Public Policy, B.A.

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Policy is an interdisciplinary academic program, drawing upon courses in political science, economics, sociology, statistics, and other related fields. In addition to the required 18 credit hours of foundational policy courses, students will select 12 credit hours from one of four concentration areas: economic policy, environmental policy, foreign policy, or social policy. Upon approval of the academic advisor and the department chair, the social policy concentration can be tailored to fit a student’s unique policy interest. Students will not only examine the process and outcomes of policymaking, but will also consider the ethical and moral implications of the impact that public policy decisions have on society. The Public Policy major is designed to prepare students for careers in government, advocacy, and analysis or for additional study at the graduate level or law school.

Degree Requirements (120 Cr. Hrs.)

University Core Curriculum (41 Cr. Hrs.)

University Core Curriculum (Traditional) Specified Core Course Requirements: Intercultural Inquiry: FOR LANG 112 or Higher Social Inquiry: PS 101 Quantitative Literacy: MAT 108

Public Policy Required Courses (18 Cr. Hrs.)

Students must complete the 18 credit hours of required courses listed below. In addition, students must complete 12 credit hours from one of the four concentration areas listed below.

ECO 211 - Principles of Microeconomics 3 Cr. Hrs.
PS 201 - Research Methods for Political Science 3 Cr. Hrs.
PS 301 - Public Policy 3 Cr. Hrs.
PS 310 - Judicial Process and Policy-Making in the United States 3 Cr. Hrs.
PS 497 - Political Science Senior Seminar 3 Cr. Hrs.
SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology 3 Cr. Hrs.

Students Select One Concentration Area (12 Cr. Hrs.)

Economic Policy Concentration (12 Cr. Hrs.)

Required Course Credits Hours: 3 Cr. Hrs.
ECO 212 - Principles of Macroeconomics 3 Cr. Hrs.
Economic Policy Electives - select 9 credit hours from the courses below: Credits Hours: 9 Cr. Hrs.
ECO 301 - Money and Banking 3 Cr. Hrs.
ECO 310 - International Economics 3 Cr. Hrs.
ECO 340 - Intermediate Microeconomics 3 Cr. Hrs.
ECO 350 - Intermediate Macroeconomics 3 Cr. Hrs.
ECO 492 - Current Topics in Economics 1-3 Cr. Hrs.
PS 302 - International Political Economy 3 Cr. Hrs.
200/300/400 - Course Approved by Academic Advisor and Department Chair

Environmental Policy Concentration (12 Cr. Hrs.)

Required Course Credits Hours: 3 Cr. Hrs.
PS 314 - Environmental Policy and Law 3 Cr. Hrs.
Environmental Policy Electives - select 9 credit hours from the courses below: Credits Hours: 9 Cr. Hrs.
BIO 307 - Bioinformatics 1 Cr. Hrs.
BIO 320 - Ecology 4 Cr. Hrs.
BIO 325 - Economic Botany 4 Cr. Hrs.
BIO 335 - Ornithology 4 Cr. Hrs.
BIO 355 - Conservation Biology 3 Cr. Hrs.
BIO 358 - Intro to Geographic Information Systems 3 Cr. Hrs.
BIO 425 - Wetlands Biology 4 Cr. Hrs.
200/300/400 - Course Approved by Academic Advisor and Department Chair

Foreign Policy Concentration (12 Cr. Hrs.)

Required Course Credits Hours: 3 Cr. Hrs.
PS 306 - United States Foreign Policy 3 Cr. Hrs.
Foreign Policy Electives - select 9 credit hours from the courses below: Credits Hours: 9 Cr. Hrs.
CRJ 410 - Terrorism 3 Cr. Hrs.
ECO 310 - International Economics 3 Cr. Hrs.
PS 302 - International Political Economy 3 Cr. Hrs.
PS 305 - War and Peace in World Politics 3 Cr. Hrs.
PS 402 - Introduction to International Law and Organization 3 Cr. Hrs.
PS 220 - International Relations 3 Cr. Hrs.
200/300/400 - Course Approved by Academic Advisor and Department Chair

Social Policy Concentration (12 Cr. Hrs.)

