The Public Policy Major Why Study Public Policy at St. Mary’s? Public policy decisions touch nearly every aspect of daily life, although we often fail to recognize or understand their impact. Daily, we are exposed to the policy proposals and preferences of those in or seeking office and they are in turn influenced by the preferences of the public and the pressures of organized interest groups. Given the impact that policy choices can have on our lives it is essential that we have an understanding of how policy choices are made and how we might evaluate those choices. Why do we need this knowledge? Policymakers are more responsive to the demands and interests of an active and informed public. Purpose The purpose of the Public Policy major is to equip students with sufficient competence in analytical skills supported by social science theory to prepare them for graduate or professional work. Majors should be sufficiently prepared to seek positions in organizations which deal with public policy issues: business firms, trade associations, lobbying organizations, and government agencies. The major provides students with the factual, analytical, practical, and theoretical skills necessary for contemporary policy design, implementation, and evaluation. Interdisciplinary Nature Public policy is interdisciplinary in nature; it is affected by social and economic conditions, political as well as cultural values, and the structure of government. The study of public policy requires the integration of knowledge from multiple disciplines to understand and critically assess public problems and potential solutions. The Public Policy major draws upon the knowledge and experience usually available through separate majors such as anthropology, economics, sociology, and political science. Only through a coordinated exposure to these fields can a student understand how they interact in the world of public policy. Perfect Choice for Double Majors The interdisciplinary nature of the major makes it a good choice for students considering a double major in related disciplines.			Proposed Degree Requirements for the Public Policy Major (refer to the course catalog for current degree requirements). To earn a bachelor of arts degree with a major in public policy studies, a student must satisfy the following minimum requirements: 1. General College Requirements (see “Curriculum” section), including the following requirements to satisfy the major: 2. Eight (8) credit hours of introductory courses in the social sciences consisting of: a. POSC 101: Introduction to Political Science b. ECON 101: Introduction to Economics 3. Core Requirements Twenty Eight (28) credit hours in the appropriate discipline to include: American Public Policy a. POSC 201: American Politics b. POSC 315: Policy Evaluation c. POSC 311: Public Policy d. ECON 251: Intermediate Macroeconomics, or ECON 252: Intermediate Microeconomics e. POSC 367: Public Administration, or SOCI 330: Sociology of Organizations f. ECON 253: Economic Statistics, or SOCI 201: Social Statistics, or POSC 300: Political Analysis I g. Four (4) semesters hours of approved American Public Policy electives (see list) International Public Policy a. POSC 252: Comparative Politics, or POSC 269: International Politics b. POSC 315: Policy Evaluation c. POSC 311: Public Policy d. ECON 251: Intermediate Macroeconomics, or ECON 252: Intermediate Microeconomics e. POSC 320: International Political Economy, or ECON 356: International Economics f. ECON 253: Economic Statistics, or SOCI 201: Social Statistics, or POSC 300: Political Analysis I g. Four (4) semesters hours of approved International Public Policy electives (see list) 4. Seminar Experience (8) semester hours a. 8 semester hours of St. Mary’s Project (PPOL 494), or b. Four (4) semester hours of PPOL 408 (cross-listed as POSC 408) with a senior experience paper and four (4) semester hours of electives in appropriate discipline (see list). 5. The 44 semester hours of major requirements may include field experience and independent study approved by the department chair. List of Public Policy Major Elective Courses by Discipline: American Public Policy: ECON 325: Urban Economics and Urban Issues (requires ECON 252) PSYCH 352: Human Behavior on Institutions ECON 350: Environmental Economics ECON 351: Industrial Organization and Regulation (requires ECON 252) ECON 355: Labor Economics (requires ECON 252) ECON 357: Money and Banking (requires ECON 251) ECON 359: Public Sector Economics (requires ECON 251 and 252) POSC 352: Con Law: Civil Liberties POSC 451: The Supreme Court and Public Policy POSC 461: Studies in American Politics (with approval by Public Policy coordinator) POSC (TBD): Poverty, Politics, and Social Welfare Policies* POSC (TBD): The American Health Care System* PSCYH 337: Social Gerontology SOCI 302: Medical Sociology SOCI 312: Economic Sociology International Public Policy: ECON 354: Natural Resources Economics ECON 360: Comparative Economics ECON 372: Economics of Developing Countries POSC 364: US Foreign Policy POSC 333: Asian Politics POSC 405: Democratization POSC 462: Studies in Comparative Politics POSC 468: Studies in International Relations (with approval by Public Policy coordinator; may require POSC 269) Courses Approved for Either Concentration: ANTH 341: Economic and Ecological Anthropology SOCY 355: Demography SOCI 385: Research Methods (requires SOCI 201) * Course approval pending
		Current Public Policy Degree Requirements Current requirements for the Public Policy major can be found in the St. Mary’s College of Maryland Catalog. Determined by the academic year that the student entered St. Mary's College. Choose the year and look for Political Science to find information about the Political Science Major, Degree Requirements and Courses. Proposed Revisions The St. Mary’s College Department of Political Science is in the process of revising the Public Policy major. Under the proposed revision, Public Policy students may choose from two disciplinary tracks – American Public Policy or International Public Policy. The proposed revisions can be found in the next column. Advising and Additional Questions A student who chooses to major in Public Policy should select an adviser from the political science or public policy faculty, and in conjunction with the adviser, plan a program that is appropriate to the needs and objectives of the students. Students who have questions about the public policy major should consult with Todd Eberly, Assistant Professor of Political Science and Public Policy. Professor Eberly is available via e-mail: teeberly@smcm.edu
This page was last updated on 4/30/2008.