B.S., Political Science: Public Policy

Top things to know

• Public Policy is a discipline rooted in political science and branching into all policy areas, such as education, health, crime, economics, and environment.
• Public Policy students have opportunities to tailor the major to their policy interests by selecting from over 50 policy-related courses offered throughout the university.
• Public Policy students investigate issues like how societal problems come to be addressed by public policy, the strengths and weaknesses of different kinds of policies, how public policy is shaped by policy implementation, why people disagree over what kinds of policies are legitimate, and how all this plays out in specific policy areas they're interested in.
• Internships are optional, but recommended, and give students the opportunity to be directly involved in public policy processes in government agencies, policy think tanks, and nonprofit organizations.

What can I do with this major?

• Work in entry-level positions in government and nonprofit agencies related to proposing, implementing, and analyzing public policies
• Participate in public policy processes as an informed citizen
• Pursue graduate education in public policy, law, public administration, or specific policy areas

Sample course of study:

1st year, fall

• POLS 1010 American Government (3 hrs)
• ECON 1010 Principles of Macroeconomics (3 hrs; also counts toward general education behavioral and social science requirement)
• Three additional general education courses (9-10 hrs)

1st year, spring

• POLS 1030 Controversies in Public Policy (3 hrs)
• ECON 1020 Principles of Microeconomics (3 hrs; also counts toward general education behavioral and social science requirement)
• Choose a general education approved statistics course (3 hrs)
• Two additional general education courses (6-7 hrs)

2nd year, fall

• POLS 2260 Introduction to Public Policy (3 hrs)
• Choose one policy-related course from the 8 options at the 2000 level (3 hrs)
• Three general education courses (9-10 hrs)

2nd year, spring

• POLS 2000 Research Methods (3 hrs)
• ENGL 2830 Writing for the Social Sciences (3 hrs; or take ENGL 3830 Writing Beyond the Academy during your 3rd year)
• Choose a second policy-related course from the 8 options at the 2000 level (3 hrs)
• Two general education courses (6-7 hrs)

3rd year, fall

• Choose two policy-related courses from the 15 options at the 3000 level (6 hrs)
• Two courses in your minor (6 hrs)
• Elective (3 hrs)

3rd year, spring

• POLS 3250 American Public Policy (3 hrs)
• Choose a third policy-related course from the 15 options at the 3000 level (3 hrs; be sure that at least one of the 3000-level courses you choose is a POLS or PANM course)
• Two courses in your minor (6 hrs)
• Elective (3 hrs)

4th year, fall

• POLS 4290 Advanced Topics in Public Policy (3 hrs)
• Choose two policy-related courses from the 20 options at the 4000 level (6 hrs)
• One course in your minor (3 hrs)
• Elective (3 hrs)

4th year, spring

• Choose two more policy-related courses from the 20 options at the 4000 level (6 hrs; be sure that at least two of the 4000-level courses you choose are POLS or PANM courses)
• One course in your minor (3 hrs)
• Internship or other electives (6 hrs)