Undergraduate Degree

Public Policy

Program:
Public Policy
Plan Code:
PUBLIC_BA1
Program Level:
Undergraduate
Award Type:
Bachelor of Arts
College:
Department:
Political Science
Relevant Excerpt(s) from Academic Programs:


Excerpt from the official Academic Programs Catalog:

Listed below are the approved requirements for the program from the official Academic Programs Catalog.
Students must consult their advisors to learn which specific requirements apply to their degree programs.


College of Social Science

Department of Political Science

Undergraduate Programs
Public Policy

The Public Policy major is designed to prepare students for careers in public service, advocacy, and analysis. It aims at a broad understanding of the goals and problems of public policy, the political process that leads to policy development, and the implementation and evaluation of public policy. The major is valuable preparation for those who intend to engage in research for public agencies, non-profits, or voluntary associations interested in the problems of government. A master’s degree program concentrating in public policy is also available for advanced work in preparation for an executive career in these fields.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Public Policy

  1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Policy.

    The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Public Policy  major is met by completing  Political Science 422.  That course is referenced in item 3. below.
  2. The requirements of the College of Social Science for the Bachelor of Arts degree.
  3. The following requirements for the major:
    a. All of the following courses (33 credits):
        (1) All of the following courses (10 credits):
               PLS  100 Introduction to American Politics  3
               PLS  200 Introduction to Political Science  4
               PLS  494 Field Experience in Political Science  3
        (2) One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
               PLS  201 Introduction to Methods of Political Analysis  4
               PLS  202 Introduction to Data Analytics and the Social Sciences  3
         (3) One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
               PLS  392 Special Topics in Political Science  3 or 4
               PLS  397 Analyzing and Visualizing Data in Politics  3
    (4) One of the following courses (3 credits):
               PLS  310 Public Administration and Policy Making  3
              PLS  313 American Public Policy  3
               The course used to fulfill this requirement may not be used to fulfill requirement (5) below.
         (5) Complete a minimum of three of the following courses (9 credits):
               PLS  301 American State Government  3
               PLS  302 Urban Politics  3
               PLS  310 Public Administration and Policy Making  3
               PLS  313 American Public Policy  3
               PLS  324 Congress  3
               PLS  325 The Presidency  3
               PLS  331 Political Parties and Interest Groups  3
              PLS  342 Comparative Political Economy  3
               PLS  362 American Foreign Policy and National Security  3
               PLS  363 International and Domestic Political Conflict  3
              PLS  364 Politics of the United Nations and International Organizations  3
         (6) One of the following courses (4 credits):
               PLS  422 Seminar in Political Science (W)  4
               PLS  481 Undergraduate Research Seminar  4