Catalog Navigator : Public Policy

Public Policy

The major in public policy was introduced at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy in the fall of 2013. The public policy major prepares students for entry-level jobs in government, politics, and public affairs within public, nonprofit, or private sectors, or for graduate education in public administration, public affairs, and public policy.

The major introduces students in the use of analytical techniques to better understand public problems and evaluate alternative solutions to those problems. Examples include income inequality, health care reform, climate change, and immigration policy. To pursue the major, students must apply and be admitted to the Bloustein School. Completion of the public policy major leads to a bachelor of science (B.S.) degree. Students seeking the minor in public policy may declare it without applying for admission to the Bloustein School.

Students may transfer up to 60 credits into the program. The public policy major requires 46-47 credits (General Education requirements are 24-25 credits), for a total of 70-72 program requirements. The awarding of the preprofessional B.S. degree requires a minimum of 120 credits.

Public Policy Major Requirements

General Education Requirements (24-25 credits)

01:335:101
Expository Writing or equivalent course
3
01:355:102, 01:355:201 or TR:T10:WRI
Writing, Reasoning, and Public Policy or or equivalent course
3
01:640:100+, 01:640:103 Topics in Math for the Liberal Arts or any college-level math course
3

Any two natural sciences courses including biology, chemistry, environmental science, geology, meteorology, or physics
3,3
or
4,4

Any two arts and humanities courses including art, music, English, foreign language, speech, classics, religion, philosophy
3

Any course from a history department or any course primarily historical in nature from anther department
3

Major Requirements (46-47 credits)

Prerequisites (12-13 credits)

10:762:101
Introduction to Planning, Policy, and Health
3
10:762:205
Basic Statistical Methods for Policy, Planning, and Health (4) or equivalent
3-4
01:220:102
Introduction to Microeconomics
3
01:790:104
American Government
3

Major Requirements (13 credits)

10:833:215
Writing, Reasoning, and Public Policy
3
10:762:220
Public Economic Policy
3
10:762:305
Principles of Public Policy
3
10:762:395
Research Methods (prerequisite 10:762:101 Introduction to Planning, Policy, and Health (3) and 10:762:205 Basic Statistical Methods for Policy, Planning, and Health (4) or equivalent (3-4))
3-4

Internship and Professional Development (9 credits)

A pre-approved management course (see adviser for options)
3
10:833:400
Professional Practice Internship OR
10:833:403, 404* Public Policy Honors Thesis I and II (3,3) (prerequisites 10:762:305 Principles of Public Policy AND 10:762:395 Research Methods (4))
6

*Available as an option to internship for students with a GPA of 3.4 or better and recommendation of a faculty mentor.

Public Policy Concentration (12 credits)

Students select 12 credits in ONE of the concentrations below. Students may also create their own public policy concentration (such as military policy, science policy, or technology policy) and apply up to three policy-related courses from other programs with written approval from the undergraduate program director.

Using Policy to Alleviate Poverty and Inequality
10:762:225 Human Development and Public Policy (3)
10:762:303 Poverty in Developing Nations (3)
10:762:304 Poverty in the United States (3)
10:762:310 U.S. Housing Policy (3)
10:762:324 Social Movements (3)
10:762:330 Local Taxing and Spending Policy (3)
10:762:331 Urban Social Policy (3)
10:762:335 Gender, Family, and Public Policy (3)
10:762:421 Community Development (3)
10:762:444 American Environmental History (3)
10:762:480 Ethics in Planning and Public Policy (3)

Using Policy to Improve Health and the Environment
10:762:340 Aging and Public Policy (3)
10:762:351 Addictions Policy (3)
10:762:451 Environmental Policy and Regulation (3)
10:762:462 Human Rights and Health (3)
10:762:471 Globalization and Sustainability (3)
10:762:473 Transportation Policy (3)
10:762:476 Immigration Policy and Health (3)
10:762:480 Ethics in Planning and Public Policy (3)
10:832:335 Epidemiology (3)
10:832:338 Health and Public Policy (3)
10:832:413 Health Disparities (3)
10:832:416 Mental Health and Policy (3)
10:832:483 Protecting Public Health and the Environment (3)

Public Policy Minor Requirements (18-19 credits)

Required Courses (12-13 credits)

10:762:101 Introduction to Planning, Policy, and Health (3)
10:762:205 Basic Statistical Methods (4) or equivalent (3-4)
10:762:220 Public Economic Policy (3)
10:762:305 Principles of Public Policy (3)

Elective Courses (6 credits)

10:762:303 Poverty in Developing Nations (3)
10:762:304 Poverty in the United States (3)
10:762:310 U.S. Housing Policy (3)
10:762:330 Local Taxing and Spending Policy (3)
10:762:331 Urban Social Policy (3)
10:762:335 Gender, Family, and Public Policy (3)
10:762:417 Population Tools and Policies (3)
10:762:444 American Environmental History (3)
10:762:451 Environmental Policy and Regulation (3)
10:762:471 Globalization and Sustainability (3)
10:762:473 Transportation Policy (3)
10:762:476 Immigration Policy and Health (3)
10:762:480 Ethics in Planning and Public Policy (3)
10:762:490-491 Independent Study in Public Policy (BA)
10:762:495-499 Special Topics as offered, such as human development and public policy, media and public policy, and religion and public policy (See Degree Navigator for pre-approved list of special topics courses)

Joint B.A. or B.S./M.P.P. (3-1-1) Programs

Exceptional, well-prepared students from any Rutgers–New Brunswick matriculating unit who wish to study public policy are encouraged to seek advising about the 3-1-1 master of public policy (M.P.P.) program.

Bloustein Research Fellows (Honors Program)

The Bloustein Research Fellows Program offers and opportunity for a select group of students to align with the applied research done by the faculty, centers, and institutes at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. Students may explore applications of planning and public policy related to community development; energy, health, or transportation policy; urban planning; or workforce development. Students may apply for the Research Fellows Program if they have completed the prerequisite courses for a Bloustein School major and hold at least a 3.4 cumulative grade-point average. For information about this course of study please contact Christina Miller or LaToya Fendrick, undergraduate program coordinators, at undergrad@ejb.rutgers.edu.

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