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Program Description
The Public Policy and Leadership Across Sectors (PPLAS) minor is appropriate for anyone interested in contemporary public policy, but it has been designed with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and business majors in mind. The minor introduces you to the practice of policy analysis, the process of policymaking and the values of public service. You will develop skills for effective cross-sectoral collaboration in the making and implementation of public policies.
Recognizing the multi-sector future of public policy is what drives the PPLAS curriculum. Popular courses in STEM and business fields provide pathways into the minor. Two required courses on policy analysis and leadership provide core skills for understanding and shaping public policies. Additional courses challenge you to apply those core skills to a variety of vexing policy problems and round out your preparation for inter-sectoral work. Whether you enter public service at the start, middle, or end of your career, the PPLAS minor provides you with an understanding of why that service is important to our society and how to approach it.
The program is a part of the Next Generation Service Corps (NextGen) initiative supported by the Volcker Alliance. Enrolling in the minor gives you the opportunity to participate in NextGen program activities ranging from lectures by policy leaders to service-learning activities. You will also be able to participate in the activities of any NextGen partner institution. These activities are not strictly required, giving you maximum flexibility to use the NextGen program to fulfill your interests.
Program Requirements
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| Requirements for the Minor | 18 |
Requirements for the Minor
A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the minor, as specified by Senate Policy 59-10. In addition, at least six credits of the minor must be unique from the prescribed courses required by a student's major(s).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| PUBPL 304W | Public Policy Analysis | 3 |
| PUBPL 305 | Leadership Studies | 3 |
| Additional Courses | ||
| Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| Select 6 credits from the following: | 6 | |
| Racial and Ethnic Inequality in America | ||
| Race and Public Policy | ||
| Economic Inequality and Public Policy | ||
| Seminar in Environmental Policy | ||
| Seminar in Health Policy | ||
| Seminar in Public Policy | ||
| Homelessness in America | ||
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas | ||
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| Select 6 credits from the following: | 6 | |
Science, Ethics, Policy, and Law  | ||
| Business Law I: Introduction to Contracts, Liability Issues, and Intellectual Property | ||
| Science, Technology and Public Policy | ||
| Foundations: Civic and Community Engagement | ||
| Introduction to Educational Leadership | ||
| Cornerstone Engineering Design | ||
| Policy and Administration | ||
| Information, People and Technology | ||
| Legal and Regulatory Environment of Information Science and Technology | ||
| Employment Relationship: Law and Policy | ||
| Ethics of Climate Change | ||
| Science and policy of global greenhouse gas emissions and management | ||
| Establishing Workforce Diversity and Inclusion | ||
| Social Entrepreneurship | ||
| Sustainable Behavior of Consumers, Firms, and Societies | ||
| Organizational Theory and Functions for Leaders | ||
| Evidence-Based Leadership | ||
| Leadership Development: A Life-Long Learning Perspective | ||
| Communication Skills for Leaders in Groups and Organizations | ||
| Collective Decision Making | ||
| American Public Policy | ||
| Analyzing Public Policy in the American States | ||
| National Security Policies | ||
| Policy Making and Evaluation | ||
| State, Society, and Public Policy | ||
| Seminar in National Security Policy | ||
Academic Advising
The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.
Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.
READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY
University Park
Liberal Arts Academic Advising
814-865-2545
Use the Liberal Arts Meet the Academic Advisers web page to see the contact information for the specific adviser(s) of this program
Contact
University Park
SCHOOL of PUBLIC POLICY
322 Pond Lab
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-5346
publicpolicy@psu.edu