Department of Public Administration and Policy

Faculty

Professors Emeriti/ae
Mitchel Abolafia, Ph.D., Stony Brook University
David F. Andersen, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Sue R. Faerman, Ph.D., University at Albany (Collins Fellow)
James J. Heaphey, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley
Joseph M. Heikoff, Ph.D., University of Chicago
Byron Hipple, M.A., Syracuse University
Irene Lurie, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley
Jeryl L. Mumpower, Ph.D., University of Colorado
Richard I. Nunez, Ph.D., Syracuse University
George P. Richardson, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Jeffrey D. Straussman, Ph.D., City University of New York
Frank Thompson, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley
Lewis Welch, Ph.D., Syracuse University

Professors
Susan Appe, Ph.D., University at Albany
Shawn Bushway, Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University
Bryan Early, Ph.D., University of Georgia
J. Ramon Gil-Garcia, Ph.D., University at Albany
Luis Felipe Luna-Reyes, Ph.D., University at Albany
Erika Martin, Ph.D., M.P.H., Yale University
Patricia Strach, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin

Associate Professors Emeriti/ae
Helen Desfosses, Ph.D., Boston University (Collins Fellow)
Sharon Dawes, Ph.D., University at Albany
James W. Fossett, Ph.D., University of Michigan
Judith Saidel, Ph.D., University at Albany

Associate Professors
Gang Chen, Ph.D., University of Nebraska at Omaha
Jennifer Dodge, Ph.D., New York University
Mila Gasco-Hernandez, Ph.D., Rovira i Virgili University
Ashley Fox, Ph.D., Columbia University
Stephen Holt, Ph.D., American University
Hongseok Lee, Ph.D., Indiana University
Ellen Rubin, Ph.D., University of Georgia

Assistant Professors
Alvin Christian Ph.D., University of Michigan
Mikhail Ivonchyk, Ph.D., University of Georgia
Bo Li, Ph.D., Georgia State University

Research Professors
Ik Jae Chung, Ph.D., University at Albany
Theresa Pardo, Ph.D., University at Albany
Kayla Schwoerer, Ph.D., Rutgers University
Lucy Sorensen, Ph.D., Duke University

Public Service Professors
Michael Breslin, M.S., University of Toledo Law School
Kevin Bronner, Ph.D., University at Albany
Paul Castellani, Ph.D., Syracuse University
Michael Christakis, Ph.D., University at Albany
Peter C. Finn, M.P.A., University at Albany
David Liebschutz, M.A., J.D., Duke University
Rick Mathews, M.S., Indiana State University
Eugene Monaco, M.S., University at Albany
Philip Morris, B.A., Hamilton College
Fredric David Sheppard, M.A., The United States Army War College 

Public administration and public policy are concerned with the formulation and implementation of governmental policies and programs. The approach of the Department of Public Administration and Policy is interdisciplinary, drawing on various social and behavioral sciences. The courses focus on such topics as the role of bureaucracy in society, management of finances in the public sector, organizational theory and development, the political and legal environment of administration, and public policy research and analysis.

B.A. in Public Policy and Management

The Department of Public Administration and Policy offers a 54 credit combined major and minor as well as a 36 credit stand-alone major in Public Policy and Management. It also offers minor in Public Policy.

The 36 credit B.A. program in Public Policy and Management is focused on the development of the analytic skills needed in today's complex policy environment. The interdisciplinary nature of the Public Policy and Management program is reflected in the six required core courses (18 credits) that expose students to statistics, economics, the policy-making process and public management. Twelve credits of major elective options are selected. The student then extends and deepens this interdisciplinary perspective through two capstones (including an internship). For the 54 credit combined major/minor program, students would complete the same requirements listed for the 36 credit stand-alone major as well as 18 credits in one or two concentrations. The purpose of the concentrations is to match students' interdisciplinary policy analysis and management skills with depth in a particular area(s). Students are expected to work with their advisor to construct a coherent plan of study across the concentrations.

