Coordinator: Ronald G. Shaiko,
Senior Fellow and Associate Director, The Nelson A. Rockefeller Center
Research Associate Professor R. G. Shaiko; Research Associates P. R. Burns, W. G. O’Neal; Visiting Associate Professor R. H. Sprinkle; Visiting Assistant Professor C. J. Wheelan..
The Nelson A. Rockefeller Center at Dartmouth coordinates the Minor in Public Policy, which is open to students from all majors who seek a coherent program of study in the field of public policy, broadly defined.
Drawing on faculty in the social sciences and interdisciplinary programs, the minor provides a variety of perspectives on policy questions, such as changes in values, institutions, technology or markets, and it enables students to pursue a focus on either domestic policy or international policy. In addition to fostering a general knowledge of the policy process, it includes a topical specialty that complements students’ course work in a major. The Public Policy Minor is intended to foster a critical understanding of policy issues and solutions.
Students who wish to pursue the minor must officially sign up for it no later than the third term prior to graduation. The six courses required for the minor may not count toward a student’s major or another minor.
Prerequisite: One course conveying quantitative or qualitative research methods. Options include: Social Science 10 (or its equivalent), Economics 10, Mathematics 10, Psychology 10, Sociology 10, Mathematics and Social Sciences 15, Geography 11, Geography 58, Sociology 16, Sociology 17 or Education 11.
Requirements: A total of six courses. The courses must include:
One (1) policymaking process course. For the Class of 2010 and later, Public Policy 5 is the only course that satisfies this requirement. For the Class of 2009 and earlier, Government 36, Sociology 23, Economics 2, History 19, Environmental Studies 3, Geography 16, and Government 17 may substitute for Public Policy 5.
Two (2) public policy methods courses. Choices include:
Economics 20: Econometrics
Public Policy 40-49
Two (2) courses in a policy track (students may design their own policy track). Possible tracks include:
Domestic economics and public policy
Education and public policy
Environment and public policy
Health and public policy
Identity and public policy
Institutions, organizations and public policy
International relations and public policy
Law and public policy
Urban issues and public policy
One (1) Public Policy Seminar relevant to the chosen policy track. In certain circumstances, a student may petition the faculty advisor to substitute a Social Science seminar requiring a research paper relevant to the chosen policy track for this requirement.