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

Two of these:
PBAF:3117/POLI:3117Bureaucratic Politics and Public Administration3
PBAF:3560/POLI:3560/RHET:3560/SJUS:3560Public Policy and Persuasion3
PBAF:4205Economics for Policy Analysis (with consent of instructor)3
PBAF:4233Public Finance and Budgeting3
PBAF:4340Public Policy Analysis3
POLI:3111American Public Policy3

Electives

Students must select at least three electives (9 s.h.) with at least one Group A elective from the lists below.

Group A

At least one of these:
PBAF:3117/POLI:3117Bureaucratic Politics and Public Administration (if not taken as a core course)3
PBAF:3560/POLI:3560/RHET:3560/SJUS:3560Public Policy and Persuasion (if not taken as a core course)3
PBAF:3570/GHS:3570Poverty Policy3
PBAF:4205Economics for Policy Analysis (if not taken as a core course)3
PBAF:4233Public Finance and Budgeting (if not taken as a core course)3
PBAF:4340Public Policy Analysis (if not taken as a core course)3
URP:1030/PBAF:1030Climate Leadership and Justice3
URP:2020/PBAF:2020Environment and Society: Sustainability, Policy, and Politics3
URP:2056/PBAF:2056The Splendor of Cities3
URP:4225Applied GIS for Planning and Policy Making3
URP:4256Environmental Policy3
URP:4260Transportation Policy and Planning3
URP:4271Housing Policy3
URP:4280Planning for Disaster Mitigation and Recovery3
URP:4295Economic Development Policy3
POLI:3111American Public Policy (if not taken as a core course)3

Group B

PBAF:3580Native American Public Policy3
CRIM:2210/CSI:2210Iowa Criminal Justice Policy and Reform3
CRIM:3600Crime and Public Policy3
CRIM:4120Environmental Criminology3
GEOG:3780/GHS:3780/HIST:3240U.S. Energy Policy in Global Context3
GEOG:3800Environmental Economics and Policy3
HHP:4030Policy, Environmental, and Social Determinants of Health3
POLI:1501Introduction to American Foreign Policy3
POLI:2417Comparative Environmental Policy3
POLI:3104/LAS:3104/LATS:3104Immigration Politics3
POLI:3114Women and Politics in the United States3
POLI:3123State Politics in Iowa3
POLI:3127Legislative Policy Seminar3
POLI:3160Research Task Force: Solving Policy Problems Through Research3
SOC:2810Social Inequality3

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.