The majors require that students complete an internship, typically with an agency of New York State government. According to University policy, enrollment in an internship requires a minimum 2.00 GPA. Students with a GPA below 2.00 will not be allowed to complete this requirement for the majors.

The B.A. Program expects that students will have taken mathematics at the level of AMAT 100 or AMAT 101.

Degree Requirements for a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy and Management:

The stand-alone major requires a minimum of 36 credits as follows:

18 credits of foundational coursework:

  • AECO 110 Principles of Microeconomics (3)
  • RPAD 140 Introduction to Public Policy (3)
  • RPAD 204 Introduction to Data Science for Public Policy Management (3)
  • RPAD 302 Understanding Public Organizations (3)
  • RPAD 316 Methodological Tools for Public Policy (3)
  • RPOS 101 American Politics (3)

Choose a minimum of 12 credits of coursework counting towards the major electives selected from the following options:

  • RPAD 303 Public Administration and Management (3)
  • RPAD 305 Public Administration and Information Technologies (3)
  • RPAD 310 Managing Technology-Driven Change (3)
  • RPAD 312 Motivating Public and Nonprofit Sector Workers (3)
  • RPAD/RPOS 321State and Local Government (3)
  • RPAD/RPOS 322 Government and Politics of New York City (3)
  • RPAD/RPOS 325 The Government and Politics of New York State (3)
  • RPAD 328 Law and Policy (3)
  • RPAD 329 Administrative Leadership (3)
  • RPAD 335 Private Philanthropy, Public Problems, and Power (3)
  • RPAD/CEHC 344 Emergency Preparedness (3)
  • RPAD 345 Psychological Economics (3)
  • RPAD 350 Comparative Public Policy (3)
  • RPAD 364/RPOS 366 Approaches to Development (3)
  • RPAD 366 International Environmental Policy (3)
  • RPAD 370 Enviromental Policy, Citizen Action, and Equity (3)
  • RPAD/RCRJ 385 Policy Reform in the Criminal Justice System (3)
  • RPAD/BFIN 435 Law in Financial Market Regulation (3)
  • RPAD 436/BFIN 439 Technology in Financial Market Regulation (3)
  • RPAD 438 US Health Reform at the Crossroads (3)
  • RPAD 441 Managing Diversity and Inclusion in Public and Nonprofit Organization (3)
  • RPAD 450 Strategic Management of Information Technology (3)
  • RPAD470 Comparative Digital Government (3)  
  • RPAD/CEHC 472 Disasters and Crisis Management in Public, Private, and Nonprofit Sectors (3)
  • RPAD 475 Understanding Energy Policy and Climate Change (3)
  • RPOS 320 American Federalism (3)
  • RPAD 337 Human Behavior and Human Resource Management (3)
  • RPAD 453 Public Health Politics and Policy: Global and Domestic Perspectives (3)

6 credits of capstone coursework:

  • RPAD 498 Applied Public Affairs Capstone (3) RPAD 498 requires the completion of an internship
  • RPAD 499 Policy Capstone (3)

Combined Major/Minor in Public Policy and Management:

The combined major/minor requires a minimum of 54 credits: the requirements of the 36 credit major must be completed in addition to 18 credits in one Concentration or nine credits in each of two Concentrations.

Approved Concentrations:

Data Analytics and Public Finance:

