Data Analytics for Policy Professionals
A Flexible, Short-Term Program Bridging Data Science With International Affairs and Public Policy
The Data Analytics for Policy Professionals (DAPP) program at the Elliott School of International Affairs equips government officials, policy analysts, NGO staff, and other professionals with the data science skills needed for evidence-based decision-making. Our curriculum — redesigned under Director Omar García-Ponce — offers a modular, one-credit course format organized across five substantive policy tracks and three skill levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Whether you are new to data or looking to expand a technical toolkit, DAPP provides flexible, intensive learning experiences taught by world-class Elliott School faculty and industry practitioners.
APSIA Announcement
Three-Tiered Skill Classification
Skill Levels:
Beginner: No prerequisites required. Accessible to complete novices, including code-light and no-code options.
Intermediate: Requires completion of at least one beginner course or equivalent professional experience. Introduces more sophisticated techniques and real-world analytical challenges.
Advanced: Requires completion of at least one intermediate course or demonstrated prior experience. Produces professional-level outputs and portfolio-quality work.
Data Literacy Badge
(2 credits, 2 beginner-level courses)
Data Proficiency Badge
(3 credits, 3 courses, ≥1 intermediate or advanced)
Data Fluency Badge
(4 credits, 4 courses, ≥2 intermediate or advanced)
Data Mastery Badge
(6 credits, 5 courses (≥3 advanced) + 1-credit Capstone supervised by DAPP Program Director)
Upon earning the Data Mastery badge, participants receive a micro-certificate in Data Analysis for Policy Professionals issued by The George Washington University, which appears on official academic records and can be shared with employers.
We offer a range of upskilling courses designed to complement traditional policy analysis and help policy professionals strengthen their work with practical data science skills. Because learners have different backgrounds and goals, our courses are designed for a range of experience levels, from those looking to understand key concepts to those who want to build practical models and applications. Whatever your starting point, you'll gain new skills that you can apply in your work.
Your New Credentials
ESIA has partnered with Accredible, an industry-leading platform for issuing and managing secure digital credentials and badges.
How it works:
- Sign up for 1-credit intensive courses, offered both online and in-person and mostly over the weekends.
- Earn a new credential badge for each course level completed (Data Literacy through Data Mastery).
- Complete six credits — five courses plus a Capstone Project — to earn the micro-certificate in Data Analysis for Policy Professionals.
- Transfer up to 6 credits toward an Elliott School Master's Program or Graduate Certificate*
- Three DAPP courses (3 credits) can fulfill the Elliott School’s three-credit methods requirement for MA students with advisor approval.
- Non-credit seminars are also available for general professional development.
All courses feature:
- Elliott School-affiliated faculty
- Live, synchronous sessions and hands-on projects
- Roughly 2 weeks of asynchronous pre- and post-work
- Feedback on assignments and discussions
- Credit-bearing options for lifelong learners
- Guest speakers and collaborative opportunities
Curriculum Tracks
DAPP courses are organized across five substantive policy tracks and three skill levels. This two-dimensional structure ensures technical skills are taught in relevant policy contexts — mirroring how data analysis is actually used in government, international organizations, NGOs, and the private sector. Students may specialize within a track or sample across tracks depending on their professional goals.
| Track | Focus Areas |
| Policy Impact & Evaluation | Monitoring and evaluation, impact assessment, program evaluation design, cost-benefit analysis, and case studies in health or education policy. |
| Geospatial & Remote Sensing Analysis | Spatial data, satellite imagery, and remote sensing technologies to analyze environmental, social, and economic patterns across sectors including security, sustainability, and urban planning. |
| International Security | Data-driven security studies including conflict data analysis, cybersecurity analytics, and early warning systems using big data. |
| Trade & Economic Analysis | International economics and market data including trade flow analysis, economic forecasting, and financial networks and sanctions data. |
| Digital Governance | Political communication and online data, covering social media sentiment analysis, disinformation tracking, and AI in governance. |
Fall 2026
- List of Courses
Accepting Applications
SESSION 3: 54168 – IAFF 6502 – Professional Skills I: Public Opinion in International Affairs
Level: Advanced
Track: Policy Impact & Evaluation
Dates/Times: 10/17 and 10/18.
