Public Policy Major, B.A.
The core curriculum in public policy includes courses on policy innovation and analysis, politics of public policy, applied philosophy, applied economics, research design, and statistics. Our experiential education (EE) courses develop students’ teamwork, leadership, and communication skills as they produce actionable, client-centered research. UNC Public Policy offers multiple courses on global and domestic policy including courses on education, immigration, the environment, health and human rights, and history and public policy.
The mission of UNC Public Policy is to empower students with the knowledge, skills, and experience to improve the lives of others.
Knowledge
Students think and learn across academic disciplines with a diverse faculty with degrees in business, economics, history, law, philosophy, political science, public policy, sociology, and sociomedical sciences.
Skills
Students gain an ability to think critically and independently; to write, reason, and communicate clearly; and to develop research methods and quantitative analysis skills.
Experience
Students apply knowledge and skills in real world environments beyond the classroom. Students in UNC Public Policy's clinic, internship, and capstone courses address contemporary policy challenges by providing innovative analysis to clients in the nonprofit and public sector.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the public policy program, students should be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of economic, normative, and political perspectives for defining the public interest and evaluating policy choices
- Demonstrate written, oral, and analytical skills in evaluating public policy alternatives
- Demonstrate knowledge of a particular policy subfield and apply it in an experience in policy analysis in that field
- Demonstrate skills in developing approaches to solving current public policy problems as a result of participation in experiential education opportunities
- Work effectively in teams
Requirements
In addition to the program requirements, students must
- earn a minimum final cumulative GPA of 2.000
- complete a minimum of 45 academic credit hours earned from UNC–Chapel Hill courses
- take at least half of their major core requirements (courses and credit hours) at UNC–Chapel Hill
- earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.000 in the major core requirements. Some programs may require higher standards for major or specific courses.
For more information, please consult the degree requirements section of the catalog.
First-year and sophomore students considering a major in public policy are encouraged to complete PLCY 101 or PLCY 110.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| PLCY 210 | Policy Innovation and Analysis H | 3 |
| PLCY 220 |  The Politics of Public Policy H | 3 |
| PLCY 340 | Justice in Public Policy H | 3 |
| PLCY 310 | Microeconomic Foundations of Public Policy (formerly PLCY 410) | 3 |
| or ECON 410 | Intermediate Microeconomics | |
| PLCY 460 | Quantitative Analysis for Public Policy 2,3, H | 4 |
| PLCY 581 | Research Design for Public Policy 2, H | 3 |
| PLCY 698 | Senior Capstone in Public Policy 2 | 3-4 |
| or PLCY 692H | Honors in Public Policy | |
| At least six credit hours of approved public policy electives. 1 | 6 | |
| Additional Requirements | ||
| ECON 101 | Introduction to Economics 2, H, F | 4 |
| Policy Field (optional), see list below | ||
| Total Hours | 32-33 | |
| H | Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply. |
| F | FY-Launch class sections may be available. A FY-Launch section fulfills the same requirements as a standard section of that course, but also fulfills the FY-SEMINAR/FY-LAUNCH First-Year Foundations requirement. Students can search for FY-Launch sections in ConnectCarolina using the FY-LAUNCH attribute. |
- 1
Three credit hours may be for a 100- or 200-level PLCY course. The remaining three credit hours must be for an elective course at the 300 level or above. PLCY 130, PLCY 291, PLCY 293, PLCY 393, and PLCY 394 may not count as electives for the public policy major.
- 2
ECON 101 is a prerequisite for PLCY 310 and ECON 410. PLCY 460 is a prerequisite for PLCY 698 and PLCY 691H and a pre- or co-requisite for PLCY 581. PLCY 581 is a prerequisite for PLCY 691H and a pre- or co-requisite for PLCY 698.
- 3
Alternatively, students may use a combination of either of the following pairs of courses to fulfill this requirement:(a) ECON 400 and ECON 470 or (b) ECON 400 and ECON 570.