  • AECO 111 Principles of Economics II: Macroeconomics (3)
  • AECO 300 Intermediate Microeconomics (3)
  • AECO 301 Intermediate Macroeconomics (3)
  • AECO 320 Economics Statistics (3)
  • AECO 350 Money and Banking (3)
  • AECO 351 Theory of Interest (3)
  • AECO 355 Public Finance (3)
  • AECO 356 State and Local Finance (3)
  • AECO 381 Economics of Health Care (3)
  • AECO 401 Macroeconomic Modeling, Forecasting, and Policy Analysis (3)
  • AECO 405 Game Theory (3)
  • AECO 410 Mathematics for Economists (3)
  • AECO 420/420W/420Z Applied Econometrics (3)
  • AECO 455 Public Microeconomics (3)
  • AECO 466 Financial Economics (3)
  • AECO 474 Industrial Organizations (3)
  • AGOG 496 Geographic Information Systems (3)
  • AMAT 106 Survey of Calculus (4)
  • AMAT 111 Algebra and Calculus II (4)
  • AMAT 112 Calculus I (4)
  • AMAT 113 Calculus II (4)
  • AMAT 214 Calculus of Several Variables (4)
  • AMAT 220 Linear Algebra (3)
  • AMAT 308 Topics in Statistical Inference (3)
  • AMAT 362 Probability for Statistics (3)
  • AMAT 367 Discrete Probability (3)
  • AMAT 372 Linear Programming and Game Theory (3)
  • APHI 210 Understanding Logic (3)
  • APHI 218 Understanding Science (3)
  • APSY 211 Experimental Psychology (3)
  • APSY 341Industrial/Organizational Psychology (3)
  • ICSI 213 Data Structures (3)
  • RPAD/RPOS 321 State and Local Government (3)
  • RPAD/RPOS 340 Policy Analysis (3)
  • RPAD 345 Psychological Economics and Policy (3)
  • RPAD 355 Introduction to Public Budgeting and Financial Management (3)
  • RPAD 438 US Health Reform at the Crossroads (3)

Environmental Policy and Politics:

  • AANT 211 Human Population Biology (3)
  • Select One:
    • AATM 100 The Atmosphere (3)
    • AATM 101The Upper Atmosphere (3)
    • AATM 102 Science and Major Environmental Issues (3)
  • AATM 103 Introduction to Climate Change (3)
  • AATM 107 The Oceans (3)
  • AATM 200 Natural Disasters (3)
  • AATM 304 Air Quality & Air Pollution Policy (3)
  • ABIO 131 General Biology: Ecology, Evolution and Physiology (3)
  • AECO 385 Environmental Economics (3)
  • AENV 105 Introduction to Environmental Science (3)
  • AENV 250 Sustainable Development Energy and Resources (3)
  • AGOG 101 Introduction to Physical Environment (3)
  • AGOG 201Environmental Analysis (3)
  • AGOG 304 Climatology (3)
  • AGOG/AUSP 430 Environmental Planning (3)
  • AGOG/AUSP 460 Peole, Place, Power (3)
  • AHIS 329 American Environmental History (3)
  • ASOC 320 Population Challenges (3)
  • AUSP 432 Parks, Preservation and Heritage Planning (3)
  • AUSP 456 Geographic Information Systems (3)
  • AUSP 457 Advanced Geographic Information Systems (3)
  • HSPH 321 Global Environmental Issues and Their Effect on Human Health (3)
  • RPAD 366 International Environmental Policy (3)
  • RPAD 370 Environmental Policy, Citizens Action, and Equity (3)
  • RPAD 475 Understanding Energy Policy and Climate Change (3)

Gender, Race, and Policy:

