PUBPO-BA - Public Policy (BA)

The mission of the undergraduate program in Public Policy is to provide students with the concepts and tools used in evaluating policy options and outcomes, and to prepare students for entry-level positions in organizations concerned with such analysis. The focus is chiefly on issues such as health, education, environmental, regulation, and science and technology policy, applicable anywhere in the world.

Courses in the major provide students with a background in economics and quantitative methods, political science, law, philosophy, ethics, organizational behavior, and social psychology. Economics and quantitative analyses are central to but not sufficient for modern public policy analysis; political science, law, philosophy, organizational behavior, and psychology are among other necessary disciplinary perspectives. Political science offers insights into the decision-making process and information needs of a democracy. Political philosophy and ethics form the foundations of public policy. Organizational behavior focuses on the decisions made outside the market environment in hierarchies, bureaucracies, and teams. 

Seniors have a research capstone requirement consisting either of an honors thesis or participation in a team practicum project, conducting applied policy research for an outside client, typically a nonprofit or government agency. Students majoring in Public Policy are prepared for careers in a wide variety of fields, including elected or appointed public office; business, law, and governmental agencies; research institutes; or for further study in graduate programs.

The Public Policy undergraduate major develops the skills necessary for understanding the political constraints faced by policy makers, assessing the performance of alternative approaches to policy implementation, evaluating the effectiveness of policies, and appreciating the sharp conflicts in fundamental human values that often animate the policy debate. 

There are four course elements to the major: preparatory, core, concentration, and senior capstone. Freshman and sophomore years are generally devoted to completing preparatory courses offered in economics, math, and psychology. After completing core courses primarily during the sophomore and junior years, students apply these skills by focusing their studies in one of several areas of concentration. The areas of concentration address a specific field of public policy, various types of institutions, or a deeper development of the tools of policy analysis. Seniors may complete the senior capstone either by participating in a practicum, a team policy research project for an outside client, and/or by writing an honors thesis. 

Public Policy students are encouraged to secure a faculty adviser within the first two quarters in the major, and must secure a faculty adviser no later than the end of Winter Quarter of the junior year. The director, student services staff, and peer advisers can assist by suggesting suitable faculty advisers. Advisers must be approved by the program director. The adviser need not be affiliated with the Public Policy program, but does need to be a member of Stanford's Academic Council.

The Public Policy program encourages students to attend the Bing Stanford in Washington Program and to participate in appropriate Stanford internship programs, especially those available through the Haas Center of Public Service and Stanford in Government.

Transfer work can be used to satisfy a department major requirement. The transfer work must first be officially accepted into the University through the Office of the University Registrar. After the transfer credit has been approved and posted by the Office of the University Registrar, the departments determine if the approved transfer work can be used to satisfy a department major requirement. 

1. Complete a Public Policy Program Course Petition Form for each course and attach all necessary documentation (syllabus, completed coursework, a brief statement, and unofficial transcript).

2. Submit the above documents to the Undergraduate Student Services Specialist (greteh@stanford.edu)

3. Ask the Undergraduate Student Services Specialist (grete@stanford.edu) to send a copy of the specific course approval paperwork signed by the Public Policy Program Director. 

The Public Policy Program expects its undergraduate majors to be able to demonstrate the following learning outcomes. These learning outcomes are used in evaluating students and the program. Students are expected to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of public policy analytical tools.

2. Evaluate applied theoretical and empirical work in policy-relevant research.

3. Apply skills and knowledge acquired in the curriculum to analyze policy issues and make policy recommendations.

4. Communicate complex ideas clearly and persuasively in written and oral forms.

5. Demonstrate mastery of the above outcomes in the senior capstone project.