Public Policy

Our inaugural cohort included twenty-one (21) students with diverse policy interests, including economic development, environmental issues, and health care--to name just a few! They matriculated from many locales, including California, Massachusetts, Texas, China, India, and Pakistan. And, they all share the traits we are looking for: The capability to excel in the classroom, in their summer internships, and soon, in their public policy careers. 

Each student in our inaugural cohort was successful in landing an exceptional summer internship placement, some in local economic organizations and others at the international level. A few examples of their placements include:

• Public Policy Institute of California
• San Francisco Bay Area Council
• National Multiple Scleroses Foundation
• National Ovarian Cancer Coalition
• Innovations for Poverty Action (Mexico)
• Agha Khan Foundation (Pakistan)
• Ordos Development& Reform Commission (China)

Our students successfully competed for these placements against students from policy schools with a much longer history than UCI. The expertise of the faculty involved with delivering the curriculum is providing our students with the types of interdisciplinary training that are highly valued in the policy world.

As we prepare to welcome an equally stellar second cohort, they will no doubt keep the bar set high! 

Year One:

• Qualitative Methods and Public Policy (Pub Pol 225)
• Statistical Methods for Public Policy (Pub Pol 215)
• Microeconomics and Public Policy (Pub Pol 240)
• Policy Processes and Institutions of Governance (Pub Pol 221)
• Collaborative Governance and Public Management (Pub Pol 283)
• Social Mobilization, Power and Justice (Sociol 249)
• Policy and Ethics (Pub Pol 260)
• Elective
• Elective

Year Two:

• Information and the Policy Process (Pub Pol 219)
• The Economics of Government (Pub Pol 227)
• Capstone Research Project and Briefing (Two quarters)
• Elective
• Elective
• Elective
• Elective
• Elective

Requirements

• Demonstrated passion for learning and helping to solve social problems
• Interest in multi-disciplinary studies
• Self-motivated and able to work collaboratively with others
• Completed Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
• Can provide transcripts that show a minimum grade point average of 3.0
• Experience in a related field is encouraged, but not required
• One official original transcript (sealed) from ALL post-secondary institutions you attended
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Scores; the UCI institution code is 4859.
• Three Letters of Recommendation
• Statement of Purpose
• Personal History/Current Resume or Curriculum Vitae

Scholarships

• Fellowships or Grants
• Teaching or Research Assistantships 
• Need-based Financial Aid
• Personal Resources