Wharton Public Policy Certificate Program

Wharton Public Policy Certificate Program

The Wharton Public Policy Certificate Program presents an essential overview of policymaking and how policies are analyzed and evaluated.

Designed for Congressional staffers and other public policy professionals, this 6-session online program will equip Certificate earners with a powerful framework for understanding the economics of public policy and the skills to assess a wide range of legislative proposals and analyses.

The deadline to apply is Sunday, September 7, 2025.

Students will

Gain a framework for understanding the different ways that government policies affect individual and firm decisions and broader economic and societal outcomes.

Develop the skills and savvy to assess policy analyses.

Get an inside look into policy making, analysis, and evaluation from academic and public sector economists and other policy experts.

Who would benefit

Congressional Staffers

Learn how to use economic analyses to inform policy design and discussions.

Public Policy Professionals

Strengthen your understanding of the economics of public policies.

Instructors

Kent Smetters, PhD, Faculty Director of the Penn Wharton Budget Model (PWBM) and the Boettner Chair Professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, serves as the primary instructor for the Wharton Public Policy Certificate Program.

Penn Wharton Budget Model experts, academic experts including University of Pennsylvania faculty, and policy experts will provide in-depth coverage of policy-specific material.

Costs

The Certificate Program is offered Free of charge

Requirements for completion of certificate

This online course runs from October 17, 2025 to February 6, 2026.

Participants must complete 6 online sessions over the course of 4 months, consisting of 2 required lecture sessions and 4 elective sessions.

Required sessions (real-time attendance required)

  • Course Welcome and Intro to an Economic Approach to Policy Analysis — Friday, October 17, noon–1 pm ET
  • How Do Economists Predict the Economic Effects of Policies? — Friday, October 24, noon–1 pm ET

Elective sessions (real-time online attendance required for select sessions)

Complete 4 sessions, including at least 3 “Hot Topic” sessions. The fourth elective session requirement can be fulfilled with either an additional “Hot Topic” session or by viewing an on-demand recorded session online. “Hot Topic” sessions occur on select Fridays from noon to 1 pm ET.

Sample of possible elective sessions

  • Economics of Marriage and Family
  • Energy and Environmental Policy
  • Immigration Policy
  • International Trade and Tariff Policy
  • Debt Reduction Policy

Certificate of Completion: Participants who complete the Certificate Program requirements will receive an electronic certificate of completion which can be added to their LinkedIn profile.

The deadline to apply is Sunday, September 7, 2025.

Admissions are selective and a preference is given to Congressional staffers and other public policy professionals.

to be notified when applications for the next cycle open.

Note: The Wharton Public Policy Certificate Program is in compliance with Senate Ethics guidelines as “training in the interest of the Senate.” Certificate Program sessions are in compliance with House Ethics guidelines as an “educational event.”