Public Policy (2022 - 2024)
CAS Prerequisite Course
All students planning a major in public policy must complete ECON-UA 2 (or present advanced standing credit in microeconomics from AP, etc.) with a C or better before they can declare the major. For description and prerequisites, please see the economics section of this Bulletin.
Introduction to Microeconomics
ECON-UA 2 4 points.
Wagner Core Courses
All public policy majors must take these three courses. Together, they count as 12 of the 16 credits that CAS students are allowed to take in the other schools of the University; any additional Wagner courses will also count against the 16 points. Students must consult with the College Advising Center (726 Broadway, 7th floor; 212-998-8130), for permission to take additional credits outside of the College. No Wagner courses can count toward the 64 credits that internal or external transfer students to the College are required to complete in CAS (-UA) courses.
The Politics of Public Policy
UPADM-GP 101 No prerequisites. All public policy majors must take this course; there are no exemptions. Offered every semester. 4 points.
Introduction to the political institutions and processes through which public policy is made and implemented in the United States. Also introduces the tools of policy analysis. Presents major models of policymaking and policy analysis and applies these concepts to specific policy areas such as health, education, and environment, illustrated by real-world case studies.
Quantitative Analysis for Public Policy
UPADM-GP 111 No prerequisites. All public policy majors must take this course; there are no exemptions. Satisfies the College Core Curriculum Quantitative Reasoning requirement for public policy majors only. Other students cannot it use to satisfy the QR Core requirement (no exceptions). Offered every semester. 4 points.
Introduces students to basic statistical methods and their application to management, policy, and financial decision-making. Covers the essential elements of descriptive statistics, univariate and bivariate statistical inference, and some multivariate analysis. Emphasizes applied statistics and data analysis making.
The Economics of Public Policy
UPADM-GP 140 Prerequisite: Introduction to Microeconomics (ECON-UA 2) or equivalent. All public policy majors must take this course; there are no substitutions for or exemptions from this requirement. Offered every semester. 4 points.
Analyzes the impact of public policy on the allocation of resources and distribution of income in the economy. When and how should the government intervene in the economy? What are the effects of those interventions on economic outcomes? Topics: income distribution and welfare programs, taxation and tax reform, government debt, market failures, Social Security, unemployment insurance, and health insurance.
Core Courses in Ethics and Justice
All public policy majors must take one of these courses. For descriptions of and prerequisites for the CAS options, please see the economics, philosophy, and politics sections of this Bulletin.
Ethics and Economics
ECON-UA 207 4 points.
Ethics and Society
PHIL-UA 3 4 points.
Ethics
PHIL-UA 40 4 points.
Medical Ethics
PHIL-UA 50 4 points.
Topics in Ethics and Political Philosophy
PHIL-UA 102 4 points.
Ethics, Politics, and Public Policy
POL-UA 130 4 points.
Normative Issues in Public Policy
UPADM-GP 120 4 points.
Examination of some of the most difficult decisions faced by the White House in the modern era. Issues in their historical context. Ethical, political, and personal factors in decision making.
Policy Electives
All public policy majors must take five electives, to be drawn from a pre-approved list available at www.wagner.nyu.edu/undergrad. Two electives must be chosen from a list of pre-approved HIST-UA courses. At least one of the five courses must be in the policy analysis field. One elective may be an internship, to be chosen only from Internship Seminar (NODEP-UA 981) and Internship Seminar and Fieldwork (NODEP-UA 9982). For information on and application to NODEP-UA 9982, please consult with the College of Arts and Science Preprofessional Advising Center (726 Broadway, 7th floor; 212-998-8160). The internship course will only count towards the major if it is approved by the director via the review form available at wagner.nyu.edu/portal/students/academics/undergraduate/major.
Senior Seminar and Honors Thesis
Public Policy Senior Seminar
PUBPL-UA 800 Prerequisite: completion of all coursework for public policy major. Required of all majors. 4 points.
Students apply the analytical methods they have mastered and the substantive knowledge of the policy process they have gained to a current policy problem of their choosing. Each student writes a capstone paper that consists of both policy analysis and recommendations for action. Provides structured guidance and supervision on the preparation and execution of a piece of policy analysis.
Senior Honors Thesis
PUBPL-UA 801 Prerequisites: a 3.65 GPA overall and in the major, and application and admission to the honors program. Seminar. 4 points.
Provides students with the skills needed to design a feasible research project in public policy and supports them in the development of a detailed research proposal for the senior honors thesis.