The public policy minor is intended for University of Iowa undergraduate students who seek to understand how and why public policies are adopted; how they impact the economy, society, and communities; and how innovative public policies are developed to improve economic prosperity, social justice and wellbeing, and environmental sustainability at the local, state, national, and global levels.
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 human physiology, public health, business, anthropology, history, journalism and mass communication, African American studies, and Native American and Indigenous studies among other areas.
Students completing the public policy minor will be able to analyze the impact of past and current public policies, understand the institutions and process of policymaking, and develop new public policies to tackle pressing challenges society faces. They will be prepared to enter policymaking fields in their areas of interest and to make communities, states, and nations more resilient, inclusive, and prosperous.