The Public Policy major draws its theoretical foundations from a variety of disciplines including political science, economics, and sociology. Majors are trained both in the ethics of public policy making as well as in the diverse methodologies used in the field. Because public policy is an applied field, majors take a variety of applied courses in such diverse areas as environmental studies, race and ethnic studies, women, gender, and sexuality studies, political science, economics, and sociology. Students develop a concentration that allows them to develop substantial expertise in an area of public policy analysis. A minimum of 44 credits is required for completion of the major.
PLCY 100 Introduction to Public Policy Analysis
ECON 100 Economics of Society or ECON 101 Principles of Economics
and
POLI 111 Introduction to American Politics
PHIL 110 Contemporary Moral Issues
PHIL 221 Ethical Theory
PHIL 320 Ethics and Law
REL 120 Religion and Ethics
REL 122 Environmental Ethics
BUS 434 Applied Business Ethics
POLI 202 Statistical Analysis and Mapping of Social Science Data
ECON 400 Introduction to Econometrics
EVST 110 Introduction to Spatial Analysis and GIS or SPA 110 Introduction to Spatial Analysis and GIS
EVST 399 Research Methods for Environmental Scientists
POLI 200 The Study of Politics
MATH 111 Elementary Statistics and Probability with Applications
PSYC 250 Statistical Methods
SOAN 300 Research Methods in the Social Sciences
WGS 330 Feminist Research Methods
(Minimum: 4-5 courses)
Majors shall develop a public policy concentration in consultation with the advisor. The concentration shall reflect substantial depth in a single area of public policy analysis. Concentrations must consist of a minimum of three courses with at least two courses being at the 200 level or higher.
A program contract must be completed detailing the specific courses required for the completion of the public policy concentration. The program contract shall be signed by both the student and the Program Director. Contracts will be kept on file in the Program Office and in the Registrar's Office. All public policy concentrations must be approved by the Director.
Samples of previously approved concentrations can be found in the Program Office. Approved concentrations have been developed in the following areas:
Health, Education and Welfare Policy
Environmental Policy
Economic Policy
Political Science and Public Policy
Public Finance
Immigration and Civil Rights Policy
Law and Public Policy
National Security Policy
Women, Gender and Sexuality Policy
Methods in Public Policy
Students are encouraged to develop and propose other concentrations as well.
PLCY 381 Public Policy Internship
In order to meet the major requirements, the Public Policy internship must have a University of Redlands faculty sponsor and be approved by the Director.
Elective: Directed Study (2‐4)
PLCY 170, PLCY 270, PLCY 370, PLCY 470
Elective: Internship (0‐4)
PLCY 180, PLCY 280, PLCY 380, PLCY 480
Single majors
Public Policy majors who do not major in any other field (i.e. single majors) may either:
a) complete PLCY 495 – Public Policy Capstone, POLI 456 – Education Policy, or POLI 457 – Health Care
Policy
OR
b) complete a capstone in their primary substantive field of study (e.g. POLI 495, ECON 465, EVST 475,
REST 402, WGS 459, or other capstone approved by the Director)
Double majors
Public Policy majors who also major in another field (i.e. double majors) may either:
a) complete two separate capstone experiences; one in Public Policy (PLCY 495, POLI 456, or POLI 457),
and one in the second major (e.g. POLI 495, ECON 465, EVST 475, REST 402, WGS 459, or other capstone
experience approved by the Director)
OR
b) write a share capstone that integrates the student’s learning outcomes in both majors.
Regardless of which option is selected, the capstone must focus on a public policy issue and address all of the Public Policy major learning outcomes described in this chapter.
Completion of the minor in Public Policy requires a minimum of 24 credits in the following policy related courses:
POLI 100 Introduction to Public Policy Analysis
ECON 100 Economics and Society or ECON 101 Principles of Microeconomics
and
POLI 111 Introduction to American Politics
POLI 202 Statistical Analysis and Mapping of Social Science Data
ECON 400 Introduction to Econometrics
EVST 110 Introduction to Spatial Analysis and GIS
POLI 200 The Study of Politics
MATH 111 Elementary Statistics and Probability with Applications
PSYC 250 Statistical Methods
SOAN 300 Research Methods in the Social Sciences
WGS 330 Feminist Research Methods
Two approved Public Policy courses
Students receiving scores of four or above on an Advanced Placement American Government exam will be given credit for POLI 111. Students who receive a score of four or higher in macroeconomics and microeconomics exams receive 4 credits for ECON 101 Principles of Economics.
Students may apply for departmental honors in the fall of the senior year. Students must have a minimum 3.5 GPA in the major to apply. To successfully complete the honors requirements, students must successfully defend an Honors Thesis in Public Policy. The defense committee shall be composed of at least two faculty members, one of whom shall be an advisory member in the Public Policy program.