Policy Field (Optional)
Students who complete three approved electives (nine credit hours) in a specific policy field may elect to graduate with a concentration. Six of these credit hours must be for field courses at the 300 level or above. PLCY 393 and PLCY 394 may not count toward the field concentration. For students completing an honors thesis, PLCY 691H can count toward the policy field concentration. Policy field concentrations include education and labor markets; environment and human welfare; innovation and entrepreneurship/science and technology policy; social policy and inequality; health policy; bioethics and human rights; international development policy; global conflict and cooperation.
Additionally, students may select courses across subfields and design their own field. For information about declaring a policy field concentration see the department's Web site. The specific policy field is not listed on students’ diplomas or transcripts. UNC–Chapel Hill public policy majors are encouraged to list their policy field on their résumés.
Program Restrictions
A maximum of one three-credit independent study course (PLCY 395, PLCY 396, PLCY 496, PLCY 596, or PLCY 696) may be counted as an elective for the policy major. For credit toward the major, an independent study proposal form must be completed by the student, approved by the independent study instructor, submitted to the student services officer, and approved by the director of undergraduate studies before the independent study begins. A maximum of one three-credit transfer or study abroad course or two Honors Seminar on Public Policy and Global Affairs courses (PLCY 352H; PLCY 353H) may be counted as electives toward the public policy major.
Public Policy Elective Course List
Public Policy Elective Course List
The following courses satisfy the electives requirement and optional policy field concentration. Please note that some of these courses may have enrollment restrictions, including being restricted to students enrolled in certain majors or minors. Please check for enrollment restrictions before trying to enroll:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Any PLCY course at the 100 level or above, except PLCY 130, PLCY 291, PLCY 293, PLCY 393, or PLCY 394 | ||
| AAAD 307 | 21st-Century Scramble for Africa | 3 |
| AAAD/POLI 333 | Race and Public Policy in the United States | 3 |
| AAAD 488 | Human Rights and Democracy in African Diaspora Communities | 3 |
| AAAD 485 | Transnational Black Feminist Thought and Practice | 3 |
| AMST 390 | Seminar in American Studies | 3 |
| AMST 486 | The Jewish South: Race, Region, and Religion | 3 |
| ANTH 312 | From the Equator to the Poles: Case Studies in Global Environmental Change | 3 |
| ANTH 318 | Human Growth and Development | 3 |
| ANTH 319 | Global Health | 3 |
| ANTH 350 | Anthropology of the State, Civil Society, and Politics | 3 |
| ANTH 355 | Life, Society and Work in the Globalized City | 3 |
| ANTH 360 | Latin American Economy and Society | 3 |
| ANTH 377 | European Societies | 3 |
| ANTH 380 | Anthropological Perspectives on Cultural Diversity | 3 |
| ANTH 422 | Anthropology and Human Rights | 3 |
| ANTH 429 | Culture and Power in Southeast Asia | 3 |
| ANTH 439 | Political Ecology | 3 |
| ANTH 441 | The Anthropology of Gender, Health, and Illness | 3 |
| ANTH 460 | Historical Ecology | 3 |
| ANTH 470 | Medicine and Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH 502 | Globalization and Transnationalism | 3 |
| ANTH 537 | Gender and Performance: Constituting Identity | 3 |
| ANTH 585 | Anthropology of Science | 3 |
| BUSI 404 | Business Ethics | 1.5 |
| BUSI 405 | Leading and Managing: An Introduction to Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| BUSI 500 | Entrepreneurship and Business Planning H | 3 |
| BUSI 503 | Family Business I: Introduction to Family Enterprise | 1.5 |
