Public Policy Major – Bachelor of Arts

The public policy major provides students with the knowledge and skill sets necessary to understand and affect public policy making in the United States, both domestic and foreign.  Students will acquire the skills to study a wide range of policy areas together with an understanding of the policy making process and the interdependencies of local, state and federal governments in the development and implementation of policy. Students will be prepared for professional careers in any policy area in the public, nonprofit and private sectors as well as for graduate study in all areas of public policy. This is a practical, applied degree that is well suited to providing students with the knowledge and skills necessary to help their communities and region move forward and prosper.

Program Competencies

Students are expected to:

1. Understand the policy making process in the United States,
2. Understand the relationship between the different levels of government and the interaction of nonprofits and organized interests,
3. Be able to identify problems, develop policy alternatives, and implement and evaluate policy, and
4. Develop proficiency in a specific policy area through elective and practicum courses.

Assessment

1. Capstone course
2. Assessment administered in RAPP 300 and 350
3. Annually through WEAVE Assessment and Planning Management System

Program Requirements (Public Policy Major)

General Education Requirements

	General Education courses	variable
PPOL 499C	Senior Seminar in Public Policy	3
Total Credit Hours:		36

Refer to the General Education section for a complete listing of general education requirements.

Major Requirements

Required Courses

Complete the following:

RAPP 101	Introduction to Public Policy	3
GOVT 141	United States Government	3
RAPP 203	Society, Nature and Development	3
PPOL 205	Conducting Public Policy Research	3
GOVT 242	State and Local Government	3
RAPP 300	Seminar in Regional Issues I	3
RAPP 350	Practicing Regional Analysis I	3
PPOL 400	Ethics in Public Policy	3
Total Credit Hours:		24

Required Electives

Choose four of the following courses:

GOVT 347	American Public Policy	3
ECON 201	Principles of Macroeconomics	3
MNGT 201	Principles of Management	3
PPOL 220	Introduction to Development Policy	3
PPOL 230	Introduction to Justice Policy	3
PPOL 399	Selected Topics in Public Policy	3
RAPP 376	Directed Research	3
RAPP 450	Practicing Regional Analysis II	3
RAPP 490	Seminar in Regional Issues II	3
Total Credit Hours:		12

Minor

All majors must also include a minor or additional major. See Terms to Know.

Total Credit Hours:

21

General Electives

Total Credit Hours:

27

Total Credit Hours: 120