<p>What type of career can one pursue with this degree? The major combines economics, political science, and sociology.</p>
<p>I don’t know how this major varies between different colleges, and I only know of a few that offer it (Duke, Northwestern, Stanford, Pomona, and probably more), but here’s a quote from the Stanford Public Policy department:</p>
<p>
The major in Public Policy is useful as preparation for employment as an analyst in government agencies or business: as a foundation for postgraduate professional schools in business, education, law, and public policy: and as preparation for graduate study in the social sciences, especially economics, political science, and sociology.
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<p>Edit: Source- <a href=“http://www.stanford.edu/dept/publicpolicy/[/url] ”>http://www.stanford.edu/dept/publicpolicy/</a></p> ;
unalove
December 27, 2007, 11:57pm
3
<p>The University of Chicago offers it-- here’s their take on explaining it:</p>
<p>
Public policy studies offers College students the opportunity to pursue interdisciplinary study of domestic and international policy issues. The primary disciplines among the teaching faculty are economics, political science, and sociology. Course work emphasizes the application of these disciplines to real-world policy issues. The program of study for the Bachelor of Arts degree in public policy studies is designed to introduce students to policy analysis and implementation, equip them to use quantitative and economic techniques and methods, train them in policy research, and give them a command of at least one particular policy area.</p>
<p>Students may focus their interests on domestic policy concerns or on international or foreign matters. Those interested in domestic issues can assemble an outstanding selection of courses from offerings in political science, economics, and sociology. For example, students can specialize in urban problems, the influence of the labor market, the family, and social attitudes on the status of various income and racial groups. As a further example, students can specialize in policy implementation, taking courses in the economics of public management, organizational decision making, and complex organizations, among others.</p>
<p>The program also encourages students to have an internship experience either during the academic year or during the summer. Public Policy 29600 offers academic course credit for students completing an approved, policy-oriented internship. Students may inquire about internship opportunities and requirements through the program’s administrative assistant.
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<p>[The</a> University of Chicago College](<a href=“http://www.college.uchicago.edu/publicpolicy/program.shtml]The ”>http://www.college.uchicago.edu/publicpolicy/program.shtml )</p>
<p>And in terms of the internship:</p>
<p>
Using a variety of resources, public policy concentrators can intern in local or national community-based non-profit organizations or in local, county, state and federal government agencies. Under the guidance and direction of our faculty, the student intern designs an internship project which he/she researches and develops while working at the organization/agency. The completed paper or project is evaluated by university faculty. And if the project is acceptable, the student is awarded a letter grade. Our concentrators have interned in a variety of organizations and agencies in Chicago, across the nation and in the international community.</p>
<p>In the past our students have interned at the University of Chicago Medical Center studying the effects of preconception genetic counseling on low-income women; at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office working in the victim - witness program; at the Whitehouse working in the offices of Media Affairs and Public Liaison; at the U.S. General Accounting Office, at the Better Government Association; in Costa Rica working with Central American refugees; and even in Anchorage Alaska working on environmental issues.
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<p>[The</a> University of Chicago College](<a href=“http://www.college.uchicago.edu/publicpolicy/internships.shtml]The ”>http://www.college.uchicago.edu/publicpolicy/internships.shtml )</p>
<p>Above all, public policy sounds flexible and self-directed, and I guess what you’re interested in studying plays a large role in what you do with the major.</p>