| BUSI 504 | Startup UNC | 1.5 |
| BUSI 506 | Entrepreneurial Strategy: How to Think Like a Venture Capitalist | 3 |
| BUSI 512 | Family Business II: Governance and Ownership | 1.5 |
| BUSI 610 | Global Environment of Business | 3 |
| BUSI 611 | International Development: Focus on Indigenous Issues | 3 |
| COMM 312 | Persuasion | 3 |
| COMM 325 | Introduction to Organizational Communication H | 3 |
| COMM 372 | The Rhetoric of Social Movements | 3 |
| COMM 375 | Environmental Advocacy | 3 |
| COMM 470 | Political Communication and the Public Sphere | 3 |
| COMM 521 | Communication and Social Memory | 3 |
| COMM 524 | Gender, Communication, and Culture | 3 |
| COMM 525 | Organizational Communication | 3 |
| COMM 571 | Rhetorical Theory and Practice | 3 |
| COMM 572 | Public Policy Argument | 3 |
| COMM 574 | War and Culture | 3 |
| COMM 575 | Presidential Rhetoric | 3 |
| COMM 576 | Making and Manipulating "Race" in the United States | 3 |
| COMM 624 | Hate Speech | 3 |
| COMM 625 | Communication and Nonprofits in the Global Context | 3 |
| COMM 652 | Media and Difference | 3 |
| ECON 320 | Macroeconomics: Theory and Policy | 3 |
| ECON 325 | Entrepreneurship: Principles, Concepts, Frameworks, and Fluency H | 3 |
| ECON 345 | Public Policy Toward Business | 3 |
| ECON 380 | The Economics of Labor Relations | 3 |
| ECON 423 | Financial Markets and Economic Fluctuations H | 3 |
| ECON 440 | Analysis of Public Finance | 3 |
| ECON 445 | Industrial Organization | 3 |
| ECON 450 | Health Economics: Problems and Policy | 3 |
| ECON 455 | Environmental Economic Theory | 3 |
| ECON 460 | International Economics | 3 |
| ECON 465 | Economic Development | 3 |
| ECON 480 | Labor Economics | 3 |
| ECON 511 | Advanced Game Theory in Economics H | 3 |
| EDUC 401 | Childhood Development: Prenatal Birth to Age 12 | 3 |
| EDUC 506 | Politics, Policymaking, and America's Schools | 3 |
| EDUC 521 | Schools, Cultures, and Communities I: Youth | 3 |
| EDUC 533 | Social Justice in Education | 3 |
| EDUC 535 | Teachers and Schools | 3 |
| EMES 314 | Earth Systems in a Changing World | 3 |
| ENGL 164 | Introduction to Latina/o Studies H | 3 |
| ENGL 279 | Migration and Globalization | 3 |
| ENEC 463 | Corporate Environmental Stewardship | 3 |
| ENEC 307 | Energy and Material Flows in the Environment and Society | 3 |
| ENEC 308 | Environmental History | 3 |
| ENEC 309 | Environmental Values and Valuation | 3 |
| ENEC 330 | Principles of Sustainability | 3 |
| ENEC 350 | Environmental Law and Policy | 3 |
| ENEC 351 | Coastal Law and Policy | 3 |
| ENEC 352 | Marine Fisheries Ecology | 3 |
| ENEC 370 | Agriculture and the Environment H | 3 |
| ENEC 462 | Ecosystem Management | 3 |
| ENEC 474 | Sustainable Coastal Management | 3 |
| ENEC 586 | Water Quality Policies and Planning | 3 |
| ENEC 685 | Environmental and Resource Economics | 3 |
| ENEC 698 | Capstone: Analysis and Solution of Environmental Problems | 3 |
| ENEC/ENVR 470 | Environmental Risk Assessment | 3 |
| ENEC/PHIL 368 | Living Things, Wilderness, and Ecosystems: An Introduction to Environmental Ethics | 3 |
| ENVR 600 | Environmental Health | 3 |
| GEOG 281 | Ethnographies of Globalization: From 'Culture' to Decolonization | 3 |
| GEOG 370 | Introduction to Geographic Information | 3 |
| GEOG 391 | Quantitative Methods in Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 414 | Climate Change | 3 |
| GEOG 416 | Applied Climatology: The Impacts of Climate and Weather on Environmental and Social Systems | 3 |
| GEOG 423 | Social Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 428 | Global Cities: Space, Power, and Identity in the Built Environment | 3 |
| GEOG 430 | Global Migrations, Local Impacts: Urbanization and Migration in the United States | 3 |
| GEOG 435 | Global Environmental Justice | 3 |
| GEOG 446 | Geography of Health Care Delivery | 3 |
