. area.

Employer information sessions are offered each semester with public, private, and nonprofit organizations such as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, RAND, Third Way, and the Department of Treasury.

More than 70% of SPP students are employed while pursuing their degrees -- classes are offered in the late afternoon and early evening to accommodate full- and part-time students.