- Application deadline: September 25, 2026
- Decision release: October 2, 2026
- Enrollment commitment deadline: October 9, 2026
- Registration deadline: October 13, 2026
Credits: 1
Professor: Matthew Kirwin
Format: In-person
Description: The goals of the course are to make students conversant in survey research, better consumers of public opinion data and gain the ability to use survey data in their work—all without having to become a statistician! This course will offer specific examples of how public opinion data has been used to inform policymakers. It will provide an overview of the different methods of data collection as well as an introduction to sampling and questionnaire design and quality control measures.
This is followed by comparison of the validity of traditional survey research methods versus the more newly arrived social media sentiment analysis. Students will then be exposed to how data is interpreted and used to form the backbone of pithy and cogent analyses. The course will conclude with an exercise in which students will review a data set and draft a policy memo based on a particular theme.
No Longer Accepting Applications
SESSION 1: 56731 – IAFF 6502 – Professional Skills I: Tableau Data Visualization & Analysis
Level: Intermediate
Perfect for: Code-hesitant learners who want to make pretty charts and graphs!
Dates/Times: Sunday 9/13 and Sunday 9/20 from 9am-5pm.
Credits: 1
Professor: Paul Albert
Skills learned: Skills learned: Tableau, Basic Data Communication
Format: In-person
Description: I have some data, now what!?! This skills course is geared toward students looking to develop fundamental data skills using Tableau. Students will work hands-on with Tableau (using a free Academic License) to analyze several datasets and create various types of visualizations. Along the way, students will be challenged to think about how their visualizations can be improved to communicate their ideas and findings more clearly. While this course is meant to be a gentle introduction to Tableau, even students who already have some experience in Tableau will likely find it rewarding. Not only will this course help you build the foundational skills for evidence-based policy formulation, but it will also make you more marketable. Tableau and data communication skills are in high demand among employers and can help set you apart in your professional career.
SESSION 2: 57311 – IAFF 6502 – Professional Skills I: Satellite Imagery & Security Policy
Level: Advanced
Track: Geospatial & Remote Sensing Analysis
Dates/Times: Tuesdays 5:10-6:30 during the dates of 8/25, 9/1, 9/15, 9/22, 9/29 10/6.
Credits: 1
Professor: Sam barnes
Format: Online
Description: Satellite imagery is a crucial part of any intelligence analyst’s portfolio. This skills course evaluates the role of commercial satellite imagery in security policy analysis across three main sectors: environmental and humanitarian security, military and intelligence operations, and current issues such as ethics and the incorporation of AI. At the end of this course, students will be able to locate satellite imagery datasets, interpret and manipulate satellite imagery using ArcGIS Pro, and develop an imagery analysis on a contemporary international security issue of their choice.
SESSION 4: 51785 – IAFF 6502 – Professional Skills I: Intro to R
Level: Beginner
Dates/Times: 09/19 and 09/26 from 9am-4pm.
Credits: 1
Professor: Leonardo Antenangeli
Format: Online
Description: This course will help you familiarize yourself with the R programming language and R Studio integrated development environment (IDE). R is a free tool primarily used for statistical analysis. R is open source and benefits from several contributions (“packages'' or “libraries”) made by independent researchers. Statistical analysis is critical for effective, evidence-based policy making, and R counts itself among the highly sought after skills in the policy realm. In this class you will learn the fundamentals needed to create effective R scripts,run basic analyses, and troubleshoot (or debug) your code. You will also acquire the tools necessary to further develop your R skills to attain advanced-level programming knowledge.
SESSION 5: 51843 – IAFF 6502 – Professional Skills I: Intro to GIS I
Level: Beginner
Dates/Times: 09/19 and 09/26 from 9am-4pm.
