The Field

How can poor families get adequate health care? In what ways should government deal with immigration? To what extent do tax incentives promote economic development? What regulations are appropriate for genetic research? What economic incentives should government create to reduce emissions that may lead to global warming? Would educational vouchers improve or harm public education?

Such complex questions face our society every day, and lead to policy and political choices that shape our lives. Public policy majors learn to define and analyze policy choices and understand how government makes policy. Students will become competent citizens with the conceptual and analytical skills to influence public policy.

The Department of Public Policy (PLCY) offers instruction leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree. Public policy refers broadly to societal and government actions to resolve complex public problems. Because public policy issues typically emerge from multifaceted social and economic conditions, the study of public policy requires students to utilize concepts and tools from numerous academic disciplines. For students, public policy focus provides both a perspective and method for integrating ideas drawn from several disciplines around issues of public significance.

The undergraduate major is designed to fulfill three major objectives: 1) provide students with a command of the fundamental tools of policy analysis; 2) offer students an  understanding of the politics of public policy and the varied institutional contexts within which public policy is made; and 3) allow students to develop substantive knowledge in a core policy field.

The combination of a general liberal arts training, the development of conceptual and analytical abilities, and the acquisition of substantive knowledge in a particular policy area, forms an excellent foundation for graduate work in the professions (law, business, social work, public health, planning) or public policy as well as for a career in public affairs or service.

Students taking a minor in Public Policy are encouraged to take PLCY 101 [48], Making American Public Policy.

The Program

In addition to General College, College of Arts and Sciences, and the major department's requirements, students must take the following five courses to complete the minor in Public Policy:

1. PLCY 201/201H [71/71H]              Introduction to Public Policy

2. PLCY 220 [74]                               The Politics of Public Policy

3. ECON 310/410 [100/101]             Microeconomics/Intermediate Theory

4. PLCY 460 [175]                            Quantitative Methods for Public Policy

5. An applied policy course chosen in consultation with a Public Policy faculty advisor.

ECON 310/410 [100/101] requires ECON 101 [10] as a prerequisite and PLCY 460 [175] requires STOR 155 [STAT 31] (or equivalent) as a prerequisite.  ECON 410 [101] requires MATH 152 [22] or 231 [31] as a prerequisite.

In addition to these stated requirements, all requirements recommended by the College of Arts and Sciences for academic minors apply.