  • AAFS 213 History of Civil Rights Movement (3)
  • AAFS 219 Introduction to African/African American History (3)
  • AAFS 240 Classism, Racism and Sexism: Issues (3)
  • AAFS 311 History of Slavery in Western Hemisphere (3)
  • AAFS 333 The Black Community: Continuity and Change (3)
  • AAFS 400 The Law and African-America (3)
  • AHIS 256 Women in European History (3)
  • AHIS/APHI 322 Philosophy of Religion (3)
  • AHIS 325 The Quest for Equality in the United States History (3)
  • ALCS 201 Latinos/as/x in the USA (3)
  • ALCS 375 Latino Politics in the United States (3)
  • ALCS 465 Latino/as and Inequality in America (3)
  • APHI 350 Philosophy and Feminism (3)
  • ASOC 260 Social Psychology (3)
  • ASOC 282 Race and Ethnicity (3)
  • ASOC 326 Sociology of Race, Gender, and Class (3)
  • ASOC 344 Sociology of Women in the Political Economy (3)
  • AWSS 220 Introduction to Feminist Theory (3)
  • AWSS 240 Classism, Racism, and Sexism: Issues (3)
  • AWSS 260 History of US Women and Social Change (3)
  • AWSS 262 Sociology of Gender (3)
  • AWSS 333 Women and the Law (3)
  • AWSS 360 Feminist Social and Political Thought (3)
  • AWSS/RPOS 433/433Z Women, Politics, and Power (3)
  • RPAD 335 Private Philanthropy, Public Problems and Power (3)
  • RPAD 370 Environmental Policy, Citizen Action, and Equity (3)

Law and Policy:

  • AAFS 213 History of Civil Rights Movement (3)
  • AAFS 400 The Law and African-America (3)
  • AECO 383 Economics of Law (3)
  • AHIS 220 Public Policy in Modern America (3)
  • AHIS 259 History of US Women and Social Change (3)
  • AHIS 310 History of Women in the United States (3)
  • AHIS 313 Constitutional History of the United States (3)
  • AHIS 325 The Quest for Equality in United States History (3)
  • AHIS 327 The Roles of Law in American History (3)
  • AHIS 328 Lawyers in American life, 1607 – Present (3)
  • APHI 325 Philosophy of Law (3)
  • ASOC 203 Criminology (3)
  • ASOC 385 Sociology of Law (3)
  • AWSS/RPOS 333 Women and the Law (3)
  • RPOS 317 Comparative Criminal Procedure (3)
  • RPOS 326 Introduction to Public Law (3)
  • RPOS 335 American Supreme Court (3)
  • RPOS 336 Civil Liberties (3)
  • RPOS 363/RCRJ 353 American Criminal Courts (3)
  • RPOS 380 Basics of International Law (3)
  • RPOS 426Z American Constitutional Law I (3),
  • RPOS 428Z Comparative Legal Systems (3)
  • RPOS 437Z Law and Society (3)

Politics and Policy:

  • AAFS 430 Black Social and Political Thought in the Americas (3)
  • AGOG 440 Global Politics, Space and Place (3)
  • AHIS 101 American Political & Social History II (3)
  • ALCS 375 Latino Politics in the United States (3)
  • ALCS 465 Latino/as and Inequality in America (3)
  • APSY 270 Social Psychology (3)
  • ASOC 255 Mass Media (3)
  • RPAD 304 Public Policy in Theory and Practice (3)
  • RPAD 321 State and Local Government (3)
  • RPAD 325 The Government and Politics of New York State (3-4)
  • RPAD 329 Administrative Leadership (3)
  • RPAD 453 Public Health Politics and Policy: Global and Domestic Perspectives (3)
  • RPAD/CEHC 455 Disaster, Crisis and Emergency Management and Policy (3)
  • RPAD 475 Understanding Energy Policy and Climate Change (3)
  • RPAD/RPOS 488 The Science and Art of Political Campaigns (3)
  • RPOS 301 History of Political Theory I (3)
  • RPOS 302 History of Political Theory II (3)
  • RPOS 314 Problems of Political Inquiry (3)
  • RPOS 319 American Political Development (3)
  • RPOS 320 American Federalism (3)
  • RPOS 331 American Legislature (3)
  • RPOS 332 The Presidency (3)
  • RPOS 334 American Political Parties and Groups (3)
  • RPOS 337 Campaigns and Elections in US (3)
  • RPOS 365 Government and Mass Media (3)
  • RPOS 424 Community Politics (3)

Public Services and Civil Society:

