The minor in public policy is well-suited for students majoring in economics, political science, education, sociology, criminology, pre-law, human rights, social justice, social work, geography, sustainability, environmental policy and planning, civil and environmental engineering, health and public health, business, anthropology, history, journalism and mass communication, African American studies, and Native American and Indigenous studies among other areas.
The undergraduate minor in public policy requires 15 s.h. of coursework taken at the University of Iowa. Students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 3.00 in work for the minor. Coursework in the minor may not be taken pass/nonpass.
The minor in public policy requires the following coursework.
Core Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Two of these: | ||
| PBAF:3117/POLI:3117 | Bureaucratic Politics and Public Administration | 3 |
| PBAF:3560/POLI:3560/RHET:3560/SJUS:3560 | Public Policy and Persuasion | 3 |
| PBAF:4205 | Economics for Policy Analysis (with consent of instructor) | 3 |
| PBAF:4233 | Public Finance and Budgeting | 3 |
| PBAF:4340 | Public Policy Analysis | 3 |
| POLI:3111 | American Public Policy | 3 |
Electives
Students must select at least three electives (9 s.h.) with at least one Group A elective from the lists below.
Group A
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| At least one of these: | ||
| PBAF:3117/POLI:3117 | Bureaucratic Politics and Public Administration (if not taken as a core course) | 3 |
| PBAF:3560/POLI:3560/RHET:3560/SJUS:3560 | Public Policy and Persuasion (if not taken as a core course) | 3 |
| PBAF:3570/GHS:3570 | Poverty Policy | 3 |
| PBAF:4205 | Economics for Policy Analysis (if not taken as a core course) | 3 |
| PBAF:4233 | Public Finance and Budgeting (if not taken as a core course) | 3 |
| PBAF:4340 | Public Policy Analysis (if not taken as a core course) | 3 |
| URP:1030/PBAF:1030 | Climate Leadership and Justice | 3 |
| URP:2020/PBAF:2020 | Environment and Society: Sustainability, Policy, and Politics | 3 |
| URP:2056/PBAF:2056 | The Splendor of Cities | 3 |
| URP:4225 | Applied GIS for Planning and Policy Making | 3 |
| URP:4256 | Environmental Policy | 3 |
| URP:4260 | Transportation Policy and Planning | 3 |
| URP:4271 | Housing Policy | 3 |
| URP:4280 | Planning for Disaster Mitigation and Recovery | 3 |
| URP:4295 | Economic Development Policy | 3 |
| POLI:3111 | American Public Policy (if not taken as a core course) | 3 |
Group B
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PBAF:3580 | Native American Public Policy | 3 |
| CRIM:2210/CSI:2210 | Iowa Criminal Justice Policy and Reform | 3 |
| CRIM:3600 | Crime and Public Policy | 3 |
| CRIM:4120 | Environmental Criminology | 3 |
| GEOG:3780/GHS:3780/HIST:3240 | U.S. Energy Policy in Global Context | 3 |
| GEOG:3800 | Environmental Economics and Policy | 3 |
| HHP:4030 | Policy, Environmental, and Social Determinants of Health | 3 |
| POLI:1501 | Introduction to American Foreign Policy | 3 |
| POLI:2417 | Comparative Environmental Policy | 3 |
| POLI:3104/LAS:3104/LATS:3104 | Immigration Politics | 3 |
| POLI:3114 | Women and Politics in the United States | 3 |
| POLI:3123 | State Politics in Iowa | 3 |
| POLI:3127 | Legislative Policy Seminar | 3 |
| POLI:3160 | Research Task Force: Solving Policy Problems Through Research | 3 |
| SOC:2810 | Social Inequality | 3 |
Declaring the Minor
Students may declare the minor in MyUI as soon as they are enrolled in any of the public policy minor courses.
Those interested in pursuing the minor must meet with the minor advisor, be briefed on the minor expectations for performance, and complete a plan of study that must be approved by the minor advisor.
For more information, contact the School of Planning and Public Affairs.