Since 1981, graduates of the Undergraduate Program in Public Policy have enrolled in some of the best graduate and law schools in the U.S.; worked as legislative aides for the U.S. Congress or as staff assistants for various branches of government; or have found their studies immediately applicable to the public, private and nonprofit sectors.
The Undergraduate Program in Public Policy offers three options for ambitious students:
- Major in public policy
- Minor in public policy
- 4+1 program (BA + Master of Public Policy [MPP] in just five years)
Major
The public policy major requires the completion of at least 50 hours of IPPS approved courses (including five core courses) and the completion of a second undergraduate BA major.
Public policy majors may choose their required second major from among those they deem the most relevant, useful, and interesting. Popular choices include political science, economics, history, sociology, international studies, and communications/journalism studies, but students may combine their public policy major with any other BA major at DU.
There is no cross-credit between the second major and the public policy program; a course carrying public policy credit does not count simultaneously for credit in public policy and the second major department.
Minor
The public policy minor requires the completion of at least 25 hours of IPPS approved courses (five core courses and one elective course).
4+1 Program
The public policy 4+1 program allows students to receive both their BA and MPP in just five years. Students must apply and be accepted into the MPP program.
Fifty hours of coursework must be completed to earn an undergraduate major in public policy. Sixty hours of coursework must be completed to earn a Master of Public Policy.
Outside the 4+1 Program, a total of 110 hours of BA and MPP coursework must be completed. Inside the 4+1 Program, 14 hours of coursework completed during the Transition Year (Fourth/Senior Year) are "double-counted" as 28 hours - reducing the total coursework to 96 hours.
More Info
For more information on the Undergraduate Program in Public Policy, please contact Chloé Gable