Public Policy (BS)

Pre-Major Requirements

Students must complete the pre-major requirements. A minimum grade of C, 2.0 (A = 4.0), must be earned in each of the pre-major courses. All pre-major requirements must be taken for a letter grade.

• ECON 203g Principles of Microeconomics Units: 4
• MATH 117g Introduction to Mathematics for Business and Economics Units: 4

Core Curriculum (30 Units)

• PPD 225 Public Policy and Management Units: 4
• PPD 240g Citizenship and Public Ethics Units: 4
• PPD 245g The Urban Context for Policy and Planning Units: 4
• PPD 300 Social Justice Issues in Public Policy and Urban Planning Units: 4
• PPD 301 PPD Practices: Internship Seminar Units: 2
• PPD 303 Statistics for Policy, Planning, and Development Units: 4
• PPD 373 Public Policy and Planning Analysis Units: 4
• PPD 431 Undergraduate Policy, Planning, and Development Studio Units: 4

Tracks

Students select one track for degree emphasis; they take 28 units from the track selected. Each track includes five required courses and two elective courses with the exception of the Advanced Policy Analysis track, which has four required courses and three elective courses. During advisement, students will be given a list of recommended elective courses particularly appropriate for the chosen track. Students may work with their adviser for approval to take track electives outside of the courses listed to meet their academic needs. The required courses for each track are listed below followed by track elective options.

Additional Requirements

Cross-cutting Topics Courses 

Students will be required to take 4 units of cross-cutting topics courses (PPD 400 ), preferably in junior year after they have completed the core curriculum.

Capstone

All students will take 4 units of a capstone experience during their senior year. This may be fulfilled by taking PPD 431 Undergraduate Policy, Planning, and Development Studio (4) or PPD 497a Senior Thesis,  PPD 497b Senior Thesis (2-2). Students wishing to enroll in PPD 497a, PPD 497b must have a 3.7 GPA in PPD courses and an overall 3.5 GPA.

Internships

Public Policy majors are required to complete 140 hours of internship by enrolling in PPD 301 PPD Practices: Internship Seminar or the Washington, D.C., Semester internship. Internships are matched as closely as possible to the student’s interests and skills.

PPD 301 and the internship in a position provide numerous opportunities to develop and formulate future career goals, as well as to gain personal and professional experience while completing the undergraduate degree.

Honors

Price School honors are available at graduation to qualified PPD majors and result in a special designation of departmental honors on a student’s transcript. Achievement of PPD honors requires a 3.7 GPA in PPD major courses and a 3.5 overall GPA as well as nomination by the professor in the capstone experience. In addition, students must earn an A in their capstone course (PPD 497a, PPD 497b or PPD 431).

Washington, D.C., Semester

The Washington, D.C., Semester program provides an intensive semester of confrontation with the political center of the nation and its complex components. The program offers opportunities for behind-the-scenes work in national government agencies and related organizations, combined with an academic environment and the chance to explore, share and learn with a group of fellow students.