The public policy studies major has two components: the core curriculum and areas of concentration, and an optional honors program for those who qualify. Students are also required to complete several prerequisites to prepare them for the major. Students may not double count any single course for both a required part of the core and for an elective.
The proposed core is interdisciplinary and includes rigorous course work drawn from political science, economics, sociology, anthropology, and history. The core provides all PPS students training in the politics, economics, methods, social contexts, history, and ethics of public policy.
In addition to developing skills in the core curriculum, PPS students seek more intensive training within areas of concentration. The boundaries of these areas are not mutually exclusive, and together they span a wide range of policy concerns and disciplinary perspectives. Among the five elective courses, students must take three courses in a single area of concentration. It is also recommended that students choose electives from at least two disciplines.
Students pursuing the "economic policy" concentration must take at least two upper-level electives in economics from the list (numbered above 3000).
Prerequisites
PPS majors must have earned credit for MATH 1201 or 1301, or higher; basic statistics (ECON 1500 or 1510 or both MATH 2820L and either 2810 or 2820); and introductory courses in political science and economics (PSCI 1100, ECON 1010, and ECON 1020).