Undergraduate Minor in Public Policy

Evans School of Public Policy & Governance

Drive social change with a public policy minor

The Evans School’s Minor in Public Policy offers a relevant and exciting introduction to the field of public policy and the frameworks leaders use to address complex 21st century public challenges. Through this minor, you will learn how to use data and evidence to make sound public decisions, design effective public policy that is responsive to human behavior, and grow your leadership aptitude in order to navigate complex political and policy environments upon graduation. You will also develop your capacity to understand organizations, to lead and negotiate, and to broaden your understanding of the role of the nonprofit and social sectors in building stronger, healthier, and more just communities.

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2023-24 Course Offerings

This list includes the undergraduate courses offered during this academic year. While every effort is made to ensure this information is accurate and up to date, it is subject to change.

Autumn 2023

PUBPOL 201: Introduction to Public Policy and Governance
PUBPOL 321: Decision-Making, Behavior, and Policy Design
PUBPOL 403: Leadership in Action
PUBPOL 499: Topics in Public Policy – Data Science, Economy, Policy

Winter 2024

PUBPOL 201: Introduction to Public Policy & Governance
PUBPOL 355: Nonprofits, Philanthropy & Social Innovation
PUBPOL 499A: Topics in Public Policy – Ethics, Power, and Leadership
PUBPOL 499B: Topics in Public Policy – Health Equity & Policy
PUBPOL 499CL Topics in Public Policy – Advocacy for Social Change

Spring 2024

PUBPOL 302: Public Service Leadership
PUBPOL 321: Decision-making, Behavior, and Policy Design
PUBPOL 403: Leadership in Action
PUBPOL 499: Topics in Public Policy – GIS & Public Policy
PUBPOL 499: Topics in Public Policy – Natural Language Processing

Public Policy Minor-at-a-Glance

25 credits

PUBPOL 201 (5 credits)
20 credits from 300- or 400-level PUBPOL courses or other courses approved by the Evans School
Minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA for all courses applied to the minor
Minimum 15 credits taken in residence through the UW-Seattle campus

Additional requirements from UW Undergraduate Advising:

Any undergraduate student with at least sophomore standing (45 credits completed) who is declared in a major may declare a minor. There are no departmental admission requirements for the Public Policy Minor.
Only the adviser in your major department can sign off to declare a minor; this is to ensure you meet university satisfactory progress requirements.
Courses taken S/NS may not be counted toward a minor.

Skills & Proficiencies

Building upon skills developed in students’ majors and other coursework, specific learning outcomes for public policy minor are:

Students will understand the public policy environment;
Students will learn how policies are crafted, adopted, implemented, and evaluated;
Students will learn how to preserve ethics and legitimacy and ensure fairness and equity in policy;
Students will develop scientifically grounded analytical skills to address public policy and governance challenges;
Students will develop the ability to think critically, solve problems, and make decisions in the context of public policy analysis and implementation;
Students will develop their ability to work collaboratively in diverse groups to develop solutions to policy challenges;
Students will learn to communicate and interact productively with a diverse and changing workforce and citizenry; and
Students will develop skills relevant to leading effectively in the public service context.

Declare the Minor

To declare the Public Policy Minor students must have:

Declared a major
Completed at least 45 credits

You can declare the Public Policy Minor with your departmental major adviser.