Program Overview

School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences

The School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs that focus on the study of economic, political, and policy sciences.

Public Policy (BS)

The Public Policy program is an interdisciplinary academic program that draws upon the insights of Political Science, Economics, and other related fields to help students tackle the complex problems in domestic public policy.

Program Description

The Bachelor of Science in Public Policy is a degree program intended for individuals who will systematically analyze public policy issues, implementation, and analysis. Students will be prepared for entry-level analytical and administrative positions in a wide array of professional settings in the public, nonprofit, and private sectors.

Degree Requirements

The degree requires 120 semester credit hours, which includes:

• Core Curriculum Requirements: 42 semester credit hours
  • Communication: 6 semester credit hours
  • Mathematics: 3 semester credit hours
  • Life and Physical Sciences: 6 semester credit hours
  • Language, Philosophy and Culture: 3 semester credit hours
  • Creative Arts: 3 semester credit hours
  • American History: 6 semester credit hours
  • Government / Political Science: 6 semester credit hours
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences: 3 semester credit hours
  • Component Area Option: 6 semester credit hours
• Major Requirements: 54 semester credit hours
  • Major Preparatory Courses: 12-13 semester credit hours
  • Major Core Courses: 30 semester credit hours
  • Public Policy Courses: 24 semester credit hours
• Elective Requirements: 24 semester credit hours

Faculty

The faculty members for the Public Policy program include:

• Professors: Brian J. L. Berry, Patrick T. Brandt, Thomas L. Brunell, Harold D. Clarke, Paul Diehl, Lloyd J. Dumas, Euel W. Elliott, Donald A. Hicks, Jennifer S. Holmes, Murray J. Leaf, Clint W. Peinhardt, Richard K. Scotch, Marianne C. Stewart
• Associate Professors: Jonas Bunte, Simon M. Fass, Dohyeong Kim, Banks P. Miller
• Clinical Associate Professor: Karl K. Ho
• Assistant Professors: Vito D'Orazio, Thomas Gray, Lauren Santoro

Minor in Public Policy

The Minor in Public Policy requires 21 semester credit hours, which includes:

• Required Courses: 12 semester credit hours
  • GOVT 2305 American National Government
  • GOVT 2306 State and Local Government
  • ECON 2302 Principles of Microeconomics
  • PSCI 3325 American Public Policy
• Upper-Division Courses: 9 semester credit hours
  • Choose three courses from the following:
    • IPEC 4301 Political Economy of Industrialized Countries
    • IPEC 4305 Topics in Science, Technology and Institutions
    • IPEC 4309 Urban Development
    • IPEC 4384 Health and Environmental Policy: A Global Perspective
    • PA 3380 Organizations: Theory and Behavior
    • PA 4351 Managing the Urban Environment
    • PA 4355 Managing Nonprofit Organizations
    • PPOL 4301 Law, Science, and Policy
    • PPOL 4302 Data and Policy
    • PPOL 4303 The Internet and Public Policy
    • PPOL 4396 Topics in Public Policy
    • PPOL 4398 Internship
    • PSCI 3310 Managing Government Organizations
    • PSCI 3322 Constitutional Law
    • PSCI 3326 Politics and Business
    • PSCI 3362 The American Political Institutions
    • PSCI 4304 Energy and Environmental Politics and Policy
    • PSCI 4305 Political Research
    • PSCI 4307 Predicting Politics
    • PSCI 4343 Congress and Public Policy

Minor in Science, Technology, and Policy

The Minor in Science, Technology, and Policy requires 18 semester credit hours, which includes:

• Required Courses: 9 semester credit hours
  • GOVT 2305 American National Government
  • PSCI 3325 American Public Policy
  • PPOL 4301 Law, Science, and Policy
  • or IPEC 4305 Topics in Science, Technology and Institutions
• Elective Courses: 9 semester credit hours
  • Choose 3 courses from the following:
    • IPEC 4305 Topics in Science, Technology and Institutions
    • IPEC 4384 Health and Environmental Policy: A Global Perspective
    • PPOL 4301 Law, Science, and Policy
    • PPOL 4302 Data and Policy
    • PPOL 4303 The Internet and Public Policy
    • PPOL 4396 Topics in Public Policy
    • PSCI 4304 Energy and Environmental Politics and Policy
    • PSCI 4356 International Political Economy