Udergraduate Program in Public Policy

Undergraduate Program

If you have questions after reading the major requirements below, please contact the Student Services Manager, Lennis Carrier at lcarrier@unc.edu or Dr. Gail Corrado, Director of Undergraduate Studies at gcorrado@email.unc.edu.

The Field

The Department of Public Policy (PLCY) offers instruction leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree. The Public Policy major is an interdisciplinary-based social science program that provides students with the theoretical perspective, analytical skills, and substantive knowledge to understand and to solve problems. Because public policy problems typically emerge from complex social and economic conditions, the study of public policy requires students to integrate perspective and skills of a number of academic disciplines. For students, a substantive policy field focus provides an opportunity to apply their skills to issues of real world significance and to build specialized knowledge.

Students interested in exploring Public Policy as a major are encouraged to take PLCY 101 [48], Making American Public Policy, in their freshman or sophomore year.

Major Course Requirements

The degree offered is BA in Public Policy.

General College: All General College perspective requirements apply.

College of Arts and Sciences: All College of Arts and Sciences perspective requirements apply.

Major Requirements: Students must take a total of 9 courses to complete the Public Policy major. The courses are divided between a "core" (6 courses) and a policy field area (3 courses). These 3 courses can be selected from range of other Departments and Schools at UNC from a list of approved courses.

Please click here for a diagram of the suggested course order.

Prerequisites include: introductory economics (ECON 101 [10]), and one introductory probability and statistical inference course (STOR 155 [STAT 31]), or approved equivalents. ECON 101 can be used to satisfy a General College perspective requirement. STOR 155 can be used to satisfy a General College or Arts and Sciences perspective requirement. (MATH 152 [22] or equivalent calculus is a prerequisite for students taking ECON 101.

Core Courses:

1. Introduction to Public Policy:

PLCY 201 [71] or 201H [71H] Introduction to Public Policy

2. Ethics and Public Policy:

PLCY 240 [67] Ethics for Planning and Policy

PHIL 364 [67]/PLCY 364 [68] Ethics and Economics

PHIL 163 [30] Applied Ethics

PHIL 165 [34] Bioethics

PHIL 164 [39] Morality & Business

PHIL 272 [42] Ethics of Peace, War & Defense

PHIL/ENST 368 [68] Environmental Ethics

3. Economic Analysis:

ECON 310 [100] Microeconomics: Theory and Applications

ECON 410 [101] Intermediate Theory: Price and Distribution

4. Politics and Public Policy:

PLCY 220 [74] The Politics of Public Policy

5. Quantitative Analysis:

PLCY 460 [175] Quantitative Analysis for Public Policy

6. Advanced Individual Projects:

PLCY 698 [94] Practicum in Public Policy

PLCY 692H [92] Honors II (for eligible students)

Policy Field courses: Each student must take at least 3 courses in a substantive policy field, chosen in consultation with a faculty advisor. Recommended areas of substantive focus are listed below. A listing of courses that satisfy each of the areas is available here.

BUSINESS/(LABOR) AND PUBLIC POLICY

ECONOMIC (COMMUNITY) DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC POLICY

ENVIRONMENTAL (NATURAL RESOURCE/ENERGY) POLICY

HEALTH (POPULATION) POLICY

INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC POLICY

THE POLICY MAKING PROCESS/LAW AND PUBLIC POLICY

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (INFORMATION) POLICY

SOCIAL (AND EDUCATION) POLICY

In addition, students may create their own policy field with the approval of a faculty advisor.

Minor in Public Policy

Students may elect to pursue a minor in Public Policy. The Public Policy minor of consists of the five courses:

PLCY 201 [71] or 201H [71H]

PLCY 220 [74]

ECON 310 [100] or 410 [101] (Prerequisite: ECON 101 [10])

PLCY 460 [175]

(Prereq: MATH 152[22]/231[31] and STOR 155 [STAT 31])

One policy field course, approved by a faculty advisor, selected from the approved list of policy field courses.

The regulations covering a minor in an interdisciplinary department, as set forth in the Undergraduate Bulletin, apply to a minor in Public Policy.

The Washington Policy Semester

Each fall the Department sponsors a semester in Washington, DC as part of the University's Burch Field Research program. Up to 15 students are placed in policy research positions in the capital and are enrolled in a special seminar on the role of research in the policy-making process. Other activities are arranged for students that take advantage of the considerable resources in Washington. The Burch program is administered by the UNC Honors Office and targeted to honors students. Others may apply. The Washington Policy Experience is open to students from many majors but is ideal for public policy students.

Special Programs and Events

Honors: Students who have achieved at least a 3.2 grade point average by the end of their fifth semester should apply to participate in the department's honors program. Honors students work closely with a faculty committee to define a thesis topic. Upon successful completion of the thesis, and after satisfactory performance in an oral examination, the student may graduate with "Honors" or "Highest Honors" in Public Policy.

Internships: Public Policy majors are encouraged, but not required, to complete an internship before graduation. An internship is a supervised job that provides experience outside the classroom that is related to public policy. Students can receive academic credit for approved internships (PLCY 320 [90P]).

Speakers Series: The Department sponsors a speaker series in public policy. These series typically are centered on public policy themes and usually are co-sponsored by another unit (or units) on campus.

Majors Union: In 1988, students created a Majors Union that helps govern the curriculum and sponsors extra-curricular events and programs.

For more information contact:

Ms. Lennis Carrier
Student Services Manager
Campus Box #3435, Abernethy Hall
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3435
Phone: (919) 962-1600
Fax: (919) 962-5824
E-mail: lcarrier@unc.edu