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PUBLIC POLICY

Catalog pages 490-494

Subject abbreviation: PBPL School of Public Policy

School of Public Policy Kurt Schwabe, Ph.D., Chair Anil Deolalikar, Ph.D., Dean

Program Office, INTS 4120 anil.deolalikar@ucr.edu

  • (951) 827-5663; spp.ucr.edu

Committee in Charge Juliann Emmons Allison, Ph.D. (Political Science) Ken Baerenklau, Ph.D. (Environmental Sciences) David Biggs, Ph.D. (History) Steven G. Brint, Ph.D. (Sociology) Ariel Dinar, Ph.D. (Environmental Sciences) Kevin Esterling, Ph.D. (Political Science) Karthick Ramakrishnan, Ph.D. (Political Science) Kurt Schwabe, Ph.D. (Environmental Sciences) Milagros Peña Ph.D. Dean, College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, ex officio

Major

Public policy analysis is the use of decision-mak- ing theory and evidence-based methods to the study of substantive public policy problems. The objective of public policy analysis is to improve the quality of public policy-making by critically examining the design and relevance of public policies, their implementation and execution, and their impact on households, communities, and the society at large. By its very nature, policy analysis is multidisciplinary. For instance, policies to address health problems in society must draw on developments in philosophy, economics, political science, medicine, and ethics (among other disciplines).

Career Opportunities

A degree in public policy equips students to go into a range of different careers. Examples include working as a policy analyst for local, regional, state, or national government agencies; a governmental or public relations officer for a private sector firm; an employee of a public advocacy group; or as a leader of a communi- ty-based, non-profit organization.

University Requirements

See Undergraduate Studies section.

College Requirements

See College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, Colleges and Programs section.

Major Requirements

The major requirements for the B.A. degree in Public Policy are as follows:

Students will not be admitted into the major until they have completed PBPL 001 with a “C-“grade or better.

  • 1. Lower-division requirements (five courses [at

least 20 units])

  • 2. Upper-division requirements (12 courses [at

least 48 units])

  • c) 10 courses chosen from two tracks, with no

more than seven courses from one track.

Track 1: Health and Population Policy ANTH 147/GSST 140, ANTH 160, ECON 129, ECON 156, ECON 183, ENSC 141/MCBL 141/ SWSC 141, ETST 116/ HISA 147, GSST 140/ ANTH 147, POSC 180, PSYC 178, PSYC 179, SOC 137

Track 2: Social, Cultural, and Family Policy ANTH 109/GSST 109, ANTH 148/GSST 150, ECON 122E, ECON 155/GSST 155, ECON 159, EDUC 114, EDUC 132/POSC 132, ETST 126, ETST 139, ETST 146/EDUC 146, ETST 156, GSST 109/ANTH 109, GSST 150/ANTH 148, MCS 133/SOC 138 MCS 139/SOC 139, MCS 171/SPN 171, PHIL 168/GSST 141, PHIL 108/ GSST 108, POSC 146, PSYC 167/ETST 167, PSYC 168/ETST 168, SOC 120, SOC 122, SOC 130, SOC 138/MCS 133, SOC 139/MCS 139, SOC 143/URST 143, SOC 144, SOC 160, SOC 161, SOC 183 (E-Z)

Track 3: Economic Policy ECON 132, ECON 135, ECON 117/PHIL 119, ECON 118, ECON 152, ECON 153/BUS 153, ECON 160/BUS 160, ETST 109F, PHIL 116, POSC 164, POSC 182, POSC 186

Track 4: Urban/Environmental Policy ECON 121F, ECON 143A/ENSC 143A, ECON 143B/ENSC 143B, ECON 146/URST 146, ENSC 101, ENSC 141/MCBL 141/SWSC 141, ENSC 143C/ECON 143C, LWSO 175 (E-Z), PHIL 117, POSC 127, POSC 172/URST 172, SOC 182/URST 182, SOC 184

Track 5: Policy Institutions and Processes ANTH 104, ECON 116, ECON 119, HIST 111, HISA 120B, LWSO 100, LWSO 193, PHIL 165, POSC 101, POSC 146, POSC 150, POSC 167, POSC 168, POSC 170, POSC 173, POSC 186, PSYC 175, RLST 174, RLST 175, SOC 150, SOC 151, SOC 159

Track 6: International and Foreign Policy ECON 187/LNST 187, POSC 120, POSC 125, POSC 126, POSC 127, POSC 129, POSC 154, POSC 158/LNST 148, POSC 159, POSC 160, POSC 162/LNST 142, POSC 169, RLST 173/ POSC 109, SOC 135, SOC 181

  • 3. Public Policy Seminar/Colloquia

During the junior and senior years, students must enroll in PBPL 191 (Seminar in Public Poli- cy), which includes attendance at public lectures to the campus community given by outside speakers — typically policy makers, administra- tors 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 govern- ment 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

