Public policies affect almost every aspect of our lives. Decisions by state, local, federal, and international organizations influence the quality of the environment, access to health care, international development, and the emergence of a global media industry. The minor in public policy, jointly developed and administered by the College of Arts and Science and the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, is designed for undergraduates interested in understanding such key issues and problems of the modern world and in approaches to dealing with them.

This interdisciplinary, interschool minor offers students a meaningful cluster of courses in a professional area where the liberal arts disciplines can provide important perspectives. It also furthers several related goals: it links the classroom to the city, encourages students to apply their theoretical learning, and provides a minor that is coherent and substantial, in that it entails five courses.

An executive committee of College of Arts and Science and Wagner School of Public Service faculty oversees the public policy minor. For each track, there is a designated adviser to students. For communications and the media, it is Professor Michael Ludlum, Department of Journalism,10 Washington Place, Room 605B, 212-998-7972. For health, it is Ms. Debra Cabrera, Wagner School, 295 Lafayette Street, 212-998-7477. For international development, it is Professor Roman Frydman, Department of Economics,269 Mercer Street, Room 830, 212-998-8967. Also available to advise students in this minor is Mr. Riaz Khan, a staff adviser in the College Advising Center, Room 901, Silver Center, 212-998-8160.