Required Course Credits Hours: 3 Cr. Hrs.
PS 411 - Comparative Public Policy 3 Cr. Hrs.
Social Policy Electives - select 9 credit hours from the courses below: Credits Hours: 9 Cr. Hrs.
HDFS 101 - Introduction to Human Development and Family Studies 3 Cr. Hrs.
HDFS 310 - Parent/Child Relationships 3 Cr. Hrs.
HDFS 315 - Family Dynamics 3 Cr. Hrs.
HDFS 420 - Families: Risk, Resilience, and Health 3 Cr. Hrs.
HDFS 450 - Family Law & Public Policy 3 Cr. Hrs.
SOC 202 - Social Problems 3 Cr. Hrs.
SOC 301 - Social Psychology 3 Cr. Hrs.
SOC 303 - Marriage and Family 3 Cr. Hrs.
SOC 310 - Race and Ethnic Relations 3 Cr. Hrs.
SOC 312 - Deviance and Crime in Society 3 Cr. Hrs.
SOC 320 - Substance Abuse and Treatment 3 Cr. Hrs.
200/300/400 - Course Approved by Academic Advisor and Department Chair

General Electives (49 Cr. Hrs.)

Eight Semester Sequence

First Semester (16 Cr. Hrs.)

AU 101 - Transitions and Expectations 1 Cr. Hrs.
ECO 211 - Principles of Microeconomics 3 Cr. Hrs.
ENG 101 - Composition and Communication I 3 Cr. Hrs.
Social Inquiry Credits Hours: 3 Cr. Hrs.
Intercultural Inquiry Credits Hours: 3 Cr. Hrs.
General Elective Credits Hours: 3 Cr. Hrs.
PS 101 - American National Government 3 Cr. Hrs.

Second Semester (15 Cr. Hrs.)

CHR 105 - Introduction to the Bible 3 Cr. Hrs.
ENG 102 - Composition and Communication II 3 Cr. Hrs.
SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology 3 Cr. Hrs.
Quantitative Literacy Credits Hours: 3 Cr. Hrs.
Historical Inquiry Credits Hours: 3 Cr. Hrs.
MAT 108 - Finite Probability and Statistics 1 3 Cr. Hrs.

Third Semester (16 Cr. Hrs.)

Scientific Inquiry Credits Hours: 4 Cr. Hrs.
Creative Inquiry Credits Hours: 3 Cr. Hrs.
General Electives Credits Hours: 6 Cr. Hrs.
PS 201 - Research Methods for Political Science 3 Cr. Hrs.

Fourth Semester (15 Cr. Hrs.)

General Electives Credits Hours: 12 Cr. Hrs.
PHI 210 - Philosophical Foundations & Moral Reasoning 3 Cr. Hrs.

Firth Semester (15 Cr. Hrs.)

Public Policy Concentration Elective Credits Hours: 3 Cr. Hrs.
General Electives Credits Hours: 9 Cr. Hrs.
PS 301 - Public Policy 3 Cr. Hrs.

Sixth Semester (15 Cr. Hrs.)

PS 310 - Judicial Process and Policy-Making in the United States 3 Cr. Hrs.
Public Policy Concentration Elective Credits Hours: 3 Cr. Hrs.
General Electives Credits Hours: 6 Cr. Hrs.
CHR 305 - Christian Worldview and Contemporary Application 3 Cr. Hrs.

Seventh Semester (12 Cr. Hrs.)

CON 3** - Connections 3 Cr. Hrs.
Public Policy Concentration Elective Credits Hours: 3 Cr. Hrs.
General Electives Credits Hours: 3 Cr. Hrs.
PS 497 - Political Science Senior Seminar 3 Cr. Hrs.

Eighth Semester (16 Cr. Hrs.)

Public Policy Concentration Elective Credits Hours: 3 Cr. Hrs.
General Electives Credits Hours: 10 Cr. Hrs.
CTI 4** - Contemporary Issues 3 Cr. Hrs.