| GEOG 447 | Gender, Space, and Place in the Middle East | 3 |
| GEOG 448 | Transnational Geographies of Muslim Societies | 3 |
| GEOG/ENEC 451 | Population, Development, and the Environment | 3 |
| GEOG 457 | Rural Latin America: Agriculture, Environment, and Natural Resources H | 3 |
| GEOG 458 | Urban Latin America: Politics, Economy, and Society | 3 |
| GEOG 460 | Geographies of Economic Change | 3 |
| GEOG 470 | Political Ecology: Geographical Perspectives | 3 |
| GEOG 480 | Liberation Geographies | 3 |
| GEOG 491 | Introduction to GIS | 3 |
| GEOG 541 | GIS in Public Health | 3 |
| GEOG 542 | Neighborhoods and Health | 3 |
| GLBL 382 | Latin American Migrant Perspectives: Ethnography and Action | 3 |
| GLBL 390 | Current Topics in Global Studies | 3 |
| HIST 238 | The American Revolution, 1763-1815 | 3 |
| HIST 365 | The Worker and American Life | 3 |
| HIST 385 | African American Women's History | 3 |
| HIST 510 | Human Rights in the Modern World H | 3 |
| HIST 566 | The History of Sexuality in America | 3 |
| HIST 568 | Women in the South | 3 |
| HIST 577 | United States Foreign Relations in the 20th Century | 3 |
| HIST 584 | The Promise of Urbanization: American Cities in the 19th and 20th Centuries | 3 |
| HIST 589 | Race, Racism, and America: (United States) Law in Historical Perspective | 3 |
| HPM 310 | Introduction to Health Law and Ethics | 3 |
| HPM 330 | Introduction to Health Organization Leadership, Management, and Behavior | 3 |
| HPM 340 | Foundations of Health Care Financial Management | 3 |
| HPM 350 | Introduction to the U.S. Health System I | 3 |
| HPM 351 | Politics, Public Health, and Health Policy | 3 |
| HPM 352 | Introduction to the U.S. Health System II | 3 |
| INLS 382 | Information Systems Analysis and Design | 3 |
| INLS 515 | Consumer Health Information | 3 |
| MEJO 340 | Introduction to Media Law: Journalism Focus | 3 |
| MEJO 441 | Diversity and Communication | 3 |
| MEJO 442 | Gender, Class, Race, and Mass Media | 3 |
| MEJO 443 | Latino Media Studies | 3 |
| MEJO 445 | Media Effects on Audiences | 3 |
| MEJO 446 | Global Communication and Comparative Journalism | 3 |
| MEJO 458 | Southern Politics: Critical Thinking and Writing | 3 |
| MEJO 541 | Reporting & Writing About the Economy | 3 |
| MEJO 560 | Environmental and Science Journalism H | 3 |
| MEJO 652 | Digital Media Economics and Behavior H | 3 |
| MNGT 345 | Public Policy Toward Business | 3 |
| MNGT 365 | The Worker and American Life | 3 |
| MNGT 380 | The Economics of Labor Relations | 3 |
| MNGT 410 | Formal Organizations and Bureaucracy | 3 |
| MNGT 412 | Social Stratification | 3 |
| MNGT 415 | Economy and Society | 3 |
| MNGT 427 | The Labor Force | 3 |
| PHIL 364 | Ethics and Economics | 3 |
| PHIL 370 | Authority, Freedom, and Rights: Advanced Political Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 384 | Gateway to Philosophy, Politics, and Economics H | 3 |
| PHIL 473 | American Political Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL 480 | Philosophy of Law | 3 |
| PHIL 698 | Philosophy, Politics, and Economics: Capstone Course | 3 |
| PLAN 330 | Principles of Sustainability | 3 |
| PLAN 574 | Political Economy of Poverty and Inequality | 3 |
| PLAN 636 | Urban Transportation Planning | 3 |
| PLAN 637 | Public Transportation | 3 |
| PLAN 641 | Watershed Planning | 3 |
| PLAN 651 | Urban Form and the Design of Cities | 3 |
| PLAN 685 | Water and Sanitation Planning and Policy in Less Developed Countries | 3 |
| POLI 400 | Executive Politics | 3 |
| POLI 401 | Political Economy I: The Domestic System | 3 |
| POLI 406 | State Governments: Laboratories of Democracy | 3 |
| POLI 410 | The Constitution of the United States | 3 |
| POLI 411 | Civil Liberties under the Constitution H | 3 |
| POLI 412 | United States National Elections H | 3 |
| POLI 416 | Constitutional Policies and the Judicial Process | 3 |
| POLI 418 | Mass Media and American Politics | 3 |
