Minor in Public Policy

policy definition

Addressing the “big” problems in society such as education reform, crime reduction, poverty alleviation, and human rights require the input of business, government, and nonprofit actors in a complex environment. The private, public, and nonprofit sectors are increasingly interconnected in efforts to collaborate and coordinate to develop effective policies to solve social problems and address the needs of diverse stakeholders in society. Public policy affects all aspects of society from urban development to healthcare, the environment, education, international relations, and more.

The minor in public policy is designed to enhance student understanding of public problems and how governments attempt to address them.  A minor in public policy may be useful for students considering careers in a variety of policy-related fields, including jobs in policy analysis, research, public administration, nonprofit management, program evaluation, and as consultants for business and government entities. Students pursuing a minor in Public Policy will deepen their understanding of public problems, policy solutions, and their own role as individual citizens in the policy environment. Students can select electives to focus their minor on a substantive policy are of their choice (e.g. environmental policy, urban policy, crime and justice policy, etc.)

The minor in public policy would also be beneficial to students that plan to be employed in fields that are regulated by the government (engineering, technology, architecture, education, health care, sciences, and anyone who expects to play a leadership role in a business). Employees in these roles need to understand how decisions are made and how nongovernmental actors (them) are able to shape these decisions.

Open to undergraduates of all disciplines including:

  • Anthropology
  • Biological Sciences
  • Communication
  • Computer Science
  • Criminology, Law, and Justice
  • Economics
  • Gender and Women’s Studies
  • Information & Decision Sciences
  • Integrated Health Sciences
  • Neuroscience
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Public Health
  • Sociology
  • Urban Studies

 

Please complete the minor application below. If you have questions regarding this minor, contact Sharon Hayes at shar@uic.edu.

  • **Note: The new minor is Research Design and Data Analysis will not appear on your curriculum until Spring 2025.
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