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Public Policy
- Bachelor of Science
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The Public Policy Program
Saint Vincent College’s public policy program builds a strong foundation for understanding how decisions that shape our society are made. You’ll explore the economic and political systems, ideas, and processes that influence public policy in the United States. Throughout the program, you’ll learn to think critically about important issues while developing a solid foundation in both market economics and democratic, constitutional government. These areas provide the context for understanding how policies are created and implemented. Courses in economics and political science work together to give you the skills and knowledge to analyze problems, understand how political systems operate, and make informed decisions.
Undergraduate Programs
Program Highlights
Get Involved
You can participate in a wide range of extracurricular opportunities, reading groups, research opportunities, Mock Trial, Moot Court, and other activities to prepare you for employment, graduate study, or law school.
Engage with Experts
The political science and economics departments regularly bring speakers and conferences to campus, host discussions, and other opportunities meant to expose students to experts in public policy, economics, and political science.
Plan Your Future with Confidence
We're here to help you prepare for law school or graduate study in public policy. You'll have personalized guidance when it comes to applications and admissions exams. In addition, our pre-law program prepares students who are specifically pursuing a degree in law.
Gain Real World Experience
You'll have the chance to take part in competitive legal, political, economic, and policy-oriented internships in the private and public spheres. You can also join prestigious colloquia, conferences, and research fellowships both on and off campus.
Research Opportunities
Public policy majors are eligible to apply for The George Washington Fellows Program, sponsored by the SVC Department of Political Science. The department offers a limited number of students a year-long opportunity to explore key questions of American citizenship through guided research and discussion. Fellows receive mentorship, a $1000 honorarium, and often attend academic conferences.
Careers and Outcomes
A degree in public policy prepares students for careers in:
Curriculum Requirements
The public policy major is part of the Alex G. McKenna School of Business, Economics, and Government and is supported by our core curriculum, where students delve into diverse academic subjects at both foundational and advanced levels to explore how different disciplines connect, fostering deeper self-understanding and proficiency in their chosen field of study.
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Curriculum Requirements
- BA 100 Financial Accounting I
- BA 150 Managerial Accounting
- BA 350 + BA 350A Statistics and Analytics I and Excel Lab
- BA 351 + BA 351A Statistics and Analytics II and Excel Lab
- EC 101 Principles of Microeconomics
- EC 102 Principles of Macroeconomics
- EC 200 Environmental Economics
- EC 201 Microeconomic Theory
- EC 202 Macroeconomic Theory
- EC 331 Public Finance
- MA 109 Calculus I
- PS 100 Intro to American Government
- PS 335 The U.S. Presidency
- PS 345 Congress and Public Policy
- PS 375 or PS 242 International Law or International Politics
- PS 395 What is Political Science?
- PS 480 Senior Capstone
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Key Courses
The public policy curriculum combines courses in economics and political science to give you a strong foundation in both disciplines, preparing you to understand and address real-world policy challenges.
Environmental Economics You’ll learn about the cause and effect of our choices on the natural environment. Equipped with the ability to evaluate the pros and cons in these choices, you will be able to identify environmental problems and compare policy options that would create the most efficient and fair solutions.
Public Finance This course will explore the role that governments play in allocating resources. You’ll examine what types of goods and services governments provide, how and why they make those choices, and how taxes and government debt affect individuals and businesses.
The U.S. Presidency This course examines how the U.S. presidency is designed and how it works in practice. Topics include how presidents are chosen, how the role has changed over time, the powers of the office, and what it means to lead in a democracy.
Congress and Public Policy In this course, you’ll study how Congress creates laws and shapes public policy. You’ll explore how political ideas, competing interests, and evidence influence policy decisions, using readings from a variety of thinkers, experts, and public figures.
Our Faculty
Professor | Department Chair
Political Science
724-805-2825 | Aurelius Hall 302
Dean, Alex G. McKenna School of Business, Economics and Government
Management & Administration
724-805-2654 | Aurelius Hall 204
