Public Policy
Analyzing and designing solutions to public problems.
Public policy studies how policies are designed, analyzed, and evaluated to address public problems, healthcare, education, the environment, the economy, using tools from economics, statistics, and political science. It's more analytical and quantitative than a general political science degree.
Coursework centers on policy analysis methods, weighing costs, benefits, and tradeoffs of different approaches, often through case studies of real policy decisions, and many programs require a capstone project analyzing an actual policy issue.
Typical courses you might take
- ✓Introduction to Public Policy
- ✓Policy Analysis Methods
- ✓Statistics for Policy Analysis
- ✓Economics for Policy
- ✓Political Institutions & Policy Process
- ✓Cost-Benefit Analysis
- ✓Policy Area Electives (health, education, environment, etc.)
- ✓Policy Capstone Project
Sample four-year plan
Illustrative, not a registration planOne possible way these courses could be sequenced alongside general education and elective credit. Real programs vary in order, pacing, and prerequisites by school, use this to get a rough sense of the arc, not to plan actual registration.
- ✓Introduction to Public Policy
- +General education requirement
- ✓Policy Analysis Methods
- +General education requirement
- ✓Statistics for Policy Analysis
- +General education requirement
- ✓Economics for Policy
- +Free elective
- ✓Political Institutions & Policy Process
- +Free elective
- ✓Cost-Benefit Analysis
- +Elective in the major (or minor coursework)
- ✓Policy Area Electives (health, education, environment, etc.)
- +Elective in the major (or minor coursework)
- ✓Policy Capstone Project
- +Capstone, thesis, or culminating project (common in many programs)
Skills you'll build
This major might be a good fit if you...
- ★Interested in solving public problems with evidence and analysis
- ★Comfortable with statistics and quantitative reasoning
- ★Enjoys weighing tradeoffs across competing values and interests
- ★Considering government, think tanks, or advocacy work
Common minors & double-major pairings
Economics · Statistics · Political Science
Roles this major could lead to
Factual, day-to-day descriptions from our Career Role Encyclopedia, not a guarantee this major leads to any specific job.
Policy Analyst
Researches and evaluates policy options for government or advocacy organizations.
Urban Planner
Plans how land, housing, and infrastructure develop in a community.
Legislative Aide / Staffer
Supports an elected official's policy work, research, and constituent services.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Public Policy major?
Analyzing and designing solutions to public problems.
What courses do Public Policy majors take?
Typical coursework includes classes like Introduction to Public Policy, Policy Analysis Methods, Statistics for Policy Analysis, among others, see the full course list above for this major's typical lineup.
What skills do you build in a Public Policy program?
Public Policy coursework typically builds skills like Policy analysis and evaluation, Statistical and quantitative reasoning, Understanding tradeoffs and cost-benefit analysis, Clear writing for policymakers and the public.
Is Public Policy a good major for me?
It tends to be a good fit if signals like "Interested in solving public problems with evidence and analysis" or "Comfortable with statistics and quantitative reasoning" describe you. See the full "good fit if you..." list above for more.
What can you do with a Public Policy degree?
Majors in this field often go on to roles like Policy Analyst, Urban Planner, Legislative Aide / Staffer. See our Career Role Encyclopedia for more, a major shapes what you study, not a guarantee of any specific job.
What other majors pair well with Public Policy?
Common minor or double-major pairings include Economics, Statistics, Political Science.
How is Public Policy different from Political Science?
They're related but distinct. Public Policy: Analyzing and designing solutions to public problems. Political Science: How power, government, and political systems work. Use the compare tool to see courses and skills side by side.
How long does it take to earn a Public Policy degree?
Most bachelor's degrees, including this one, are designed to be completed in about four years of full-time study. Exact timing depends on your school, course load, transfer credit, and any changes of major along the way.
Printed from majoratlas.com/majors/public-policy