Policy Studies, BA

Major Requirements

Core Requirements

1. PST 101

   An Introduction to the Analysis of Public Policy
   3
2. PST 110

   Public Service Practicum
   1
3. MAX 123

   Critical Issues for the United States
   3
4. MAX 201

   Quantitative Methods for the Social Sciences
   3
5. ECN 101

   Introductory Microeconomics

   or: PAI 320 Economics for Policy Analysis
   3
6. PAI 305

   Policy Implementation
   3
7. PST 315

   Methods of Public Policy Analysis and Presentation
   3
8. PST 410

   Practicum in Public Policy
   3

Electives

1. Three elective courses numbered 300 or above from the following list of department prefixes. At least one of the three must be a PST or PAI course not numbered 470 or 490. Courses from the following prefixes are accepted for the other two electives: AAS, ANT, ECN, ESP, GEO, HST, IRP, PSC, SOC, MAX, WRT, COM, CRS, EEE, FST, HSH, IST, LPP, NSD, PHP, SAL SWK, WGS.

   Not resolved to a course
   9

Distinction in Policy Studies

Students completing the requirements below are eligible to graduate with Distinction in Policy Studies:

1. Policy Studies major or dual major;

2. Overall GPA of 3.50 or better by the end of the semester prior to graduation;

3. Complete PAI 495 Advanced Policy Research;

4. Complete a thesis approved by a committee composed of a thesis supervisor and a second reader, at least one of whom must be in the Department of Public Administration and International Affairs.

The program is open to students who meet the requirements above whether or not they are in the University-wide Renée Crown Honors Program. Students in the Renée Crown program may use a single thesis for both it and the departmental distinction program as long as the thesis meets the requirements for both programs.