| POLI 419H | Race and Politics in the Contemporary United States | 3 |
| POLI 420 | Legislative Politics H | 3 |
| POLI 431 | African Politics and Societies | 3 |
| POLI 433 | Politics of the European Union H | 3 |
| POLI 434 | Politics of Mexico | 3 |
| POLI 438 | Democracy and International Institutions in an Undivided Europe | 3 |
| POLI 442 | International Political Economy | 3 |
| POLI 443 | American Foreign Policy: Formulation and Conduct | 3 |
| POLI 444 | Terrorism and International Peace | 3 |
| POLI 457 | International Conflict Processes | 3 |
| POLI 470 | Social and Political Philosophy H | 3 |
| POLI 472 | Problems of Modern Democratic Theory H | 3 |
| PSYC 467 | The Development of Black Children | 3 |
| PSYC 469 | Evolution and Development of Biobehavioral Systems | 3 |
| PSYC 471 | The Study of Adolescent Issues and Development | 3 |
| PSYC 500 | Developmental Psychopathology | 3 |
| PSYC 502 | Psychology of Adulthood and Aging | 3 |
| PSYC 504 | Health Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 514 | Mania and Depression | 3 |
| PSYC 530 | Design and Interpretation of Psychological Research | 3 |
| PSYC 531 | Tests and Measurement | 3 |
| PSYC 532 | Quantitative Psychology H | 3 |
| PSYC 565 | Stereotyping, Prejudice, and Discrimination | 3 |
| PSYC 601 | Psychology and Law | 3 |
| PWAD 250 | Introduction to Peace and Security Studies | 3 |
| PWAD 368 | War and American Society to 1903 | 3 |
| PWAD 416 | Constitutional Policies and the Judicial Process | 3 |
| PWAD 443 | American Foreign Policy: Formulation and Conduct | 3 |
| PWAD 444 | Terrorism and International Peace | 3 |
| PWAD 453 | Political Geography | 3 |
| PWAD 460 | International Economics | 3 |
| PWAD 469 | Conflict and Intervention in the Former Yugoslavia H | 3 |
| PWAD 574 | War and Culture | 3 |
| PWAD 575 | Presidential Rhetoric | 3 |
| PWAD 577 | United States Foreign Relations in the 20th Century | 3 |
| RELI 423 | Ethnicity, Race, and Religion in America | 3 |
| RELI 443 | Evangelicalism in Contemporary America H | 3 |
| STOR 305 | Introduction to Decision Analytics | 3 |
| STOR 358 | Sample Survey Methodology | 4 |
| STOR 415 | Introduction to Optimization | 3 |
| STOR 455 | Methods of Data Analysis | 3 |
| SOCI 410 | Formal Organizations and Bureaucracy | 3 |
| SOCI 412 | Social Stratification | 3 |
| SOCI 415 | Economy and Society | 3 |
| SOCI 418 | Contemporary Chinese Society | 3 |
| SOCI 420 | Political Sociology | 3 |
| SOCI 422 | Sociology of Mental Health and Illness | 3 |
| SOCI 423 | Sociology of Education, Experiential Education | 3 |
| SOCI 424 | Law and Society | 3 |
| SOCI 425 | Family and Society, Junior/Senior Section | 3 |
| SOCI 426 | Sociology of Education | 3 |
| SOCI 427 | The Labor Force | 3 |
| SOCI 431 | Aging | 3 |
| SOCI 444 | Race, Class, and Gender | 3 |
| SOCI 468 | United States Poverty and Public Policy | 3 |
| SOCI 469 | Health and Society | 3 |
| SPHG 350H | Introduction to Public Health | 3 |
| WGST 368 | Women of Color in Contemporary United States Social Movements | 3 |
| WGST 388 | The International Politics of Sexual and Reproductive Health | 3 |
| WGST 410 | Comparative Queer Politics | 3 |
| WGST 662 | Gender Issues in Planning and Development | 3 |
| H | Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply. |
Sample Plan of Study
Sample plans can be used as a guide to identify the courses required to complete the major and other requirements needed for degree completion within the expected eight semesters. The actual degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). Students should meet with their academic advisor to create a degree plan that is specific and unique to their interests. The sample plans represented in this catalog are intended for first-year students entering UNC–Chapel Hill in the fall term. Some courses may not be offered every term.
