Major Requirements
The major requirements for the 2020-2021 school year and beyond has been updated. The most up-to-date version is seen below. The previous major requirements for students during and before the 2019-2020 school year can be accessed here.
1.
Lower-division requirements
6 courses - at least 24 units
a) PBPL 001 (Introduction to Public Policy Analysis)
b) PBPL 002 (Politics and Public Policy)
c) ECON 003 (Introduction to Microeconomics)
d) PBPL 004 (Ethics, Professionalism, and Public Policy)
e) 1 course chosen from HIST 017B, HIST 020, HIST 020W, SOC 015 or SOC 020
f) 1 course chosen from PSYC 011, SOC 005, STAT 040 or STAT 048
2.
Upper-division requirements
12 courses - at least 48 units
a) PBPL 101 (Case Studies in Public Policy)
b) 10 courses chosen from 2 tracks, with no more than 7 courses from 1 track.
3.
Public Policy Seminar/Colloquia
During the junior and senior years, students must enroll in PBPL 191 (Seminar in Public Policy), which includes attendance at public lectures to the campus community given by outside speakers — typically policy makers, administrators and researchers — on timely and important policy issues facing the Inland Empire, the state, the nation, and the world.
4.
Domestic or International Policy Practicum
In the third or fourth year of the program (or during the summer between the third and fourth years), students must undertake a policy practicum (PBPL 198-I), which consists of an internship (paid or voluntary) on a policy issue or problem with a local, state or federal government agency, nonprofit or for-profit organization, a trade association, a labor/trade union, or a public-affairs firm. The Public Policy Program Committee helps students locate internship opportunities. The internship provides students with an opportunity to gain real-world experience and apply the analytical skills learned in the classroom. Students enrolled in the UC Riverside Washington Academic Program, the UC Center at Sacramento program or the Education Abroad Program can apply that experience toward the policy practicum requirement, and do not need to undertake a separate internship.
5.
Senior Thesis (for Honors candidates only)
Students who have an outstanding academic record in their course work during the first three years of the program can become candidates for Honors in Public Policy during the spring quarter of their junior year. All honors candidates must enroll in a two-quarter senior thesis seminar (PBPL 195H) that will culminate in a written thesis covering a real policy problem of the student’s choice. The thesis project could grow out of the practicum experience.
Minor Requirements
The minor requirements for the 2020-2021 school year and beyond has been updated. The most up-to-date version is seen below. The previous minor requirements for students during and before the 2019-2020 school year can be accessed here.
1.
Lower-Division Requirements
3 courses - at least 12 units
The following 3 core courses are required of all students enrolled in the public policy minor. These courses can be used to satisfy college breadth requirements.
a) PBPL001 (Introduction to Public Policy Analysis)
b) 1 course chosen from: PBPL 002, ECON 003, POSC 010, POSC 015
c) 1 course from: PBPL 004, PHIL 002, PHIL 003, SOC 001, SOC 020
2.
Upper-Division Requirements
6 courses - at least 24 units - chosen from two tracks
3.
Public Policy Seminar/Colloquia
During the junior and senior years, students must enroll in PBPL 191 (Seminar in Public Policy), which includes attendance at public lectures to the campus community given by outside speakers — typically policy makers, administrators and researchers — on timely and important policy issues facing the Inland Empire, the state, the nation, and the world.