The minor in Public Policy is designed to provide effective public policy training for individuals presently or prospectively involved in the public, nonprofit, or private sectors. Although based in the Political Science Department, the minor in Public Policy offers an interdisciplinary approach to public policy. The aim of the minor is to provide students with an understanding of the fundamental elements involved in the public policy process and the analytical skills necessary to make informed judgments about both the policy-making and implementation processes and substantive policy outcomes.
Requirements for the Political Science Minor
Public Policy Minor Worksheet
Minors are required to complete a total of six courses, distributed as follows:
- One Economics course: Econ 101 OR Econ 102
- One Political Science course: PolSci 203
- One Statistics Course: ECON 205 Statistical Methods, OR PSYCH 270 Statistics, OR SOCIOL 350 Elements of Social Statistics, OR MATH 125 Introduction to Statistics, OR POLSCI 350 Political Research Methods, OR SOC 351 Research Methods
Students must take elective courses from at least 2 of the following Areas (Area I-VI):
- Ethics and Public Policy,
- Urban and Regional Policy
- Environmental Policy
- Social Welfare Policy
- Public Administration and Management
- Comparative and International Public Policy
In fulfilling the six-course requirement, however, no more than four courses may be taken from any one department. At least 2 of the 6 courses must be at the 300-level, and no more than 2 courses at the 100-level can be applied to the minor. Only one course may be double-counted with another major or minor. Only one course for the minor can be taken pass/fail. There is a 2.0 GPA graduation requirement. A minimum of three courses must be taken at UMass Boston.
The following list of courses, offered by various departments, may be counted towards the minor in Public Policy, conditional, of course, on fulfilling the core and area requirements. Due to course changes each year, this list should be regarded as incomplete. Students should use it as a base for formulating a tentative study plan. To make actual course selections each semester, consult the updated list available in the Political Science Department office (W-5-70) or from Professor Erin O'Brien.