  • AAFS 213 History of Civil Rights Movement (3)
  • AECO 130 Developing Economies (3)
  • AECO 330 Economics of Development (3)
  • AGLO 320 International Urban Planning (3)
  • AGLO 447 Development & Underdevelopment (3)
  • AGOG/AUSP 125 The American City (3)
  • AGOG/AUSP 225 World Cities (3)
  • AGOG/AUSP 460 People, Place, and Power (3)
  • AHIS 325 Quest for Equality in United States History (3)
  • APSY 341 Industrial/Organizational Psychology (3)
  • ASOC 342 Organizations in Society (3)
  • AWSS 100X Women Creating Change (3)
  • AWSS 260 History of Women and Social Change (3)
  • AWSS 433/RPOS 433Z Women, Politics, and Power (3)
  • ECPY 360 Psychology, Cultural Diversity and Social Justice (3)
  • RPAD 305 Public Administration and Information (3)
  • RPAD 312 Motivating Public and Nonprofit Sector Workers (3)
  • RPAD/RPOS 321 State and Local Government (3)
  • RPAD/RPOS 325 Government and Politics of NY (3)  
  • RPAD 328 Law and Policy (3)
  • RPAD 329 Administrative Leadership (3)
  • RPAD 335 Private Philanthropy, Public Problems and Power (3)
  • RPAD 355 Introduction to Public Budgeting and Financial Management (3)
  • RPAD 441 Managing diversity and Inclusion in Public and Nonprofit Organizations (3)
  • RPAD/CEHC 472 Disasters & Crisis Management in Public, Private & Nonprofit Sectors (3)
  • RPOS 304 Public Policy in Theory and Practice (3)
  • RPOS 330 Law, Courts, and Politics (3)
  • RPOS 362 Nationalism and Nation-Building (3)
  • RPOS 375 International Organization (3)
  • RPOS 386 International Conflict and Security (3)
  • RPOS 395 International Conflict and Security (3)
  • RPOS 424 Community Politics (3)
  • RPOS 437 Law and Society (3)
  • RSSW 210 A Critical Examination of Power Privilege and Oppression (3)

Social Policy:

  • AANT 364 Introduction to Cultural Medical Anthropology (3)
  • AECO 111 Principles of Economics II: Macroeconomics (3)
  • AECO 370 Economics of Labor (3)
  • AECO 371/371W The Distribution of Income and Wealth (3)
  • AECO 381 Economics of Health Care (3)
  • AECO 457 Theories of Fairness (3)
  • AHIS 316 Workers and Work in America, 1600 – Present (3)
  • AHIS 331, Capitalism in America (3)
  • APHI 338 Moral Problems in Medicine (3)
  • APHI 417 Bioethics (3)
  • APSY 101 Introduction to Psychology (3)
  • APSY 270 Social Psychology (3)
  • APSY 329 Health Psychology (3)
  • APSY 341 Industrial Organization Psychology (3)
  • APSY 389 Addictive and Compulsive Behaviors (3)
  • ASOC 115 Introduction to Sociology (3)
  • ASOC 180 Social Problems (3)
  • ASOC 283 Juvenile Delinquency (3)
  • ASOC 342 Organizations in Society (3)
  • ASOC 346 Medicine, Technology, and Society (3)
  • ASOC 357 Sociology of Work (3)
  • ASOC 359 Medical Sociology (3)
  • ASOC 370 Social Demography (3)
  • ASOC 384 Sociology of Aging (3)
  • AWSS 109X Women, Biology, and Heath (3)
  • AWSS 433/RPOS 433Z Women, Politics, and Power (3)
  • EEEPL 300 Social Foundations of Education (3)
  • EEPL 301 Issues in American Education
  • EEPL 400 United States Governance, Policy and Administration (3)
  • ETAP 212 Teacher’s Lives (3)
  • ETAP 403 Issues in Urban Education (3)
  • ESPE 460 Introduction to Human Exceptionality (3)
  • HSPH 342 How US Health Care Works: Myths and Realities (3)
  • RCRJ 202 Introduction to Law and Criminal Justice (3)
  • RCRJ 404 Crime and the Mass Media (3)
  • RCRJ 405 Drugs, Crime, and Criminal Justice (3)
  • RCRJ 408 Ideology and Crime (3)
  • RCRJ 450Z Street-Level Bureaucracy (4)
  • RCRJ 452Z Economics & Crime (4)
  • RPAD 312 Motivating Public and Nonprofit Sector Workers (3)
  • RPAD 335 Private Philanthropy, Public Problems, and Power (3)
  • RPAD 337 Human Behavior and Human Resource Management (3)
  • RPAD 345 Psychological Economics and Policy (3)  
  • RPAD 360 Schools and Social Inequality (3)
  • RPAD 453 Public Health Policy: Ground and Domestic Perspectives (3)
  • RPAD/CEHC 472 Disasters and Crisis Management in the Public, Private and Nonprofit Sectors (3)
  • RPOS 474 Politics of International Migration (3)
  • RSSW 409 Introduction to Social Policy Analysis (3)

