Public Policy Certificate

Introduction

The undergraduate Public Policy Certificate is for students who wish to study public policy, an inherently interdisciplinary field of study that connects Economics and Political Science to real-world policy issues in Sustainability, Environmental Studies, Education, Health, and more. Public policy includes initiatives, regulations, rules, and laws that address political, economic, and social issues affecting society and are administered by government at the local, state, and federal, and global levels. Public policy studies can be found in a variety of degree programs, ranging from standalone B.A., M.A., or Ph.D. degree programs to disciplinary concentrations or interdisciplinary minors at the B.A. level. Initially developed by faculty in Economics, Political Science, and Sustainability, this undergraduate Certificate is designed to combine analytical skills and base knowledge of policy analysis from Economics and Political Science to other fields, where students can apply core knowledge and skills to substantive policy issue areas of their choice, including in their own major. Policy studies is about solving problems, and this Certificate provides undergraduate students with the necessary training to tackle the issues they care most about. 

Admission

The undergraduate Public Policy Certificate is open to any undergraduate student with an interest in developing skills and knowledge in this area. All majors are welcome.

Certificate Requirements

The undergraduate Public Policy Certificate requires a minimum of 20 credits drawn from core courses in Economics and Political Science, with electives from across the university. 

Core Courses

Students must take the following three required Core Courses (12 credits):

1. ECON 1200 Macroeconomics (4 cr)

2. POLS 2190 Introduction to Public Policy (4 cr)

3. Choose your path: ECON 3610 Econometrics OR POLS/ECON 3636 Political Economics (4 cr) – please note, these classes have a prerequisite of ECON 1200 or ECON 1400, so this course should be taken after ECON 1200 

Students who take ECON 3610 are on the econometrics path, where they develop skills in quantitative analysis of policy. Those not interested in developing quantitative skills should take POLS/ECON 3636. Optionally, students can further develop their public policy analysis skills by adding a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Certificate (17-18 credits), which helps prepare students for specialization in GIS, a tool used in governmental and non-governmental organizations to analyze trends and present policy data to the public.

Elective Courses

Students can choose two of any of the following courses (8 credits)*:

• CRIM 2216 Homeland Security

• ECON 2104 Health Care Economics

• ECON 2200 Ecological Economic

• ECON 2276 Urban Economics

• ECON 2625 Perspectives on Law and Economics

• ECON 3620 Money and Financial Institutions

• ECON 3690 Economics of Work and Pay

• ENVL 3310 ENVL Planning and Policy

• ENVL 3313 Natural Resource Policy & Law

• ENVL 3316 Environmental Planning & Policy Lab

• GIS 3686 Disability Rights Around the World

• GIS 4668 Politics and Advocacy in Higher Education

• GSS 2356 Disability Rights and History

• GSS 2404 Aging and the Law

• GSS 3109 Natural Resources and Policy

• GSS 3151 Public Policy Issues/Analysis

• GSS 3156 Mental Health Policy and Practice

• GSS 3168 Business, Government and Society

• GSS 3297 Health Politics and Policy

• GSS 3360 Schools of the Future: Education in 21st Century

• PLAW 3110 The Legal, Social, and Ethical Environment of Business

• PLAW 3630 Health Law and Policy

• POLS 2180 Introduction to Public Administration

• POLS 2245 Race and Politics

• POLS 2274 U.S. Foreign Policy

• POLS 3345 Politics of Immigration

• PUBH 2404 Health Policies and Issues

• SOWK 3101 History of Social Welfare Policy

• SOCI 3260 Food Access and Social Policy

• SUST 3313 Environmental Policy/Law

• SUST 3315 Natural Resources Engineering and Policy

• SUST 3351 Policy Practicum

* Other courses may be added or substituted with permission of the POLS Chair. For example, the Washington Internship Program (WIP) may count towards this certificate if the internship is policy-related; 4 credits may be approved as one of the two elective courses. 

Additional Information 

Learning Outcomes

When students complete the requirements for this certificate, they will have developed:

1. Policy Analysis Skills: Develop the ability to critically analyze public policies, assess their effectiveness, and propose evidence-based recommendations for improvement.

2. Understanding of Policy Frameworks: Gain a thorough understanding of the theoretical frameworks and methodologies used in the formation, implementation, and evaluation of public policies.

3. Research Proficiency: Acquire advanced research skills to gather, analyze, and interpret data essential for informed policy decision-making.

4. Stakeholder Engagement: Learn to effectively communicate and engage with diverse stakeholders, including government officials, non-governmental organizations, and the public to facilitate collaborative policy development.

5. Ethical and Equitable Policy Making: Foster a deep commitment to ethical considerations in policy-making, emphasizing equity, inclusivity, and social justice.

6. Interdisciplinary Integration: Integrate knowledge from various disciplines such as economics, sociology, and political science to address complex policy challenges comprehensively. 

Research & Internship Opportunities 

William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy

The Hughes Center for Public Policy provides students with opportunities to be engaged in public opinion research, join with faculty conducting research for the U.S. State Department’s Diplomacy Lab program, or work alongside Public Policy Research Fellows on a variety of policy-relevant topics in economics, health, K-12 civic education, and more. The Center also holds events that bring speakers to campus, often on public policy issues. Interested students should contact the Hughes Center for Public Policy for more information: https://stockton.edu/hughes-center/. 

The Washington Internship Program

(WIP) is an extraordinary opportunity to spend an entire academic term (Fall/Spring/Summer) in Washington, DC, working in a variety of settings and completing an entire semester’s worth of credit (16 credits fall/spring or 12 summer). Students intern in a variety of governmental, political, nonprofit, and private sector settings, take a course, and participate in a variety of professional development experiences. Students interested in this program should go to the Hughes Center for Public Policy website at https://stockton.edu/hughes-center/. 

State and Local Public Service Internships: To encourage greater participation in public careers, the Hughes Public Policy Center helps match students to legislative and other policy-related internship opportunities. Some of these opportunities are unpaid, but you can earn college credit. Every academic school has different procedures and requirements for doing an internship for academic credit. Please refer to the information about “Interested in Getting College Credit?” to find the appropriate contact for your major’s school. You may also earn Political Science credits, regardless of major.

For more information about the Public Policy Certificate, please visit the website.