Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy Online

What is Introduction to Public Policy?

Introduction to Public Policy examines how governments create, implement, and evaluate policies addressing societal challenges. This interdisciplinary field draws from political science, economics, sociology, and public administration to understand the processes behind policy decisions. You'll learn analytical tools for evaluating policy research and frameworks for addressing ethical questions in governance.

This course explores the history and principles of public policy across multiple academic disciplines including political science, economics, sociology, anthropology, and public administration. You'll investigate the socioeconomic and political mechanisms that shape policy formulation and implementation while developing tools to evaluate policy consequences. The course provides frameworks for engaging normative and ethical questions and applying policy analysis to real-world situations.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Understand socioeconomic and political mechanisms shaping policy

• Develop basic analytic tools for evaluating policy research and practice

• Learn to apply understanding and tools

• Acquire framework for engaging normative and ethical questions

What is Principles of Microeconomics?

Principles of Microeconomics examines how individual economic units—consumers, businesses, and workers—make decisions and interact in markets. You'll learn about supply and demand, market efficiency, pricing, production costs, and market structures from perfect competition to monopolies. The course explains government intervention and provides analytical tools for understanding economic behavior.

This course introduces you to basic economic principles and analytical techniques necessary to understand how market economies function and what market efficiency means. It explains why government intervenes and how intervention affects markets. The course focuses on behavior of individual economic units including consumers, investors, business firms, and workers. You'll examine how these units make economic decisions and interact to form larger units—markets and industries. This introductory course equips you with basic tools of economic analysis to better understand the world.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Explain the production possibilities frontier model, the comparative advantage model, and the circular flow model of the economy

• Determine the meaning of market equilibrium through demand and supply analysis

• Examine the strengths and weaknesses of the market system and the implications of market efficiency on the economy

• Discuss the different types of elasticity and their relevance to business decision-making

• Analyze the production function and cost functions of a firm

• Compare and contrast the different types of market structures and analyze perfect competition

• Examine the characteristics of a monopoly, an oligopoly, and a monopolistic competitive industry

What are the Principles of Macroeconomics?

Principles of Macroeconomics examine how the overall economy functions, covering national income, economic growth, business cycles, inflation, and unemployment. You'll analyze fiscal and monetary policies, international trade, and exchange rates while exploring contemporary economic policy issues and their impact on economic stability and prosperity.

This course examines fundamental principles governing the overall economy. You'll explore topics including demand and supply analysis, national income accounting, economic growth, business cycles, inflation, and unemployment. The course covers fiscal and monetary policies, international trade, and exchange rate markets. You'll learn how the Federal Reserve conducts monetary policy and how government fiscal decisions affect the economy, preparing you to understand contemporary economic policy debates.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Explain the production possibilities frontier model, the comparative advantage model, and the circular flow model of the economy

• Explain what business cycles are, how national income is measured, and the relevance of GDP in economic policy-making and the business cycle

• Define the unemployment rate, the categories of unemployment, the measurement of the aggregate price level in the economy, and the costs and implications of high unemployment rates and high and unstable inflation rates

• Explain the factors that affect the aggregate demand for goods and services in the economy, the factors that affect the aggregate supply of goods and services, the interaction of demand and supply, and how policy-making is interwoven into these factors

• Explain the meaning of expansionary and contractionary fiscal policy in the context of recessions and inflationary states of the economy, how budget deficits and surpluses affect the economy, and how a rising public debt has consequences for future generations

• Explain the evolution of money and the banking system in the United States, and the role of the Federal Banking System in conducting expansionary or contractionary monetary policy in the context of recessions and inflationary states in the economy

• Explain the meaning of inflows and outflows of money in an economy, the factors that affect the demand for and the supply of currency in the foreign exchange market, and how the relative price of currencies affects the balance of goods, services, and payments in the economy

What is Applied Statistics?

Applied Statistics provides tools for conducting and evaluating social science research in public policy. You'll learn statistical methods including multivariate analysis, regression, factor analysis, and cluster analysis for analyzing real policy and economic datasets. The course connects theoretical questions to hypothesis testing and statistical inference using quantitative research techniques.

