Undergraduate minor Public Policy

Citizens interested in addressing societal problems and even experts with deep, technical knowledge of particular issues often find that politics and governance interfere with and complicate proposals for change. The process through which policy problems are defined, whether issues find a place on the political agenda, and the particular alternatives that gain prominence may owe less to their efforts and preferences than to political developments and the institutional context. Once policies are enacted, the political process starts anew as implementation unfolds. Policies may develop very differently “on the ground” than intended, as policy design and delivery can alter their meaning or actual outcomes and produce unintended consequences. Political factors also influence the sustainability of policies and how, once in place, they themselves influence the political process.

The public policy minor enables students to comprehend such paradoxes by developing their understanding of the political dimensions of public policy and how they shape its conception, formulation, implementation, chances of success, intended and unintended consequences, and evaluation. Students will have the opportunity to take courses that deal with public policy in the United States, Africa, China, Europe, India, Latin America, and Southeast Asia, and with attention to domestic policy (including health, education, energy, criminal justice, natural resources, immigration, social welfare policy, and urban policy) and foreign policy (including foreign aid and national security). The minor is housed in the Government Department but policy courses offered by other departments, if their content pertains to the purposes of the minor, will also be approved for elective credit.

1. Submit an online enrollment application to the Undergraduate Field Coordinator, Danielle O’Connor in the Government Department.

3. Among the five qualifying courses, students must successfully complete a gateway course (which will be offered at least twice in every three years):

4. Students must also take one methods course. The following courses fulfill this requirement:

• GOVT 3999 How Do You Know That? Causal Inference in the Social Sciences

5. An additional three electives, from a list of eligible courses.

Note: We recommend that students consult with an advisor about charting their pathway through the minor. Some may opt to choose their electives exclusively from one of the following groupings: US domestic policy, foreign policy, comparative policy. Others may seek a diversity of courses or courses with a common theme.

6. Students must earn a minimum grade of C+ on all classes to be used toward the minor.

7. Government majors who wish to qualify for the minor may count a maximum of one course toward both the major and the minor.

Students are encouraged to sign up for the minor early, rather than waiting until they have completed the requirements. This will permit them to benefit from faculty advising and other opportunities. Students may tailor the minor for their particular academic and career goals.

[Note: This is only a partial list, illustrative of the courses that can qualify for the major. A team of faculty will consider other courses, including those offered by other departments besides Government, to determine which ones can qualify for credit toward the minor.]

GOVT 3091 Science in the American Polity, 1960 to Now (AMST 3911, STS 3911)

GOVT 3547 America, Business and International Political Economy

GOVT 4354 Comparative Political Economy of Advanced Industrialized States

Cornell in Washington: Courses in this program will also count toward the minor.

Students interested in the Minor in Public Policy should complete the online Minor Enrollment Form, below on this page. Please review minor requirements prior to submitting your application.

For Inquiries Related to Enrollment in the Minor in Public Policy, Please Contact: