The U.S. faces many social problems—such as poverty, inequality, hunger, homelessness, access to education, childcare, senior, youth and migrant services—that challenge existing knowledge, policies and institutions.  Addressing these challenges requires both the theoretical insights of multiple disciplines and the practical wisdom that derives from engagement in solving actual problems. The primary goal of the Social Policy concentration is to develop a new generation of interdisciplinary researchers that engage in place-based multi-method research that contributes to our understanding and resolution to these problems. 

Through internships, coursework and research, students in this concentration have designed Latino outreach programs, homeless youth programs, community diversity policies, home weatherization programs for the poor, and numerous other community programs and policies that are making a difference in people's lives.   

The Social Policy Concentration Advisor is Dr. Brent Steel

Social Policy Faculty available for MPP student committees.

Minimum 16 credit hours of the following courses:

General Social Policy:

  • ANTH 566 - Rural Anthropology [4 credits]
  • ANTH 567 - Agri-Food Movements [4 credits]
  • ANTH 571 - Cash, Class and Culture : HUNTER-GATHERERS TO CAPITALISM [4 credits]
  • ANTH 572 - Contemporary Native Issues [4 credits]
  • ANTH 586 - Anthropology of Food [4 credits]
  • ECON 514 - Behavioral Economics [4 credits]
  • ECON 535 - Public Economics [4 credits]
  • ECON 555 - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT [4 credits]
  • ECON 566 -  ECONOMICS OF TRADITIONAL AND RENEWABLE ENERGY [ 4 Credits]
  • ECON 560 - Industrial Organization Theory and Policy [4 credits]
  • ECON 561 - Law, Economics, and Regulation [4 credits]
  • PPOL 544 - Collaborative Governance [4 credits]
  • SOC 512 - Sociology of Work and Family [4 credits]
  • SOC 526 - Social Inequality [4 credits]
  • SOC 532 - Sociology of Aging [4 credits]
  • SOC 537 - Race and Ethnic Relations [4 credits]
  • SOC 538 - U.S. Immigration Issues in the 21st Century [4 credits]
  • SOC 539 - Welfare and Social Services [4 credits]
  • SOC 540 - Juvenile Delinquency [4 credits]
  • SOC 541 - Criminology and Penology [4 credits]
  • SOC 542 - Sociology of Drug Use and Abuse [4 credits]
  • SOC 548 - Law and Society [4 credits]
  • SOC 550 - Sociology of Education [4 credits]
  • SOC 552 - Sociology of Religion [4 credits]
  • SOC 570 - Collective Behavior [4 credits]
  • SOC 571 - Social Movements [4 credits]
  • SOC 575 - Rural Sociology [4 credits]

Education Policy:

  • ECON 535 - Public Economics [4 credits]
  • ECON 580 - Labor Economics and Social Policy [4 credits]
  • ED 590 - Social Justice in Education [4 credits]
  • ED 650 - Equity and Education Policy [3 credits]
  • PPOL 551 - Higher Education Policy [4 credits]
  • SOC 526 - Social Inequality [4 credits]
  • SOC 550 - Sociology of Education [4 credits]