BSPP specialization in Social Policy:

I.        Public Policy Core (26 credits)
  1. PPOL 201: Introduction to Public Policy
  2. Political Science 331: State and Local Politics
  3. Public Policy 371: Public Policy Problems
  4. Public Policy 372: Public Administration
  5. Policy 415: Professional Development Seminar
  6. Public Policy 413: Ethics in Public Policy
  7. Economics 435: Public Economics
    Or Political Science 458: International Political Economy
    Or Sociology 360: Populations Trends and Policy
II.       Methods and WIC (8 credits)
  1. Public Policy 421: Introduction to Policy Research
  2. Public Policy 422: Policy Analysis (WIC)
III.      Social Policy Specialization Electives (18-20 credits)

Select 18-20 credits from the pre-approved list below. At least 14 credits must be in courses from the School of Public Policy.

  • ANTH/ES/WGSS 373: Approaches to Social Justice (3 cr)
  • ANTH 484: Wealth and Poverty (3 cr) e
  • ECON 383: The Economics of Discrimination (4 cr)
  • ECON 414:  Behavioral Economics (4 cr) (Prereq: Econ 311 or Econ 411)
  • ECON 439:  Public Policy Analysis (4 cr) (Prereq: Econ 311 or Econ 411)
  • ECON 440:  Economics of Globalization (4 cr) (Prereq: Econ 311)
  • ECON 455:  Economic Development (4 cr) (Prereqs: Econ 201/Econ 201H & Econ 202/Econ 202H)
  • ECON 480:  Labor Economics and Social Policy (4 cr) e (Prereq: Econ 311)
  • ECON 491: Economics of Inequality
  • HDFS: 447 Families and Poverty
  • HDFS: 460 Family Policy
  • NR 351: When Science Escapes the Lab: Science & Resource Management (3 cr)
  • PPOL 410: Internship/Work Experience
  • PPOL 441: Energy, Climate and Society
  • PS 317: Gender and Politics (4 cr)
  • PS 345: Politics of Developing Nations (4 cr) e
  • PS 363: Gender and Race in American Political Thought (4 cr) e
  • PS 375: The Civil Rights Movement and Policies (4 cr) e
  • PS 470: Global Food Politics and Policy (4 cr) e
  • SOC 312: Sociology of the Family (4 cr) e
  • SOC 350: Health, Illness and Society (4 cr) e
  • SOC 355: Death and Dying (4 cr) e
  • SOC 426: Social Inequality (4 cr) e
  • SOC 430: Gender and Society (4 cr)
  • SOC 437: Race and Ethnic Relations (4 cr)
  • SOC 438: US Immigration Issues in the 21st Century (4 cr) e
  • SOC 439: Welfare and Social Services (4 cr) e
  • SOC 450: Sociology of Education (4 cr) e
  • SOC 454: Leisure and Culture (4 cr) e*
  • SOC 460: The Sociology of Globalization (4 cr)
  • SOC 470: Collective Behavior (4 cr)
  • SOC 471: Social Movements (4 cr) e

“e” denotes courses offered online as well as on campus

IV.     Learning Beyond the Major

Opportunities to put learning into practice are built into the BSPP curriculum. However, in seeking to maximize your educational experience, there are other opportunities students might consider. Internships, jobs, and volunteer work can broaden students’ understanding of how public policy is developed, applied, and/or experienced in the field. A minor or second major can allow a student to develop deeper content knowledge in the policy areas that interest them most. Study abroad programs deepen cross-cultural understanding and expose you to different systems and policymaking approaches. Consult with one of the BSPP advisors about complementing your major with the options that best fit your interests and goals.