| First Year | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| First-Year Foundations Courses | ||
| IDST 101 | College Thriving | 1 |
| ENGL 105 or ENGL 105I | English Composition and Rhetoric or English Composition and Rhetoric (Interdisciplinary) | 3 |
| First-Year Seminar or First-Year Launch F | 3 | |
| Triple-I and Data Literacy | 4 | |
| Global Language through level 3 | varies | |
| Major Courses | ||
| ECON 101 | Introduction to Economics H, F | 4 |
| PLCY 101 or PLCY 110 | Making Public Policy (Optional, elective credit) H or Global Policy Issues | 3 |
| Hours | 18 | |
| Sophomore Year | ||
| PLCY 210 | Policy Innovation and Analysis H | 3 |
| PLCY 220 | The Politics of Public Policy H | 3 |
| PLCY 340 | Justice in Public Policy H | 3 |
| STOR 155 | Introduction to Data Models and Inference (Strongly recommended) F | 3 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Junior Year | ||
| PLCY 460 | Quantitative Analysis for Public Policy 2, H | 4 |
| PLCY 581 | Research Design for Public Policy (PLCY 460 is a co- or prerequisite) H | 3 |
| PLCY 310 or ECON 410 | Microeconomic Foundations of Public Policy or Intermediate Microeconomics | 3 |
| Hours | 10 | |
| Senior Year | ||
| PLCY 698 | Senior Capstone in Public Policy 1 | 4 |
| Elective credit at 300 level or above | 3 | |
| Hours | 7 | |
| Total Hours | 47 | |
| H | Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply. |
| F | FY-Launch class sections may be available. A FY-Launch section fulfills the same requirements as a standard section of that course, but also fulfills the FY-SEMINAR/FY-LAUNCH First-Year Foundations requirement. Students can search for FY-Launch sections in ConnectCarolina using the FY-LAUNCH attribute. |
Special Opportunities in Public Policy
Undergraduate Research
Most courses in public policy include a research component. The Office for Undergraduate Research maintains a database of courses that qualify as research intensive, research exposure, and research methods courses. Earning a grade of C or better in any of these courses partially fulfills the requirements for the Carolina Research Scholar designation. In addition, the department offers opportunities for students to work directly with a faculty member on a research project through independent study. The honors thesis process enables students to undertake a major independent policy research project. The Duncan MacRae Jr. Public Policy Fund provides grants on a competitive basis to public policy majors engaged in mentored research with a public policy faculty member, in policy-relevant independent research, and in honors thesis research in public policy.
High-Impact/Experiential Education
UNC Public Policy's experiential education programs offer students structured, active-learning opportunities that invite them to integrate and apply their academic knowledge and skills in a real-world policy environment. Opportunities include internships, the Honors Seminar on Public Policy and Global Affairs in Washington D.C. (PLCY 352H and PLCY 353H), the public policy clinic (PLCY 393), the intersector (PLCY 394), and the public policy capstone course (PLCY 698). PLCY 130, PLCY 293, PLCY 393, PLCY 691H, PLCY 692H, and PLCY 698 are all approved as experiential education courses.