  • 1. Lower-division requirements

(four courses [at least 16 units])

SOC 005, STAT 040, STAT 048, HIST 017B, HIST 020

PHIL 003, POSC 010, POSC 015

  • 2. Upper-division requirements (six

courses [at least 24 units] chosen from two tracks:

Track 1: Health and Population Policy ANTH 147/GSST 140, ANTH 160, ECON 129, ECON 156, ECON 183, ENSC 141/ MCBL 141/SWSC 141, ETST 116/ HISA 147, GSST 140/ANTH 147, POSC 180, PSYC 178, PSYC 179, SOC 137,

Track 2: Social, Cultural, and Family Policy ANTH 109/GSST 109, ANTH 148/ GSST 150, ECON 122E, ECON 155/ GSST 155, ECON 159, EDUC 114, EDUC 132/POSC 132, ETST 126, ETST 139, ETST 146/ EDUC 146, ETST 156, GSST 109/ANTH 109, GSST 150/ANTH 148, GSST 155/ ECON 155, GSST 164/ANTH 164/LNST 164, MCS 139/SOC 139, MCS 171/SPN 171, PHIL 108/GSST 108, PHIL 168/GSST 141, POSC 146, PSYC 167/ETST 167, PSYC 168/ETST 168, SOC 120, SOC 122, SOC 130, SOC 138/MCS 133, SOC 139/ MCS 139, SOC 143/URST 143, SOC 144, SOC 160, SOC 161, SOC 183 (E-Z)

Track 3: Economic Policy ECON 132, ECON 135, ECON 117/ PHIL 119, ECON 118, ECON 152, ECON 153/ BUS 153, ECON 160/BUS 160, ETST 109F, PHIL 116, HIST 184, POSC 164, POSC 186 Track 4. Urban/Environmental Policy ECON 121F, ECON 143A/ENSC 143A, ECON 143B/ENSC 143B, ECON 146/ URST 146, ENSC 101, ENSC 141/MCBL 141/SWSC 141, ENSC 143C/ECON 143C, LWSO 175 (E-Z), PHIL 117, POSC 127, POSC 172/URST 172, SOC 184

Track 5: Policy Institutions and Processes ECON 116, ECON 119, ANTH 104, HIST 111, HISA 120B, LWSO 100, LWSO 193, PHIL 165, POSC 101, POSC 146, POSC 150, POSC 166, POSC 167, POSC 168, POSC 170, POSC 173, POSC 186, PSYC 175, RLST 174, RLST 175, SOC 150, SOC 159

Track 6: International and Foreign Policy ECON 187/LNST 187, POSC 120, POSC 125, POSC 126, POSC 127, POSC 129, POSC 154, POSC 155, POSC 158/LNST 148, POSC 159, POSC 160, POSC 169, RLST 173/POSC 109, SOC 135, SOC 181

  • 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 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.

Graduate Program

The School of Public Policy offers the Master of Public Policy (MPP) program leading to a Mas- ter’s degree in public policy.

Admissions Requirements Applications for the MPP program, which is housed within the UCR School of Public Policy, are accepted for fall entry. Applicants must have completed a bachelor’s degree or an approved equivalent from an accredited institution, and must have successfully taken courses in microeconomics, statistics, and an introduction to politics and government, or their equivalent during their undergraduate study. All applicants must also submit scores from the Graduate Record Exam, General Test (GRE). Applicants whose first language is not English are required to submit acceptable scores from the TEST of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Additionally, each applicant must submit three letters of recommendation, at least two of which must be academic references. All other application requirements are specified in the graduate application.

Program of Study The MPP program consists of 72 units of graduate courses. The curriculum consists of 10 required core courses, a required capstone research project spanning two quarters (which substitutes for a final examination), and a total of six concentration and elective courses.

Students entering the MPP program from the Graduate Preparatory Program in Public Policy (GPP-PP) from University Extension will complete 36 units. Of the 36 units, 24 units are required:

The balance of the 12 units will include courses from the elective and concentration areas.

  • 1. Core Courses:
  • a) The Policy Process (3 courses):

PBPL 200, PBPL 202, PBPL 206

  • c) Institutional Context (2 courses):

PBPL 220, PBPL 222

  • 2. Elective and Concentration Courses

Students are required to complete 6 cours- es from the selection below: 4 elective courses and 2 courses in their declared concentration. The 4 elective courses can be chosen from the list of courses in sec- tions A – G. The concentrations available are Environmental and Resource Policy, Health Policy, Education Policy, Urban Policy, Inequality and Poverty, Race and Immigration Policy.

  • a) Environmental and Resource Policy:

PBPL 233, PBPL 240, PBPL 241, PBPL 242, PBPL 244, PBPL 245

PBPL 261, PBPL 262

PBPL 236E, PBPL 273

PBPL 234

  • 3. Capstone Research Project

Students must complete a capstone research project in the second year of the program.

Normative Time to Degree Two years

Courses