School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences
Public Policy (BS)
The Public Policy program is an interdisciplinary academic program, drawing upon the insights of Political Science, Economics, and other related fields, to help students to tackle the "wicked problems" in domestic public policy.
The Bachelor of Science in Public Policy is a degree program intended for individuals who will systematically analyze public policy issues, implementation, and analysis. Students will be prepared for entry-level analytical and administrative positions in a wide array of professional settings in the public, nonprofit, and private sectors.
Bachelor of Science in Public Policy
Degree Requirements (120 semester credit hours)1
View an Example of Degree Requirements by Semester
Faculty
Professors: Brian J. L. Berry, Patrick T. Brandt, Thomas L. Brunell, Harold D. Clarke, Paul Diehl, Euel W. Elliott, Donald A. Hicks, Jennifer S. Holmes, Dohyeong Kim, Clint W. Peinhardt, Richard K. Scotch, Marianne C. Stewart
Associate Professors: Jonas Bunte, Vito D'Orazio, Simon M. Fass, Banks P. Miller
Assistant Professors: Thomas Gray, Lauren Santoro
Professors Emeriti: Lloyd J. Dumas, Murray J. Leaf
Associate Professor of Instruction: Karl K. Ho
I. Core Curriculum Requirements: 42 semester credit hours2
Communication: 6 semester credit hours
Select any 6 semester credit hours from Communication Core courses (see advisor)
Mathematics: 3 semester credit hours
Select any 3 semester credit hours from Mathematics Core courses (at or above the level of MATH 1325 Applied Calculus I)
Life and Physical Sciences: 6 semester credit hours
Select any 6 semester credit hours from Life and Physical Sciences Core courses (see advisor)
Language, Philosophy and Culture: 3 semester credit hours
Select any 3 semester credit hours from Language, Philosophy and Culture Core courses (see advisor)
Creative Arts: 3 semester credit hours
Select any 3 semester credit hours from Creative Arts Core courses (see advisor)
American History: 6 semester credit hours
Select any 6 semester credit hours from American History Core courses (see advisor)
Government/Political Science: 6 semester credit hours
GOVT 2305 American National Government
GOVT 2306 State and Local Government
Or select any 6 semester credit hours from Government/Political Science Core courses (see advisor)
Social and Behavioral Sciences: 3 semester credit hours
ECON 2301 Principles of Macroeconomics3, 4
Or select any 3 semester credit hours from Social and Behavioral Sciences Core courses (see advisor)
Component Area Option: 6 semester credit hours
EPPS 2301 Research Design in the Social and Policy Sciences3, 4
EPPS 2302 Methods of Quantitative Analysis in the Social and Policy Sciences3, 4
Or select any 6 semester credit hours from Component Area Option Core courses (see advisor)
II. Major Requirements: 54 semester credit hours
Major Preparatory Courses: 12-13 semester credit hours (0 semester credit hours beyond Core Curriculum)
MATH 1325 Applied Calculus I3, 4
or MATH 2413 Differential Calculus3, 4
ECON 2301 Principles of Macroeconomics3, 4
EPPS 2301 Research Design in the Social and Policy Sciences3, 4
EPPS 2302 Methods of Quantitative Analysis in the Social and Policy Sciences3, 4
Major Core Courses: 30 semester credit hours
ECON 2302 Principles of Microeconomics
ECON 3310 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory
ECON 3311 Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory
GEOG 3304 Principles of Geospatial Information Sciences
PSCI 3325 American Public Policy
PSCI 3322 Constitutional Law
PSCI 4343 Congress and Public Policy
PSCI 3362 The American Political Institutions
PPOL 4300 Capstone in Public Policy
or PPOL 4V91 Undergraduate Research in Public Policy5
Public Policy Courses: 24 semester credit hours
Choose eight courses from the following:
CRIM 4311 Crime and Justice Policy
ECON 3315 Sports Economics
ECON 3330 Economics of Health
ECON 3336 Economics of Education
ECON 4320 Public Sector Economics
ECON 4336 Environmental Economic Theory and Policy
ECON 4332 Energy and Natural Resources Economics
GEOG 3377 Urban Planning and Policy
