I’ve been pretty undecided upon what I want to major in until I recently ran into a man who was an advisor to my school’s program in public policy. It sounds like everything I’m interested and I’d most likely do the 5 year b.a/m.p.p program my school offers. I have a meeting with the director of the program next week and so far I’ve heard nothing but praise about the program, which is great but worries me that they’re just hyping up the major to get more people enrolled in it. I’m undecided on public policy or international relations. Are there any jobs for public policy majors? or is it just a good stepping stone to law school?
The MPP is not considered a stepping stone to law school – the MPP gets you jobs in the public sector, nonprofits, consulting firms, and in industries that deal with government regulations. An undergrad degree would get you jobs similar to what econ or poli sci majors might get. MPPs who have good quantitative training tend to make more than those without. Hopefully your department will have a good internship program.
The department requires internships and has many partners in DC that it sends students to. I know the department is also very focused on economics. I think I’d have to take at minimum 5 econ classes and an honors thesis in econ for the major. I’m guessing that would help career prospects.