Undergraduate Program

Despite the popularity of public policy master's programs at U.S. universities, undergraduate public policy majors and minors are not commonly found at most colleges. Only a handful of universities around the country - Stanford, Carnegie Mellon, USC, and Brown - offer such programs. Indeed, UCR is the only public policy school with an undergraduate public policy major in the entire University of California system. (UCLA offers a minor - but not major - in public policy).

The UCR public policy major, housed in the UCR School of Public Policy, will provide you with a set of research, analytical, and management skills that are transferable across sectors and across issue areas. Thus, it will prepare you for a career not only in public service (federal, state, and local government agencies) but also at not-for-profit and for-profit organizations.

What is Public Policy?

About Public Policy

Student Affairs Website

For SPP Students

Public Policy Degree

Where can a Public Policy Degree Take You?

Policy Tracks: Which are the Right Ones for You?

Gain the research, analytical, and management skills you need for a future career in public policy at the only UC campus to offer an undergraduate program in public policy. Public policy majors can specialize in two of six policy tracks.

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Study and learn solutions for challenges such as the opioid crisis, the childhood obesity epidemic, and making health care affordable, among many others.

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Study and learn solutions for various issues facing societies, cultures, and families, such as crime and criminal justice, labor rights, and race and immigration, among numerous others.

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Study governmental interventions on the economy, including on such as issues as government spending, tax reform, subsidizing farmers, and increasing tariffs on imports, among many others.

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Learn about issues such as sustainability of cities, climate change, air and water pollution, waste management, preserving wildlife and natural resources, and many others.

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Understand the role of various institutions in how policies are made.

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Learn about policy issues that transcend borders such as countering violent extremism, human rights issues, nuclear nonproliferation, and global trade, among others.

Resources for Student Success

The UCR School of Public Policy is committed to ensuring the success of our public policy majors during the course of their studies and after they graduate. Learn about some programs and resources available to our students:

Internship Program

Apply for Internship Program

Career Services

View our Career Service Resources

Peer Academic Advisor Program

Learn more

Ambassador Program

Apply to be an Ambassador

Roosevelt Network

Learn more

Consilium

Learn more

Undergraduate Testimonials

Phenomenal is how I describe my experience as a public policy major. I found my passions within the Policy Institution and Processes and Social, Cultural, and Family policy tracks through the intuitive courses taught by Dr. Cecilia Ayon, Dr. Richard Carpiano, and Distinguished Professor Steven Brint, to name a few. Not only did I gain skills within the classroom but also outside as the School of Public Policy offers various programs for personal and professional growth, such as the Dean's Brand Ambassador Program. Overall, the major provided foundational governmental skills that set me apart in my current position with Deloitte as a Government and Practice Service Analyst.

Arleth Flores Aparicio '22

Because I am interested in local government, I chose the urban policy track. My favorite course was Local Leadership in California, a political science course taught by Dr. Ronald Loveridge. His experience as Mayor of Riverside and his passion for local government has encouraged me to continue creating change in my community. I also enjoyed Urban Problems, a sociology course taught by Dr. Christopher Schmitt, which focused on the development of cities and challenges citizens face. I love this major because the policy solutions needed today require the kind of interdisciplinary thinking that my coursework provides.

Daniel Castaneda '19

For more information, please contact the Undergraduate Student Affairs Officer: