Public Policy

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Minimum number of credits to complete the minor: 20

Minimum cumulative GPA required to graduate: 2.0

School: School of Arts and Sciences

Department: Political Science and Public Policy

Learn more about the program

The Public Policy minor is designed to allow students to develop an understanding of public policy and administration as a field of academic study and an area of professional practice. Students can take electives that connect to their own interests and career pathway. Minors have the option of taking an internship in either government agencies at the federal, state, or local level or in nonprofit agencies that advocate for substantive policy outcomes.

Minor Requirements

The minor consists of five courses (20 credits): two core courses, two Political Science and Public Policy elective courses, and one general elective course.

Core Courses

Complete the following two required courses:

POL 1300 - Public Administration Credits: 4
POL 1400 - Politics of Public Policy Credits: 4

Political Science and Public Policy Electives

Choose at least two elective courses from the following. The third elective course may come from the Political Science and Public Policy options below or from the courses listed in the General Electives section.

POL 1900 - International Politics Credits: 4
POL 2000 - Political Science Methods Credits: 4
POL 2010 - Political Ethics Credits: 4
POL 2120 - Government, Business and Law Credits: 4
POL 2200 - Global Issues Credits: 4
POL 2300 - The Politics of Food Credits: 4
POL 3111 - State and Local Politics and the Environment Credits: 4
POL 3112 - Congress and The Legislative Process Credits: 4
POL 3113 - The American Presidency Credits: 4
POL 3122 - Issues in Public Policy Credits: 4 *
POL 3140 - Mass Media and American Politics Credits: 4 *
POL 3160 - United States Foreign Policy Credits: 4
OR
POL 4599 - Issues and Cases in United States Foreign Policy Credits: 4
POL 3161 - Politics of Immigration Credits: 4
POL 3541 - Cyber Security: The Intersection of Technology and Policy Credits: 4
POL 4850 - Public Service Internship Credits: 8 *
OR
POL 4851 - Public Service Summer Internship Credits: 4
OR
POL 4852 - Public Service Fall or Spring Internship Credits: 4
(Note: A maximum of four internship credits can be counted toward the minor.)**

General Electives

Choose one course from the following:

COM 4132 - Mass Media and American Politics Credits: 4 *
COM 4222 - Political Communication Credits: 4 *
ECO 1204 - Principles of Macroeconomics Credits: 4
ECO 2202 - Intermediate MacroEconomics Credits: 4 *
ECO 2225 - Economics of Gender Credits: 4 *
ECO 3303 - Sustainable Development Credits: 4 *
ECO 3305 - Ecological Economics Credits: 4 *
ECO 3306 - International Economics Credits: 4 *
ECO 3311 - Public Finance Credits: 4 *
ECO 3313 - Econometrics Credits: 4 *
ESS 3550 - Environmental Policy Credits: 4 ***
HSC 3103 - Global Public Health Credits: 4 ****
PHL 3060 - Justice in Health and Healthcare Credits: 4
SOC 3650 - Immigration (Study Abroad) Credits: 4

Public Policy Minor Notes

Only two Political Science courses may be double-counted between a Public Policy minor and a Political Science or an International Studies major.

Only two Political Science courses may be double-counted between a Public Policy minor and a Political Science minor or a Cyber Security minor.

* Course has prerequisites

** Faculty consent required

*** Junior standing or faculty consent required

**** School consent required if not Health Science minor or major