This course equips sociology and public policy majors with tools for understanding, evaluating, and conducting social science research. You'll explore the relationship between theoretical questions and empirical work while developing statistical skills for data analysis. The course covers descriptive, exploratory, and graphical techniques in multivariate statistics, including cluster analysis, principal components analysis, factor analysis, and multivariate regression. You'll apply these methods to public domain policy and economic datasets, learning assumptions, limitations, and practical uses of each technique.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Understand how social science research methods answer sociopolitical and economic questions

• Develop analytic tools to explain sociopolitical and economic events, processes, and behaviors

• Describe and critique major types of empirical research and their implications for problem solving

• Acquire framework to formulate and evaluate normative and ethical consequences of types of empirical research

What is Survey Research?

Survey Research examines the scientific method in both abstract structure and technical application. You'll focus on survey research design while developing a research design to apply in the Senior Seminar. The course provides comprehensive methodological knowledge covering quantitative data sets, analytical techniques, and ethical conduct in research.

This course examines the scientific method both in terms of its abstract structure and the technical details required to carry out research. Special emphasis is placed on survey research design as well as development of a research design to be applied in SOC 416, Senior Seminar. Additionally, the class provides a comprehensive background of methodological knowledge. You'll understand basic elements and principles of quantitative data sets (primary and secondary), learn analytical techniques commonly used for quantitative data in sociology and public policy, and understand the role of research in science and ethical conduct of inquiry.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Understand basic elements and principles of quantitative data sets (primary and secondary)

• Apply analytical techniques commonly used for quantitative data in sociology and public policy

• Understand the role of research in science and ethical conduct of inquiry

What is Social and Political Philosophy?

Social and Political Philosophy examines foundational concepts including authority, freedom, equality, justice, and power through classic texts. You'll explore thinkers like Plato, Aristotle, Locke, Rousseau, Marx, and Rawls to understand how social and political structures shape society and analyze philosophical principles underlying modern governance.

This course develops your understanding of social and political theory through examination of classic texts. You'll explore themes including authority, freedom, equality, justice, law, community, natural right, power, government, and social construction. The course considers how social and political structures affect individuals. Major thinkers studied may include Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Aquinas, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Marx, Mill, Arendt, Foucault, Rawls, and Nozick.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Raise questions about and comment upon the foundational social and political ideas embodied in the United States of America

• Explain the ethical, social, and political ideas of such theorists as Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, John Locke, Montesquieu, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Frederick Douglass, and Chief Seattle among others

• Write papers that use the philosophical distinctions between two or more authors to analyze and reflect upon the political structure of contemporary society

What is a Research Project?

The Research Project is a capstone course where you conduct original research in your concentration area. You'll select a topic, design and execute a research study, analyze findings, and present results through both a major written paper and formal oral presentation.

This capstone course allows you to apply research methods and analytical skills to a topic in your area of concentration. You'll develop an original research study from conception through execution, demonstrating mastery of research design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation. The course requires you to communicate your findings effectively in both written and oral formats, showcasing your development throughout the research process.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Demonstrate understanding of social science research methods, including ethical and normative considerations, to answer sociopolitical and economic questions

• Develop intermediate and advanced analytic skills to answer sociopolitical and economic questions

• Apply new understanding and advanced analytic skills to selected topic area

• Apply ethical and normative considerations to selected topic area

• Effectively communicate each stage of knowledge and skill development in written and oral form

What is Public Policy Analysis and Cases?

Public Policy Analysis and Cases examines decision-making processes across government, economics, and social systems. This intermediate/advanced seminar develops your competency in understanding socioeconomic and political factors behind policy formulation and implementation. You'll learn analytical tools for evaluating policy effectiveness, addressing ethical considerations, and applying frameworks to real-world decision-making.

This intermediate/advanced seminar explores principles of public policy decision-making across multiple disciplines. You'll gain tools for understanding cooperation and joint action, assessing policy efficacy to achieve social, political, and economic objectives, and evaluating normative and ethical ramifications including equity and justice. The course emphasizes applying analytical frameworks to practical decision-making, moving beyond theoretical understanding to achieve competency in policy analysis. While objectives parallel foundation-level courses, you'll be expected to achieve mastery rather than basic familiarity.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Develop intermediate to advanced competency for understanding socioeconomic and political policy decision-making

• Research and expand analytic tools for evaluating policy research and practice

• Master diverse frameworks for engaging normative and ethical questions

• Critique socioeconomic and political policy decision-making and apply new models

What is the Survey Internship?

