The program includes courses in economics, political science, history, philosophy, sociology, and statistics.
Students take elective courses focusing on public policy issues.
The program is directed by Clifford S. Russell, Professor of Economics and chair of the Committee on Public Policy Studies. A student contemplating a program in public policy studies should take Economics 100 and 101 and Political Science 100 or 101 as prerequisites to the core. Individual courses included in the program may specify additional prerequisites. If one of the required courses is not offered, students may substitute with the permission of the chair. It is the intention of the Committee that students put together a coherent set of courses with a policy theme for the other 15 hours of the major.