For more information, see the department's website.
Capstone Course
The capstone course (PLCY 698) is the culminating experience of the public policy undergraduate major and is required for all seniors except those who complete an honors thesis. Students should register for the course in the fall or spring of their senior year. The course provides a bridge between policy analysis as it is studied in an academic setting and policy analysis as it is practiced in the workplace. Students work in small teams to produce actionable, client-centered, public policy analysis for a government agency or nonprofit organization.
Honors Seminar on Public Policy and Global Affairs in Washington, D.C.
The Honors Seminar on Public Policy and Global Affairs offers Carolina undergraduates a unique learning, living, and internship opportunity in our nation’s capital. The seminar offers students first-hand engagement with the actors and organizations that influence domestic and global affairs in Washington, D.C. It aims to expose students to a range of public policies that influence U.S. economic prosperity, national security, and its role in the broader global community. Internship placements provide opportunities for students to apply academic learning, to derive new insights and questions for seminar discussion, and to work directly with substantive policy experts.
Internships and Public Service
Students may receive academic credit for an approved internship if it provides an academically relevant experience in policy analysis or research. Students who wish to complete an internship with an external organization can do so through PLCY 293 (available to public policy majors and minors). PLCY 293 is a Pass/Fail course. The Duncan MacRae Jr. Public Policy Internship Grant aims to support internship opportunities for public policy majors and to defer some of the costs associated with engaging in unpaid summer internships. The Hodding Carter III Public Service Fellowship supports opportunities for UNC–Chapel Hill public policy majors to engage in public service opportunities in our communities, the American south, the nation, and around the globe. The Thomas W. Ross North Carolina Leaders Fellows Program supports public policy undergraduates pursuing public service opportunities in the State of North Carolina during the summer. The Richard (“Pete”) Andrews Fellowship in Environmental Policy supports a student interested in working on environmental policy during the summer or a policy research-related project during the academic year. The Ruth C. Samuelson Legacy Fund provides students an interactive training experience on trust and supports undergraduates or graduate students to participate in a “listening tour” policy research project over the summer. Read more about these opportunities on the department's website.
Undergraduate Funding and Awards
Each year UNC Public Policy holds a graduation ceremony to honor students’ achievements. The Kathy Taft Education Policy Award recognizes a rising senior majoring in public policy with an interest in and dedication to education policy. The Michael A. Stegman Award for Policy Research and Advocacy is awarded to a graduating public policy major who has demonstrated an ability to use policy research and analysis to advocate for social change and a commitment to play a future role in policy research and advocacy.
Honors in Public Policy
Public policy majors who have at least a 3.3 overall grade point and a 3.5 in the core public policy courses are eligible to apply to the department’s honors program in the spring of their junior year. The honors thesis offers an opportunity for motivated students to move beyond traditional coursework and apply critical thinking skills to an academic public policy thesis. This program is organized as an original, independent research project under the direction of a faculty advisor. Students considering writing an honors thesis must complete PLCY 581 before enrolling in PLCY 691H.
Completion of an honors thesis provides a total of six credit hours toward the major, including three credits toward a policy field concentration. Students who complete an honors thesis and maintain all other eligibility criteria may be recommended by their thesis advisor and the Undergraduate Affairs Committee for graduation with honors or highest honors in public policy. The department's website provides more information.
Policy Students Association
Founded as the Public Policy Majors’ Union in 1988, the Policy Students Association (PSA) brings together public policy-interested undergraduates to catalyze student collaboration, learning opportunities, skill development, and exposure to new experiences and ideas to further enrich their experience as public policy students at UNC–Chapel Hill. PSA is an organic voice of the undergraduate population and works with the department to maximize the short- and long-term potential of the Public Policy Department to help students achieve their academic and career goals.
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