Getting Started
College: SBS
Information below is meant to guide first-year students in getting started with this major and choosing appropriate courses. Please refer to the Major page located in the left menu bar to learn about the full major requirements.
How to Explore the Major
Suggested General Education Courses
All Undergraduates are required to satisfy the General Education Requirements. Guidelines for students are available at www.umass.edu/gened. Students should choose a wide variety of Gen Ed courses to gain diverse learning experiences.
Students who score 0-10 on the math placement test should complete the R1 requirement prior to enrolling in SPP 204 Statistical Methods for Public Policy. MATH 100 is a great option to complete the R1 for those who are not planning to take math beyond what is required for the public policy major.
Students who score 11-15 on the math placement test should complete SPP 204 Statistical Methods for Public Policy before taking SPP 203 Economics for Public Policy.
Students who score 16+ on the math placement test have the math preparation needed to take SPP 204 and SPP 203.
Suggested Major and Pre-Requisite Courses
Suggested for First Year Students
Any one of the following courses:
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SPP181 Controversies in Public Policy (SB, DU)
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SPP111 Policy in an Age of Precarity (SB, DU)
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SPP105 Introduction to Political Economy (SB, DU)
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SPP122: Creating a Sustainable Future (SB, DG)
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SPP151 Water, Oil, and Blood: The Middle East in Global Policy (SB, DG)
All of the following courses:
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SPP203 Economics for Public Policy (SB) (ECON103 or RES-ECON102 may substitute]
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SPP280 Public Policy (SB)
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SPP204 Statistical Methods in Public Policy (R2) [STATISTC240, RES-ECON212, PSYCH240, ANTHRO281, PUBHLTH 223 may substitute]
Suggested for Second Year Students
How to Declare/ Change into the Major
For current and admitted students: This major is unrestricted, which means any student may declare the major. To declare the major or to learn more about it, make an appointment on Navigate at this link. For Advising Care Unit, choose “Explore How to Declare or Change Majors” and then select “Explore Public Policy Major” as the Service.
Transfer Students:
Transfer students may transfer up to 20 credits with a maximum of 12 upper division credits inclusive of study abroad credits into the Public Policy major if approved by the Undergraduate Program Director. All transfer students should meet with the Director of Undergraduate Advising once they arrive on campus.
Summary of Requirements for Major
See the Major Page located in the left menu bar to learn more about the Public Policy major.
Public Policy is a 44-credit major that works well as a double major with other social sciences, the humanities, and natural sciences. As a Public Policy major, you will explore the big problems facing our world and learn how to take action to solve them. You will learn about problems from multiple perspectives, how the policy process shapes and reshapes policy solutions, and their implementation. At the core of this major is a focus on your ability to be a change agent who actively works on solutions to complex public problems. If you are interested in management, we offer an array of courses on public, nonprofit, and social enterprise management.
Is there a minor?
Yes. Reach out to publicpolicyba@umass.edu to learn the details.
For further information, contact:
Faith Nussbaum, Director of Undergraduate Advising
publicpolicyba@umass.edu