State and Local Government:

  • AECO 341/341W Urban Economics (3)
  • AECO 356/365W State and Local Finances (3)
  • AHIS 220 Public Policy in Moder America (3)
  • AHIS 259 History of US Women and Social Change (3)
  • AHIS 313 Constitutional History of the United States (3)
  • AUSP 201 Introduction to Urban Planning (3)
  • AUSP 315 State and Regional Planning (3)
  • AUSP 425 Community Development and Neighborhood Planning (3)
  • AUSP 432 Parks, Preservations and Heritage Planning (3)
  • AUSP 475 Urban Design and Public Space (3)
  • AUSP/AGOG 443 Transportation History and Policy (3)
  • AUSP 449 Bike and Pedestrian Transportation Plan (3)
  • AUSP/AGOG 460 People, Place, and Power (3)
  • AWSS/RPOS 333 Women and Law (3)
  • RPOS 304 Everyday Politics (3)
  • RPAD/RPOS 321 State and Local Government (3)
  • RPAD/RPOS 322 Government and Politics of New York City (3)
  • RPAD/RPOS 325 The Government and Politics of New York State (3)
  • RPAD 329 Administrative Leadership (3)
  • RPAD 450 Strategic Management of Information Technology (3)
  • RPOS 335 The American Supreme Courte (3)
  • RPOS 336 Civil Liberties (3)
  • RPOS 424 Community Politics (3)

Technology, Artificial Intelligence, and Governance:

  • AHIS 276 Technology and Society in America (3)
  • AWSS 241 Science, Technology, and Social Justice (3)
  • CINF 100X Information in the 21st Century (3)
  • CINF 108 Programming for Problem Solving (3)
  • CINF 135 Concepts of Artificial Intelligence (3)
  • CINF 201 Introduction to Web Technologies (3)
  • CINF 202 Introduction to Data and Databases (3)
  • CINF 301 Emerging Trends in Information Technology (3)
  • CINF 302 Human-Computer Interactive Design (3)
  • ICSI 300 Special and Ethical Implications of Computing (3)
  • RPAD 305 Public Administration and Information Technologies (3)
  • RPAD 310 Managing Technology-Driven Change (3)
  • RPAD/C EHC 445 Principles and Practices of Cybersecurity (3)
  • RPAD/CEHC/CYBR 449 Cybersecurity Long Term Planning and Risk Management (3)
  • RPAD 450 Strategic Management of Information Technology (3)
  • RPAD/CEHC 469 Cyber Threats and Intelligence (3)
  • RPAD 470 Comparative Digital Government (3)
  • RPOS 368 Information Technology and World Politics (3)

World Affairs:

  • AAFS 150 Life in the Third World (3)
  • AAFS/AHIS 286 African Civilizations (3)
  • AAFS/AHIS 287 Africa in the Modern World (3)
  • AAFS 311 History of Slavery in the Western Hemisphere (3)
  • AECO 111 Principles of Economics II: Macroeconomics (3)
  • AECO 130 Developing Economies (3)
  • AECO 330 Economics of Development (3)
  • AECO 360 International Economic Relations (3)
  • AECO/ALCS 361 Development of the Latin American Economy (3)
  • AECO/AEAS 362 Economies of Japan and Korea (3)
  • AECO 371/361W The Distribution of Income and Wealth (3)
  • AHIS 130 History of European Civilization I (3)
  • AHIS 131 History of European Civilization II (3)
  • AHIS 250 The Holocaust and Genocide in the Modern World (3)
  • AHIS 271 American Drug Wars (3)
  • AHIS 312 History of American Foreign Policy II (3)
  • AHIS 456 Diplomacy of the Nuclear Age (3)
  • ALCS 100 Culture and Power in the Americas (3)
  • ALCS 102 Introduction to Caribbean History (3)
  • ALCS 150 Puerto Rico: People, History, and Culture (3)
  • ALCS/RPOS 357 Latin American and Caribbean Politics (3)
  • ALCS 359 Globalization in the Americas (3)
  • ALCS 374 International Migration and Transnationalism (3)
  • APHI 214 World Religions (3)
  • APHI 355 Global Justice (3)
  • AWSS 451 Gender and Class in Latin American Development (3)
  • RPAD 364/RPOS 366 Approaches to Development (3)
  • RPAD 453 Public Health Politics and Policy: Global and Domestic Perspectives (3)
  • RPAD 470 Comparative Digital Government (3)
  • RPOS 102 Comparative and International Politics (3)
  • RPOS 351 European Politics (3)
  • RPOS 362 Nationalism and Nation-Building (3)
  • RPOS 364 Building Democracy (3)
  • RPOS 367 Politics of the Middle East (3)
  • RPOS 395 International Political Economy (3)
  • RPOS 398 Comparative national Security Policy (3)
  • RPOS 473Z Economic Relations in the Global System (3)
  • RPOS 474Z Politics of International Migration (3)

Honors Program in Public Policy and Management

The Honors Program in Public Policy and Management combines recognition of general academic excellence with demonstrated achievement in specific area of public policy.

Administration

The Director of Undergraduate Studies administers the Honors Program, advises students, and helps students in selecting thesis advisers. The thesis is discussed in a forum involving the adviser, the Honors Director, and other faculty members selected by the student and the adviser upon its completion in the senior year.

Selection and Evaluation

Students must have declared Public Policy and Management as either a stand-alone major or as a combined major/minor and have completed at least 12 credits of coursework in the major. Students must have an overall grade point average not lower than 3.25, and a grade point average of 3.50 in the core subjects in public policy and management for admission to the Honors Program. Students may apply to the Honors Program during their sophomore year or during the first semester of their junior year.

Upon satisfactory completion of the honors curriculum and of courses required of all majors, students will be recommended by the Director of Undergraduate Studies to graduate with honors in Public Policy and Management. Students must maintain at least the same grade point average overall and the same average in the major as were required for admission to the Honors Program to graduate with honors.

Requirements

Students in the Honors Programs in Public Policy and Management must complete the same coursework requirements as specified for the non-honors majors, as well as the completion of an honors thesis.

Thesis: each student must complete a 30 to 40 page honors thesis. This paper should involve original research on a topic related to public policy. It should have a clearly defined thesis statement, a review of the existing literature on the chosen topic, original evidence offered to support the thesis, consideration of alternative rival hypothesis, and a conclusion of the consequence for public policy research of these findings. The paper is to be created in conjunction with a faculty mentor approved by the Director of the Undergraduate Public Policy and Management program (and the paper may be co-authored with the chosen faculty mentor). The paper is to be submitted to the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Completion of the thesis requires enrolling in two research courses, RPAD 494 and RPAD 496, in which the student works one-on-one with a faculty advisor to conduct the required research and write the thesis. Students are encouraged to identify their thesis question and advisor before the end of their junior year.