GISC 4384 Health and Environmental GIS: A Global Perspective
IPEC 4301 Political Economy of Industrialized Countries
IPEC 4305 Topics in Science, Technology and Institutions
IPEC 4309 Urban Development
IPEC 4310 Environmental and Health Policy in East Asia
IPEC 4384 Health and Environmental Policy: A Global Perspective
PSCI 3310 Managing Government Organizations
PSCI 3326 Politics and Business
PSCI 3323 American Federalism
PSCI 4304 Energy and Environmental Politics and Policy
PSCI 4305 Political Research
PSCI 4307 Predicting Politics
PSCI 4370 Policy Making Process
SOC 4386 Health and Social Policy
PPOL 4396 Topics in Public Policy6
PPOL 4V91 Undergraduate Research in Public Policy5
PPOL 4V96 Independent Study
PPOL 4V99 Senior Honors in Public Policy
PA 3380 Organizations: Theory and Behavior
PA 4351 Managing the Urban Environment
PA 4355 Managing Nonprofit Organizations
Other Classes as approved by Program Head
III. Elective Requirements: 24 semester credit hours7
Students must complete a minor within these elective hours
This requirement may be satisfied with lower- and upper-division courses from any field of study. Students must complete at least 51 semester credit hours of upper-division courses to qualify for graduation.
Minor in Public Policy: 21 semester credit hours
Required Courses: 12 semester credit hours
GOVT 2305 American National Government
GOVT 2306 State and Local Government
ECON 2302 Principles of Microeconomics
PSCI 3325 American Public Policy
Upper-Division Courses: 9 semester credit hours
Choose three courses from the following:
IPEC 4301 Political Economy of Industrialized Countries
IPEC 4305 Topics in Science, Technology and Institutions
IPEC 4309 Urban Development
IPEC 4384 Health and Environmental Policy: A Global Perspective
PA 3380 Organizations: Theory and Behavior
PA 4351 Managing the Urban Environment
PA 4355 Managing Nonprofit Organizations
PPOL 4301 Law, Science, and Policy
PPOL 4302 Data and Policy
PPOL 4303 The Internet and Public Policy
PPOL 4396 Topics in Public Policy6
PSCI 3310 Managing Government Organizations
PSCI 3322 Constitutional Law
PSCI 3326 Politics and Business
PSCI 3362 The American Political Institutions
PSCI 4304 Energy and Environmental Politics and Policy
PSCI 4305 Political Research
PSCI 4307 Predicting Politics
PSCI 4343 Congress and Public Policy
Other classes as approved by program head
Minor in Science, Technology, and Policy: 18 semester credit hours
Required Courses: 9 semester credit hours
GOVT 2305 American National Government
PSCI 3325 American Public Policy
PPOL 4301 Law, Science, and Policy9
or IPEC 4305 Topics in Science, Technology and Institutions9
Elective Courses: 9 semester credit hours
Choose 3 courses from the following:
IPEC 4305 Topics in Science, Technology and Institutions9
IPEC 4384 Health and Environmental Policy: A Global Perspective
PPOL 4301 Law, Science, and Policy9
PPOL 4302 Data and Policy
PPOL 4303 The Internet and Public Policy
PPOL 4396 Topics in Public Policy
PSCI 4304 Energy and Environmental Politics and Policy
PSCI 4356 International Political Economy
1. Incoming freshmen must enroll and complete requirements of UNIV 1010 and the corresponding school-related freshman seminar course. Students, including transfer students, who complete their core curriculum at UT Dallas must take UNIV 2020.
2. Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from institutions of higher education. The courses listed are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at UT Dallas.
3. A Major requirement that also fulfills a Core Curriculum requirement. Semester credit hours are counted in Core Curriculum.
4. Prerequisite course to upper-division courses.
5. Course can be taken as a Prescribed Elective if not used as a Major Core.
6. Course can be repeated for credit.
7. At least 6 semester credit hours must come from upper-division courses.
8. PPOL 4398 can be used for Public Policy minor if it has not been used as part of the Major Core.
9. May be used to fulfill the Elective Courses requirement of the Science, Technology, and Policy minor if not used in the Required Courses component.