The Minor

Public Policy Minor Requirements

To complete the minor in Public Policy, students must complete 5 PUBPOL courses. 

• All students must take PUBPOL 280 Public Policy.
• Students should take four additional PUBPOL courses of which:
• One must be at the 100-level or higher;
• One must be at the 200-level or higher; and
• Two must be at the 300-level or higher.

All coursework must carry at least 3 credits and be taken for a letter grade. The overall GPA for the minor must be at least 2.0. At least 3 of the 5 courses must be taken within (or be cross-listed with) the PUBPOL or SPP prefix.  See Course List above.

Two courses may be transferred from another program, such as a previous institution or through a study abroad institution. Per University policy, at most 2 courses for the minor may overlap with another major, minor, certificate, or graduate program. Courses that do not count toward the minor include: 296*, 396*, 496*, 298*, 398*, and PUBPOL 301 Junior Year Writing.

For the 100-level PUBPOL course, students have several options. Each of these classes give students an overview of major public problems that policy makers face and an introduction to central approaches that address those problems and/or actors involved, serving as a gateway into studying public policy. Alternatively, students may choose to take a higher numbered course to fulfill this requirement. See the Course List above. 

Students will be required to take PUBPOL 280 Public Policy, which is the core course providing an overview of the policy process and theories of policy making and implementation. The course focuses on how public policies are made in the U.S., including the role of citizens, interest groups, and government institutions. It emphasizes the processes by which policies are made in and across branches of government. 

At the 200-level, students have a number of options. 200-level courses allow students to look at policy from a particular perspective, while also focusing on building a common vocabulary and understanding. Alternatively, students may choose to take a higher numbered course to fulfill this requirement. 

Finally, students must take 2 300-level or above courses. With this requirement, students may explore a particular policy area or grow a certain skill set, such as leadership or nonprofit management, that relates to their interests.  Students may choose to take 400- and 500-level courses to fulfill the minor requirements. 

Beyond 500-level courses, students may petition to take a master’s level course to fulfill the minor requirements. If that course is offered with an PUBPOL or SPP prefix, it would count towards the 3 PUBPOL courses.