Learning Outcomes
Programming Statement
The minor in Public Policy Studies emphasizes experiential learning to help students pursue careers in government, non-government organizations, non-profit organizations, and the private sector. The curriculum initially immerses students in issues of the day and shows them how to ask important questions and how to evaluate all sides of an issue. Upper-level seminars require students to analyze policy issues for themselves, to use that analysis in the development of policy proposals, and to further consider strategies to implement their proposed solutions. Each faculty member works proactively to create personalized learning opportunities for students, and we engage elected and appointed officials at all levels of government as well as policy stakeholders in order to provide mentorship opportunities for students who wish to pursue particular areas of policy.
91¿´Æ¬Íø also provides regular opportunities for the entire campus community to engage in policy discussions. We sponsor leaders from academic, industry, and government backgrounds to give talks and engage in lively debate on campus. Every student has the opportunity to take a seminar on a topic of particular interest with diverse topics being offered each semester. The College hosts an annual campus-wide competition in which teams of students compete by developing, presenting, and defending their own solution to an urgent societal issue. The College also funds student research and internships.
Program Goal 1:
Students minoring in public policy will be able to assess whether policies have achieved their stated goals.
- SLO 1.1: Students will articulate whether a policy achieved its stated goal as assessed in ECON 255.
- SLO 1.2: Students will evaluate a cost-benefit analysis of a policy and be able to articulate strengths and weaknesses of the CBA as assessed in ECON 255.
Program Goal 2:
Students minoring in public policy will be able to persuasively present analysis of a policy issue in both written and spoken form.
- SLO 2.1: Students will write a persuasive analysis of a policy issue as assessed in POLS 226.
- SLO 2.2: Students will present a persuasive analysis of a policy issue as assessed in POLS 226.
Program Goal 3:
Students minoring in public policy will know the process required to move a proposed solution through the legislative process to implementation.
- SLO 3.1: Students will identify the process required to move a proposed solution through the legislative process to implementation as assessed in POLS 226.