Program Overview
Public policy refers to the activities of governments, what they do (and do not do) to solve problems and/or advance political interests. These policies - whether regarding the economy, public health, criminal justice, the environment, or a range of other issues—impact the lives of citizens in significant ways. As an academic field, the study of public policy is devoted to understanding the motivations, conflicts, and processes that shape the development of public policies and analyzing the outcomes of those policies, especially with respect to the problems or issues they intended to address. A critical goal of public policy analysis is to help identify the best policy design for addressing a problem, according to the criteria of the decision maker.
The minor in Public Policy Analysis is an interdisciplinary program wherein students take classes chiefly in the fields of Political Science and Economics. In so doing, they build skills and knowledge that allow them to analyze and comprehend the sources, influences, and consequences of public policy decisions. In the field of Political Science, students are required to take courses that illuminate the key actors and institutions, especially the US Congress, that are involved in policymaking. They also have options to take courses introducing the strengths and weaknesses of different policy designs to address public problems. In Economics, students take foundational courses that will equip them with the framework and tools to make policy decisions on a variety of social issues such as health, the environment, trade, inequality, poverty, education, regulation, and inflation, all in the context of a myriad of economic goals such as growth, productivity, and employment.