Public Policy students are required to complete the following courses:

SPEA-V 680 Research Design and Methods in Public Affairs (3 cr.) or POLS-Y 570 Introduction to the Study of Politics (3 cr.)

SPEA-V 690 Seminar in Public Policy Process (3 cr.) or POLS-Y 565 Public Administration, Law, and Policy: Approaches and Issues (3 cr.)

This course is offered alternately each fall semester by SPEA (V 690) and the Department of Political Science (Y 565).

SPEA-V 691 Workshop in Public Policy (1 cr.)

Each student is required to take this 1 credit hour course for three semesters. The workshop features research presentations by faculty, visiting scholars, and advanced students. It prepares students to critique current literature in the field, to prepare manuscripts for presentation and publication, and to defend their ideas and theories. There are two sections offered: one by SPEA and the other by the Workshop in Political Theory and Policy Analysis.

SPEA-V 621 Seminar in Teaching Public and Environmental Affairs (2 cr.) or POLS-Y 550 Political Science and Professional Development (1-3 cr.)

These courses prepare students for college teaching and their professional responsibilities toward current and future students. They are taken in a student’s first year in the program.