Credits: 1
Professor: Adam Wunische
Format: Online
Description: In this course, students will further their knowledge and understanding of how to use geographic information systems (GIS) or mapping software as used in international security and conflict studies. This course will start with installation and initial set up of the open-source GIS program QGIS. It will then explore how GIS is used in conflict studies and the major advantages it provides over non-spatial datasets and analysis. It will then explore the different types of data that can be used in GIS and how to load and manipulate the data. Students will learn how to do basic analyses of the data and produce simple maps for publication. By the end of the course, students will be able to adequately describe how and when to use geospatial data in their analysis, produce basic maps that communicate results, and be prepared for more advanced GIS analysis methods courses.
SESSION 6: 51748 – IAFF 6503 – Professional Skills II: Political Risk Analysis
Level: Intermediate
Dates/Times: 8/25, 9/1, 9/08, 9/15, 9/22, and 9/29.
Credits: 1
Professor: Rebecca Murphy
Format: Online
Description: This course examines the concept and foundations of political risk analysis and studies into empirical cases to understand the role that political risk plays in shaping the international business landscape and operating environment. The course explores various sources of political risk, considers how political risk develops and evolves, analyzes how this form of risk influences business decisions, and probes how firms, investors, and international actors manage and respond to political risk. The course takes a multi-disciplinary approach drawing from international relations, economics, risk management, and strategic communications. It begins with a focus on the foundations of political risk analysis before moving to the practical application of key methods and strategies used to analyze political risk. Attention is given to country-based political risk as well as issue-based political risk. By identifying and analyzing existing and emerging political risks, and comparing strategies to measure and mitigate such risk at the macro and/or micro levels, students will learn how to approach each phase involved in political risk analysis.
Full List of Professional Skills Courses
*Not all professional courses count toward DAPP requirements.
DAPP courses are open to both current GWU/ESIA students and outside professionals. Please contact esiadapp
gwu [dot] edu (esiadapp[at]gwu[dot]edu) for enrollment guidance.
Cost
Tuition rates can be found on the Non-Degree Tuition Rates Page. Calculate the cost using 1 credit hour.
There is no application fee for this program.
How to Apply
Online Application
To apply, go to the application portal and select "Create an Account" if you have never logged in before or "Log In" if you already have an account.
On the first page of the application, choose the following options (each field must be selected before the following field options will populate):
- What type of program are you applying to? Elliott School of International Affairs
- Anticipated Enrollment Status: Part Time
- Degree Level: Non - Degree
- Program: Data Analytics for Policy Professionals
- Degree: Non-Degree
- Campus: Main Campus/Online
- Term: [Whichever term the first course you wish to take is in (e.g. Spring 2026)]
- Session: See below for session numbers
Required Information
In addition to completing the application (no application fee required), please make sure to attach
- Statement of interest (1 paragraph) identifying which course(s) you wish to participate in and what skills you hope to develop. (upload as PDF)
- Resume (upload as PDF)
- School Information
All application materials are due by the deadline listed below the first course you wish to enroll in.
Faculty Biographies
Omar García-Ponce, Ph.D.
Director, Data Analytics for Policy Professionals (DAPP) Program; Associate Professor of Political Science and International Affairs, ESIA
Burcu Kilic
Senior Fellow at the Center for International Governance Innovation
Leonardo Antenangeli
Professorial Lecturer, ESIA
Adam Wunische
Professorial Lecturer, ESIA & CCAS
Paul Albert
Professorial Lecturer, ESIA
Marco Morales
Data Scientist & Professional Lecturer, Columbia Business School
Our Mission
To bridge data science with international affairs and public policy
To upskill domestic and foreign policy practitioners from data literacy to proficiency, fluency, and mastery to achieve policy excellence
To revolutionize policy through evidence-based approaches that combine content expertise with analytic skills, organized across five policy tracks from Impact & Evaluation to Digital Governance.
The curriculum was developed in consultation with federal agencies including The U.S. Department of State, The Department of Labor, The Foreign Service Institute, and The National Security Council, as well as think tanks and industry leaders such as fp21 and GDIT.
Contact Us
Email: esiadappgwu [dot] edu (esiadapp[at]gwu[dot]edu)
Location: 1957 E St. NW, 401-E, Washington, D.C., 20052