The Survey Internship provides hands-on experience in research design, sampling, fieldwork, and data processing. You'll apply survey research methods in real-world settings while developing career-related skills. The course prepares you for senior research projects through practical application of quantitative research techniques.

This course provides practical experience in survey research design and execution. You'll engage in sampling, fieldwork, and data processing while developing comprehensive methodological knowledge. The course emphasizes survey research design while also covering qualitative research and desk research. You'll build career-related skills, apply academic knowledge in professional contexts, and cultivate self-efficacy, vital work habits, and resilience needed for research careers.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Develop and refine career-related skills

• Apply academic skills in professional research settings

• Cultivate self-efficacy, vital work habits, and resilience

What is Social Policy?

Social Policy introduces major policy initiatives and programs in the U.S. and internationally. You'll examine conflicts and debates in 21st-century social welfare across areas including disability, welfare, hunger, healthcare, education, employment, and services for children and elders through lenses of diversity, human rights, and justice. The course emphasizes antipoverty policy.

This course introduces you to major policy initiatives and programs in the U.S. and beyond, examining major conflicts and debates in 21st-century social welfare across priority practice areas including disability, welfare, hunger, healthcare, education, employment, services for children and elders, mental health, and substance abuse through lenses of diversity in practice, human rights, and justice. Strong focus is placed on antipoverty policy. You'll apply analytic tools to evaluation of policy process, including critique of socioeconomic forces underlying social policy decision-making and implementation, demonstrating competency in applying this knowledge and tools to decision-making practice beyond theoretical understanding.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Apply analytic tools to evaluation of policy process, including critique of socioeconomic forces underlying social policy decision-making and implementation; demonstrate competency in applying this knowledge and these tools to decision-making practice, not simply as a matter of theoretical understanding

• Acquire framework for engaging normative and ethical questions; demonstrate an intermediate ability in articulation and evaluation of normative and ethical ramifications of policy, including equity and justice issues

• Apply understanding and tools in novel circumstances

What is Culture, Health, and Illness?

Culture, Health, and Illness applies anthropological and sociological methods to analyze medical practices and health systems across cultures. You'll examine how sociopolitical, cultural, and economic contexts shape disease, illness, and healthcare delivery. The course explores equity, bias, and justice in health systems globally.

This course applies anthropological and sociological methods and theory to comparative analysis of illness, medical practices, and health systems. You'll develop tools for analyzing the sociopolitical, cultural, and economic contexts that impact health, illness, and healthcare both locally and worldwide. The course examines how various contexts shape disease patterns and healthcare access, with emphasis on equity, bias, justice, and stratification in health systems. You'll learn to formulate and evaluate normative and ethical consequences of processes affecting health.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Understand the sociopolitical, cultural, and economic contexts of disease, illness, and health

• Develop tools to analyze these sociopolitical, cultural, and economic contexts impacting health, illness, and healthcare locally and worldwide

• Acquire a framework to formulate and evaluate normative and ethical consequences of sociopolitical, cultural, and economic processes, including equity, bias, justice, and stratification

• Apply understanding and tools to diverse sociopolitical, cultural, and economic contexts

What is Contemporary Moral Issues?

Contemporary Moral Issues examines current ethical challenges including truth in government, violence, economic injustice, human trafficking, and racism through theological and ethical frameworks. You'll investigate moral theology, learn principles for ethical decision-making, and critically reflect on moral problems to make responsible decisions as an ethical citizen.

This course provides theological and ethical investigation of selected moral problems of our time. You'll examine issues such as truth in government, violence, economic injustice, human trafficking, and racism while exploring moral theology, its purpose, function, and development. The course studies moral principles involved in ethical decision-making while examining pressing contemporary issues. You'll develop the ability to critically reflect on moral problems and make responsible decisions as a moral and ethical person. Student suggestions for additional moral issues are welcomed and considered.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Understand moral theology, its purpose, function, and development

• Know and study the moral principles involved in making a moral decision

• Demonstrate awareness and knowledge of the present moral issues that are confronting us

• Critically reflect upon these moral issues and then make responsible decisions as a moral and ethical person