Program Overview

Undergraduate Major in Public Policy

The Major in Public Policy, offered jointly with the Department of History in the NYU College of Arts and Science, provides students with in-depth knowledge, analytical skills, and familiarity with historical context to understand how governments, markets, and the non-profit sector work. The program prepares students to participate in the creation, implementation, and evaluation of policies addressing significant domestic and global issues.

Program Highlights

The Public Policy major offers a diverse and rigorous curriculum, giving students the tools and expertise needed to translate their passion into action. Students learn from top faculty from multiple disciplines, such as economics, political science, law, and statistics. Public Policy majors learn to:

• Think analytically and critically
• Understand policy contexts and processes
• Conduct and use research
• Apply statistical, economic, and other quantitative and qualitative tools of analysis
• Develop written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
• Understand their civic responsibilities and make ethical judgments

Curriculum

The Public Policy major requires ten courses and one prerequisite course, including four core courses, five electives, and a senior seminar requirement. The required courses, coupled with additional electives, provide students with a foundational set of public policy skills and tools.

Prerequisite

Before declaring, students must complete one prerequisite that provides a strong analytic framework necessary to begin studies in the major:

• ECON-UA 2, Introduction to Microeconomics (Advanced standing credit in microeconomics is accepted) Students are recommended to complete the prerequisite in their first year.

Core Courses

• UPADM-GP 101, The Politics of Public Policy
• UPADM-GP 140, The Economics of Public Policy
• UPADM-GP 111, Quantitative Analysis for Public Policy (This course satisfies the College Core Curriculum Quantitative Reasoning requirement for public policy majors only)
• Ethics and Justice course (choose one from a list of options)

Electives

Public Policy majors select five elective courses to deepen their understanding of, and expertise in, key policy areas. The electives must be distributed in the following categories:

• Two history electives
• One policy analysis elective
• Two general policy electives

Senior Seminar

The Senior Seminar (PUBPL-UA 800) serves as a capstone experience for the Public Policy major, applying analytical methods and substantive knowledge of the policy process to critical and relevant policy issues. Students must complete UPADM-GP 101, 111, and 140 to be eligible to enroll in PUBPL-UA 800.

Faculty

The faculty includes:

• Aaron Bekemeyer, Director, Undergraduate Major in Public Policy, and Clinical Assistant Professor of Public Service and History
• Sewin Chan, Associate Professor of Public Policy
• Jamie Levine Daniel, Henry and Marilyn Taub Foundation Associate Professor of Nonprofit Management and Public Service

Undergraduate Offerings

In addition to the Public Policy Major, NYU offers various undergraduate programs, including:

• Wagner Minors (Public Policy, Social Entrepreneurship, Policy & Management, Leadership, Spirituality, and Social Innovation, Policy Analysis)
• Bachelor's-Master's Dual Programs (CAS, Gallatin, Global Liberal Studies, Tandon, NYU Abu Dhabi)
• Undergraduate Courses