Combined B.A. in Public Policy and Management/M.P.A. in Public Administration

Students majoring in Public Policy and Management may be eligible to apply for the combined B.A./M.P.A. program. This program provides an opportunity for students of recognized academic ability and educational maturity to earn both a B.A. and the graduate M.P.A. degree within 11 semesters.

The combined program requires a minimum of 144 credits, of which at least 36 must be graduate credits. In qualifying for the B.A., students must meet all University and school requirements, including the requirements of either the major/minor or the major described previously, the minimum 90 credit liberal arts and sciences requirement, general education requirements, minor requirement (if doing the stand-alone major) and residency requirements. In qualifying for the M.P.A., students must meet all University and school requirements as outlined in the Graduate Bulletin, including completion of approximately 36 graduate credits and any other conditions such as a professional experience requirement. Up to 12 graduate credits may be applied simultaneously to both the B.A. and M.P.A. programs.

Students may apply to the combined degree program at the end of their junior year. A cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher, completion of 56 credits toward towards the B.A., a grade of B or higher in two quantitative courses, and two letters of recommendation from faculty are required for consideration.

Combined B.A. in Public Policy and Management/M.I.A. in International Affairs

The combined B.A./M.I.A. program is highly competitive and allows students to complete their bachelor's degree in Public Policy and Management while simultaneously working on a master's degree in International Affairs. Students enroll in graduate courses during their senior year that concurrently count towards both the B.A. and the M.I.A. degrees.

The combined program requires a minimum of 151 credits, of which at least 43 must be graduate credits. In qualifying for the B.A., students must meet all University and school requirements, including the requirements for the major described previously, the minor requirement, the minimum 90 credit liberal arts and sciences requirement, general education requirements, and residency requirements. In qualifying for the M.I.A., students must meet all University and school requirements as outlined in the Graduate Bulletin, including completion of 24 graduate credits in the core, 5 elective courses, a capstone project and other conditions such as professional internship or career experience, professional development module and residency requirements. Up to 12 graduate credits may be applied simultaneously to both the B.A. and M.I.A. programs.

Students may apply to the combined degree program in Public Policy and Management/International Affairs at the beginning of their junior year or after the successful completion of 56 credits. To be eligible for consideration for admission, the student must have completed at least one semester in residency at this University. Additional requirements for admissions into this program are: a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher; a grade point average of 3.20 or higher in course work completed at Albany; a grade of B or higher in two quantitative courses; and two supportive letters of recommendation from faculty. The Graduate Record Exam is not required.

Combined B.A. in Public Policy and Management/M.A. in Criminal Justice

The combined B.A./M.A. program is highly competitive and allows students to complete their bachelor's degree in Public Policy and Management while simultaneously working on a master’s degree in Criminal Justice. Students enroll in graduate courses during their senior year that concurrently count towards both the B.A. and the M.A. degrees.

The combined program requires a minimum of 144 credits, of which at least 33 must be graduate credits. In qualifying for the B.A., students must meet all university and college requirements, including the requirements of the undergraduate major described previously, the minor requirement, the minimum 90 credit liberal arts and sciences requirement, the general education requirements and residency requirements. In qualifying for the M.A., students must meet all university and college requirements as outlined in the Graduate Bulletin, including completion of a minimum of 33 graduate credits and any other conditions such as a research seminar, thesis, comprehensive examination, professional experience, and residency requirements. Up to 12 graduate credits may be applied simultaneously to both the B.A. and M.A. programs.

Students may be admitted to the combined degree program at the beginning of the junior year, or after the successful completion of 56 credits. A cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher a grade point average of 3.20 or higher in course work completed at Albany; and three supportive letters of recommendation from faculty. Students will be admitted upon the recommendation of the Graduate Admissions Committee of the School.