Specialization Opportunities

The following are some sample course plans available in undergraduate public administration / public policy programs, which enable students to concentrate in a policy / management area of their choice. Please consult with your professors and the program staff to prepare an effective course plan to meet your particular needs and specialization interest.

Sample One: Concentration in State and Local Government

Required courses:

Controversies in Public Policy
Introduction to Microeconomics
Introduction to Statistics

Elective courses:

State and Local Government
Political Parties and Elections
Money and Banking
Organization of American Industry
Internship: Massachusetts State House

Sample Two: Concentration in Science, Technology and Society in Public Policy

Required courses:

Public Policy
Introduction to Resource Economics
Introduction to Statistics

Elective courses:

Interdisciplinary Legal Studies
Race, Gender & Science
Economics in Contemporary Information Technology
Business and its Environment
Advanced Issues in Information Technology and Society

Sample Three: Concentration in Environmental Policy

Required courses:

Public Policy
Introduction to Resource Economics
Introductory Statistics for the Life Sciences

Elective courses:

Environmental Policy
Environmental Economics
Natural Resource Economics
Human Dimensions in Natural Resource Management
Ecosystem Management

Sample Four: Concentration in Urban Planning

Required courses:

Controversies in Public Policy
Introduction to Microeconomics
Introductory Statistics for the Social Sciences

Elective courses:

American Architecture & Urbanism
Land Use and Society
Urban Geography
Urban Policies
City Planning

Sample Five: Concentration in Social Welfare Policy

Required courses:

Public Policy
Introduction to Microeconomics
Introductory Statistics for the Social Sciences

Elective courses:

Tools for Change
Public Finance
Political Economy of Women
Social Welfare Policy
Junior Honors Thesis