Minor in Public Policy
UConn's minor in public policy gives students an overview of how to design, manage, and evaluate public policies and programs through an emphasis on real-world policy applications of interdisciplinary theory and methods.
The public policy minor is an excellent complement to social science majors such as economics, political science, and sociology. The minor’s interdisciplinary approach also works well with majors in applied fields such as business; human development and family sciences; urban and community studies; and environmental science.
This minor is open to current undergraduates in any major and at any UConn campus. The School of Public Policy routinely offers undergraduate courses at the Hartford, Stamford, and Storrs campuses. Learn more about the PP minor in Hartford and Stamford!
Program Details
Minor Requirements
The minor requires 15 credits at the 2000-level or above. Students choose 15 credits of Public Policy (PP) undergraduate courses or graduate courses (if enrolled in the Fast-Track program) in consultation with their academic advisors. One course from this list may be used to meet this requirement: PP/URBN 2100; ECON 2201, 2211Q, 2311Q, 2328W, 2431, 2439, and 2456.
Students must also earn a C (2.0) or higher in each of these courses.
How to Declare the Minor
Students at the Storrs and regional campuses can declare the PP minor online at the Program Plan Change (PPC) website.
PP Minor and the Fast-Track
The Fast-Track program allows UConn undergraduate students to take graduate-level coursework towards a master’s degree in public administration (MPA) or public policy (MPP) at no additional cost to their undergraduate tuition. Coursework can also fulfill minor requirements.
The Fast-Track is open to UConn undergraduate students in all majors at any UConn campus with coursework available in Hartford, Stamford, and Storrs. Visit the Fast-Track website for more information and to apply.
What is a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree?
A MPA degree will prepare you for leadership roles in government and nonprofit organizations by teaching you how to diagnose problems, collect and analyze information, choose among policy options, communicate findings, implement programs, and manage change. These skills are developed through an intensive quantitative, analytical, and managerial framework.
What can I do with a MPA degree?
Alumni of UConn’s MPA program work in governments at the local, state, and federal levels in a variety of policy areas, hold elected office, lead and manage nonprofit organizations, and conduct market research, among many other positions.
What is a Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree?
The MPP program is centered on analysis of real-world problems and the policies and programs that address them. The program will provide you with high quality instruction in quantitative methods, policy analysis, policy development, and program evaluation. A hallmark of our program is its focus on combining theory and practice so that you can thrive in a professional workplace.
What can I do with a MPP degree?
The MPP is appropriate for you if you seek an analytical career that requires you to be able to judge policies and programs, plan and evaluate alternatives, and implement changes. MPP graduates go on to pursue a wide variety of careers in all three employment sectors (public, private and nonprofit) and work in positions such as policy analyst, research associate, program analyst and finance/budget analyst.
Contact
With questions about the PP minor, please contact Catherine Guarino, Undergraduate Program Director, at catherine.guarino@uconn.edu.