Undergraduate Minor in Public Policy

Evans School of Public Policy & Governance

Learn How Policy Works

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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2025-2026 Courses

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 2025

PUBPOL 201 Introduction to Public Policy and Governance (5)
PUBPOL 301 Truth, Evidence, and Public Policy Analytics (5)
PUBPOL 313 Evidence-Based Policy Implementation (5)
PUBPOL 392 Health Equity & Policy (5)
PUBPOL 400 Public Policy and Governance Seminar (1)
PUBPOL 403 Leadership in Action (5)
PUBPOL 407 Negotiation Skills and Strategies for the Public Sector (5)
PUBPOL 481 Data Science, Economy, and Policy (5)
PUBPOL 497 Undergrad Internship (1-5)
PUBPOL 498 Undergrad Research (1-5)
PUBPOL 499 Topics: Development Management and Governance (5)
PUBPOL 499 Topics: Legislative Relations (5)
PUBPOL 499 Topics: Climate Change and Energy Policy (5)
PUBPOL 499 Topics: Local Government Management (5)
PUBPOL 499 Topics: Natural Resource Policy (5)

Winter 2026

PUBPOL 201 Introduction to Public Policy and Governance (5)
PUBPOL 303 Methods of Policy Inquiry (5)
PUBPOL 350 Intro to Nonprofits and Philanthropy (5)
PUBPOL 391 Education and Workforce Policy (5)
PUBPOL 499 Topics: Local Gov’t Management (5)
PUBPOL 499 Topics: Advocacy (5)
PUBPOL 499 Topics: Natural Resources (5)

Spring 2026

PUBPOL 201 Introduction to Public Policy and Governance (5)
PUBPOL 302 Public Service Leadership (5)
PUBPOL 303 Methods of Policy Inquiry (5)
PUBPOL 321 Decision Making, Behavior, and Policy Design (5)
PUBPOL 390 Environmental Policy (5)
PUBPOL 400 Public Policy and Governance Seminar (1)
PUBPOL 402 Ethics, Leadership, and Policy Implementation (5)
PUBPOL 403 Leadership in Action (5)
PUBPOL 480 Geographic Information Systems for Public Policy (5)
PUBPOL 497 Undergrad Internship (1-5)
PUBPOL 498 Undergrad Research (1-5)
PUBPOL 499A Topics: Transportation Policy (5)

Summer 2026

PUBPOL 201 Introduction to Public Policy and Governance (5)
PUBPOL 497 Undergrad Internship (1-5)
PUBPOL 498 Undergrad Research (1-5)

Minor Requirements

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:

Courses taken S/NS may not be counted toward a minor.

Learning Outcomes

The minor introduces how policy works. Building upon skills developed in students’ majors and other coursework, learning outcomes for the public policy minor are:

Learn how policies are crafted, adopted, implemented, and evaluated;
Understand the complex array of institutions involved in policy making and implementation;
Learn how to preserve ethics and legitimacy and ensure fairness and equity in policy;
Develop ability to communicate and work collaboratively in diverse groups to develop solutions to policy challenges.

Declare the Minor

To declare the Public Policy Minor students must have:

Declared a major
Completed at least 45 credits

Only the adviser in your major department can sign off to declare a minor; this is to ensure you meet university satisfactory progress requirements.