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Public Policy

  • Bachelor of Science
Public Policy Degree Program students sitting in a classroom

The Public Policy Program

The Public Policy program is designed to develop an understanding of the economic and political institutions, principles and processes involved in public policy decision-making. Students are led to examine issues critically while developing a substantive knowledge of market economics and democratic-constitutional government as the context for American public policy. Economic analysis and knowledge of political organization and politics comprise much of the intellectual framework for public policy decision-making. The curriculum combines courses in economics and politics to help foster the development of such skills and knowledge.

Undergraduate Programs

What Can I Do With a Degree in Public Policy?

Public Policy majors primarily pursue law degrees and/or advanced degrees in public policy. Graduates with a public policy degree have gone directly into the fields of environmental services, management, news reporter, think tank and government.

Curriculum Requirements

  • Requirements for a Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Policy (45 Credits)

    Requirements for a Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Policy (45 Credits)

    BA 100 Financial Accounting I
    BA 150 Managerial Accounting
    BA 350 Statistics I
    BA 350A Statistics I Excel Lab
    BA 351 Statistics II 
    BA 351A Statistics II Excel Lab 
    EC 101 Principles of Economics: Micro 
    EC 102 Principles of Economics: Macro 
    EC 201 Microeconomic Theory
    EC 202 Macroeconomic Theory 
    MA 109 Calculus with Applications I 
    CORE 1201 American Regime 
    PS 242 International Politics 
          OR PS 375 International Law 
    PS 295 American Political Thought
    PS 345 Domestic Public Policy 
    PS 480 Senior Thesis (on a public policy topic) 

    Note: Public policy majors may not double major or minor in politics, economics or public administration.

  • Requirements for a Minor in Public Administration

    Requirements for a Minor in Public Administration.

    For those majoring in Political Science, in addition to the major requirements, the following courses will be required:
    EC 101 Principles of Microeconomics I 
    BA 102 Survey of Accounting 
    BA 150 Managerial Accounting 
    BA 170 Organizational Behavior 
    BA 350 Statistics I 
    BA 350A Statistics I Excel Lab 

    For those not majoring in Political Science, 18 credits are required for the minor in Public Administration. The following courses will be required:*
    BA 350 Statistics I 
    BA 350A Excel Lab 
    CORE 1201 American Regime 
    PS 345 Domestic Public Policy 
    BA 100 Financial Accounting I and BA 101 Financial Accounting II 
    OR
    BA 102 Survey of Accounting 

    Choose two of the following:
    BA 150 Managerial Accounting 
    BA 170 Organizational Behavior 
    EC 101 Principles of Economics

    Variations of the Public Administration program are possible with permission of the Dean of the McKenna School. A student choose, with the departmental advisor and with the consent of the Dean, a program designed to meet individual objectives.

    *Students majoring in Business may not minor in Public Administration

Job Placements and Careers

  • Job Placements

    Atlas Energy
    Duquesne University
    S. Forest Service
    Westmoreland Agricultural Land Preservations

  • Internships

    Elg Metal
    KDKA (TV)
    Maryland Department of Environment
    National Journalism Center in Washington, D.C.
    Social Security Administration

  • Graduate School Programs

    Cal State Bakersfield
    Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz School
    Dickinson Law School
    Duquesne Law School
    Georgetown Law School
    University of Pittsburgh’s GSPIA and School of Law
    Virginia Tech University

Center for Political and Economic Thought

The Center for Political and Economic Thought is an interdisciplinary public affairs institution of Saint Vincent College. It sponsors research and education programs, primarily in the fields of politics, economics and moral-cultural affairs. 

The Center seeks to advance scholarship on philosophical and policy concerns related to freedom and Western civilization with particular regard to the American experience. The Center was founded in 1991 as an outgrowth of the Alex G. McKenna Economic Education Series, which was launched in 1986.

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The Center’s programs include: The Alex G. McKenna Economic Education Series, the Government and Political Education Series, the Civitas Forum on Principles and Policies for Public Life, Culture and Policy Conferences and Scholarships and Fellowships. In addition, the Center supports research and educational activities through its staff and it produces numerous publications.

The Center is part of the Alex G. McKenna School of Business, Economics and Government.

Faculty

Michael Urick, Ph.D.
Dean, McKenna School of Business, Economics and Government
Professor, Business Administration
michael.urick@stvincent.edu

Jason R. Jividen, Ph.D.
Program Chairperson
Associate Professor, Political Science
jason.jividen@stvincent.edu
 
Zachary Davis, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Economics
zachary.davis@stvincent.edu
 
Robert DePasquale, Ph.D.
Professor, Business Administration
rob.depasquale@stvincent.edu
 
Jerome C. Foss, Ph.D.
Professor, Political Science
jerome.foss@stvincent.edu
 
Jeffrey Godwin, Ph.D.
Professor, Business Administration
jeff.godwin@stvincent.edu
 
Thomas Holowaty, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Business Administration
tom.holowaty@stvincent.edu
 
Andrew R. Herr, Ph.D.
Professor, Economics
andy.herr@stvincent.edu
 
Rev. William J. Hisker, Ph.D.
Professor, Business Administration
bill.hisker@stvincent.edu
 
Gary Quinlivan, Ph.D.
Professor, Economics
gary.quinlivan@stvincent.edu

Undergraduate Programs
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