Semester Requirements

http://www.rit.edu/cla/publicpolicy

Program overview

The public policy major explores the intersection of public policy, technology, and our natural world. The major provides students with an opportunity to integrate their interests in science, technology, government, economics, and other social science fields. The BS degree combines an understanding of these fields with the analytical tools needed to study the impact of public policy on society. Through the curriculum, students acquire policy analysis skills, with particular attention on analyzing policies that emerge in a technology-based society. The program has many key features, including:

Science and technology—Graduates are trained in the vernacular, methodologies, and problem-solving approaches of the sciences and technologies relevant to their chosen policy study concentration, and they possess a well-grounded familiarity in that area.

Interdisciplinary—Public policy core courses ensures the major provides integration of diverse disciplines. This sequence makes up the core of the curriculum and enables students to integrate diverse subjects and apply them to the analysis of public policy.

Integrated qualitative and quantitative skills—The major balances both quantitative and qualitative approaches to the analysis of public policy so that students are able to achieve a full systems-level grasp of policy issues.

Solid grounding in liberal arts—While our graduates have quantitative and qualitative training, by the end of their academic career they also will have taken liberal arts courses with a broad disciplinary range. It is this grounding in humanistic values combined with technology and science that makes our program both balanced and unique.

Curriculum

The curriculum is designed to train students to think and analyze policy in terms of complex, interconnected systems. This training is in high demand in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

Public policy colloquium

This required, non-credit-bearing colloquium meets twice each semester. The colloquium is used to bring in policy practitioners and academics to talk about careers, research, and special topics. The colloquium series helps build and sustain a sense of community among policy majors by providing a context for their course work and research.

Public policy, BS degree, typical course sequence (semesters), effective fall 2013

Please see New General Education Curriculum–Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) for more information.

(WI) Refers to a writing intensive course within the major.

* Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information. Students completing bachelor's degrees are required to complete two Wellness courses.
† The First Year Seminar requirement is replaced by an LAS Elective for the 2013-14 academic year.

‡ Students will satisfy this requirement by taking either a 3- or 4-credit hour lab science course. If a science course consists of separate lecture and laboratory sections, student must take both the lecture and lab portions to satisfy the requirement.

§ Students choose one of the following calculus options Elementary Calculus (MATH-161) or Project-based Calculus I (MATH-181).

Concentrations

Student must complete a five course concentration in one of the following areas: biotechnology policy, computer crime policy, computer software policy, energy policy, engineering policy, environmental policy, or information and communications policy. Courses demand that students apply skills acquired in public policy courses to specific policy areas or domains. Many concentration courses, including those that provide a firm grounding in science and technology, are offered through other majors and colleges of the university. This gives students an opportunity to interact and study with researchers and faculty from a broad range of disciplines.

Biotechnology policy

Computer crime policy 

Computer software policy

Energy policy 

Engineering policy 

Environmental policy 

Information and communications policy 

Additional information

Accelerated dual degree option

Students have the option of completing a five-year, accelerated dual degree leading to a BS in public policy and an MS in science, technology, and public policy. The BS/MS option provides graduates with a considerable advantage in many policy-related careers.

Public policy, BS degree/Science, technology and public policy, MS degree, typical course sequence (semesters), effective fall 2013

Please see New General Education Curriculum–Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) for more information.

(WI) Refers to a writing intensive course within the major.

* Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information. Students completing bachelor's degrees are required to complete two Wellness courses.
† The First Year Seminar requirement is replaced by an LAS Elective for the 2013-14 academic year.

‡ Students will satisfy this requirement by taking either a 3- or 4-credit hour lab science course. If a science course consists of separate lecture and laboratory sections, student must take both the lecture and lab portions to satisfy the requirement.

Cooperative education

Students may complete a co-op or internship within the private, public, or nonprofit sectors. The co-op experience makes our students attractive to a wide range of agencies, businesses, and organizations.

Employment opportunities

Exciting career opportunities await professionals who can integrate an understanding of science and technology with public policy decision making. Graduates are uniquely positioned to take advantage of the growing job market in public policy, with career options in a range of fields within the private, government, and nonprofit sectors.

Faculty

Faculty have extensive experience in the classroom and as practitioners in their respective fields. In addition to public policy, faculty members have a broad range of backgrounds, including physics, engineering, law, environmental science, energy management, and information technology.