Public Policy Major (833, 833D) and Minor

Public Policy Major (53 credits)

The public policy major prepares students for jobs in government, politics, and public affairs within public, nonprofit, or for-profit sectors or for graduate education in law, public administration, public affairs, and public policy.

The major introduces students to 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.

Upon completing all degree requirements, the student will receive the bachelor of science (B.S.) degree.

Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences and School of Environmental and Biological Sciences Students

This program is designed to accommodate the needs of traditional students at Rutgers University-New Brunswick.

Students in the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) and students in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS) who wish to remain in their primary unit must apply for admission prior to declaring the major.

SAS students may pursue Public Policy as their first major and remain within SAS. SEBS students may pursue Public Policy as a second major to remain within SEBS.

Students are advised to declare the Public Policy major no later than their first semester of junior year to ensure completion of the major by their anticipated graduation date. Applicants must have a minimum grade of 'C' or better in each of the prerequisite courses and be in good academic standing.

Students can apply for the Public Policy major during one of our application cycles listed here. The application may be found on the school's website at¿https://bloustein.rutgers.edu/undergraduate/publicpolicy/#sas

Only courses with a 'C' or better may be counted towards the major, and students must complete the core curriculum requirements of their primary school.

The most current information for the Public Policy major may be found on the Bloustein School website at https://bloustein.rutgers.edu/undergraduate/publicpolicy/

Transfer Students

This program is designed to accommodate the needs of transfer, adult, and nontraditional students.

Students seeking the Public Policy major must have at least 30 credits before applying to the Bloustein School. Successful applicants will have completed the prerequisite courses with a grade of 'C' or better, and have achieved an overall GPA of at least 2.5.

Current Rutgers students seeking a school-to-school transfer from another Rutgers unit, or students transferring to Rutgers from another college or university, must apply via the Rutgers Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Contact ugadmissions@ejb.rutgers.edu for more information.

Transfer students from New Jersey community colleges are encouraged to complete lower-division prerequisite courses and the associate's degree to benefit from the NJ Statewide Transfer Agreement.

Only courses with a 'C' or better may be counted towards the major.

For more information about transferring, please see the school's website at https://bloustein.rutgers.edu/undergraduate/publicpolicy/#transfer

PUBLIC POLICY MAJOR REQUIREMENTS (833, 833D)

(53 credits)

*Effective Spring 2024*

The Public Policy major and minor were updated during the spring 2023 term. The curriculum below is effective as of spring 2024. Students who declared at the end of spring 2024 and onward will follow the new requirements. Students who completed the previous prerequisites (American Government, microeconomics, and statistics) may count those courses towards the major electives.

Prerequisite Courses (3 credits)

01:355:101 Expository Writing (3) or equivalent

Major Requirements (833, 833D) (53 credits)

Core Courses (29 credits)

10:775:205 Basic Statistics or equivalent (3-4)
10:833:210 Principles of Public Policy (3)
10:833:215 Writing, Reasoning and Public Policy (3)
10:833:220 Public Economic Policy (3)
One of the following (3):

10:843:360 Managing Public Sector Organizations (3)
10:833:361 Managing People and Organizations (3)
10:833:362 Non-Profit Management (3)

10:775:395 Research Methods (4) Prerequisite: 10:775:205 or equivalent statistics. Open to majors only.
10:775:450 Leadership Seminar (3) Pre or Corequisite 10:775:395 Research Methods. Open to majors only; min. 85 credits.
10:775:499 Professional Practice Internship* (6) Prerequisites: 10:775:395 Research Methods and 10:775:450 Leadership Seminar; open to majors only

*Students with a minimum 3.4 cumulative GPA may replace 10:775:499 with 10:833:495, 496 Public Policy Honors Thesis I and II (3, 3). Students seeking to replace 10:775:499 with Bloustein Honors Research (3, 3) should contact their advisor.

Electives (24 credits)

At least 12 credits (4 electives) must be in 833. Up to two courses (6 credits) may be taken from other Bloustein School departments. Up to two courses (6 credits) may be taken outside the Bloustein School.

Public Policy Minor (18 credits)

The Bloustein School welcomes current and prospective Rutgers-New Brunswick students to consider the Public Policy minor. Students should declare a minor with their matriculating school. They need not apply for minor status with the Bloustein School. Only courses with a grade of 'C' or better can be counted toward the minor program of study.

This minor is well-matched to majors in criminal justice; economics; labor studies & employment relations; political science; sociology; women's & gender studies; as well as the pre-law track.

Students seeking the public policy minor must complete one core course and five elective courses.

*Effective Summer 2023*

10:833:102 Introduction to Public Policy (3)
or 10:833:210 Principles of Public Policy (3)
Five electives selected from all the undergraduate Bloustein courses that are open to non-majors. At least four of the five must be 300 or 400-level.

For the most current configuration of courses for the Public Policy minor, please see the school's website at https://bloustein.rutgers.edu/undergraduate/publicpolicy/#minor