Admission Requirements

For specific questions about the Program, please reach out to Rachel Fiscus at 412-365-1141 or at r.fiscus@chatham.edu.

Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete the Policy Studies major will be able to:

• Demonstrate a knowledge of the institutions and processes of political decision-making and their impact on policy-making
• Demonstrate an ability to apply historical, economic and political data and theories to understand, articulate, and evaluate domestic and international public policy
• Students will be able to locate and evaluate the perspective, quality and accuracy of information resources
• Students will be able to demonstrate ability to characterize a policy issue and apply skills and knowledge acquired in the curriculum to analyze that issue and make policy recommendations
• Students will be able to clearly communicate knowledge via oral and written means
• Students will be able to write simple policy memos

Chatham University Policy Studies

Curriculum

+Major Requirements

17 courses, including:

ECN101	Principles of Macroeconomics The concepts of national income and output are analyzed, and emphasis is placed on factors that influence the levels of economic activity, unemployment, and inflation, including fiscal and monetary policy and the role of international economics.	3
ECN102	Principles of Microeconomics Microeconomics is the study of how households and firms make decisions and how they interact in specific markets. Students are introduced to the basic concepts and tools that economists use to understand how the economy works. This course is designed to increase economic literacy through acquiring core knowledge about economics.	3
HIS100	Introduction to World History This course is an introduction to world history from the rise of civilization to the present. It establishes and compares major themes in the leading civilizations of today’s world. It investigates the development of the modern world system and interpretations of its impact on these civilizations.	3
OR
HIS102	Introduction to American History This course examines significant areas in the development of American society from the Colonial period to the present. It focuses particularly on the issues of gender, class, race, religion, politics, and ideology to provide students with the grounding in those areas crucial to understanding today's society.	3
POL100	Introduction to Comparative Politics Introduction to politics, policies, and political institutions outside of the United States. Includes concepts such as electoral systems, party systems, parliamentary and presidential systems, democratization, and political change in both Western and non-Western settings.	3
OR
POL101	American Government and Public Policy This course provides an introduction to the principles and practices of government, federalism, with special attention to the policy process, political participation and selected political issues in the United States.	3
POL202W	Understanding Public Policy This course introduces students to the concepts and tools used in the analysis of public policies, and uses these concepts and tools to examine public policies in the United States and other industrial democracies. Pre-requisites Complete any 1 of the following courses: GOV101 American Government and Public Policy POL101 American Government and Public Policy	3
BUS110	Business Analytics I This course introduces analytical tools that are essential for deriving actionable data-driven solutions to real world business problems. Modules address descriptive statistics, inferential analysis, hypotheses testing, results interpretation, and presentation of key findings. Students utilize diverse sources of data from business cases, research studies, open access datasets, and secondary reports. Pre-requisites Complete the following course: BUS105 Foundations of Business	3
OR
MTH110	Elementary Statistics Topics include statistical measures and distributions, decision making under uncertainty, application of probability to statistical inference, linear correlation, introduction to nonparametric statistical methods, and application to problems drawn from the natural and social sciences. Three hours of class per week. Three hours of class per week.	3
ECN355	Economic Analysis of Public Policy This course focuses on evaluating the rationale for government intervention in the economy and evaluating the efficiency, incentive, and distributional effects of government policies. Policies' impacts on issues such as how best to protect intellectual property, improve airline safety or control illegal immigration are also analyzed. Pre-requisites Complete the following course: ECN102 Principles of Microeconomics	3
POL311W	Selected Topics in Social Science Research The course introduces methods and approaches used to describe, explain, and evaluate social science research. Students will get an introduction to an instructor chosen research topic. Students will learn to formulate questions, create a literature review, gather and evaluate evidence and provide feedback on outside research concerning the selected course topic.	3
POL490	Integrative Capstone The integrative capstone, undertaken by the student during the senior year, is an extended project that helps the student complete their transition from an undergraduate student to a world-ready professional. The study usually centers on the student’s major and may be conducted, at least in part, in the context of a group experience. Such programs are crafted to meet the unique needs of each major, and could include, for example, fieldwork, theater production, creative work in the arts, independent research, or independent readings. The integrative capstone in an interdisciplinary major must have the approval of both academic programs. Pre-requisites Complete any 1 of the following courses: POL311 Selected Topics in Social Science Research POL311W Selected Topics in Social Science Research	3
*The Integrative Capstone is registered in the instructor’s program and focuses on a policy issue.
1 approved 3-credit internship (INTPOL, INTECN, INTHIS 303)
1 economic analysis electives from the following:
ECN358W	Economic Development An examination of the factors accounting for economic growth and development of modern economically developed nations and less-developed areas. A review of the problems encountered in initiating and sustaining the process of economic development. Major policy issues are discussed. This course fulfills a global general education mission course requirement. Pre-requisites Complete any 1 of the following courses: ECN102 Principles of Microeconomics ECN101 Principles of Macroeconomics	3
ECN262	Global Environmental Economics This course examines the economic perspectives and tools for analyzing environmental problems and evaluating policy solutions. The course covers both conceptual topics and real-world applications. Course discussions reflect the global nature of environmental problems and solutions. Cross-listed as ENV 262. This course fulfills an environmental general education mission course requirement. Pre-requisites Complete the following course: ECN102 Principles of Microeconomics	3
ECN351	International Trade and Finance An introduction to international trade and finance, and an examination of the structure of international trade and the functioning of the international monetary system. Attention is given to recent issues in these areas and the relationship between the domestic and international economies. Pre-requisites Complete any 1 of the following courses: ECN102 Principles of Microeconomics ECN101 Principles of Macroeconomics	3
Or appropriate course substitute approved by the program director
2 sociopolitical analysis electives from the following:
POL262	Women and Politics Does gender make a difference in politics? Are women different from men in their political behavior? Do women contribute different norms, rules, and outcomes within political institutions? Students become familiar with the literature on, and conduct research projects in a specific aspect of, women's involvement in politics. Pre-requisites Complete the following course: POL101 American Government and Public Policy	3
POL300	The U.S. Congress This course examines the functions, rules, customs, and procedures of the US Congress. Topics include the relationship between the legislative branch and other governmental institutions, including the relationship between Congress, the electorate, and interest groups. Students will also explore the committee system and the leadership structure. Prerequisite(s): POL101 or permission of the instructor. Pre-requisites Complete the following course: POL101 American Government and Public Policy	3
POL302	Ethnic Conflict This course is designed to introduce students to theories about the sources of nationalist and ethnic conflict and strategies that have been used to manage these conflicts. In the first part of class we will examine sources of ethnic identity and how governments have attempted to reinforce or deemphasize those identities. Second, we will examine how domestic factors have and have not worked to suppress ethnic conflict. Finally, we will examine how the international community or other third parties have attempted to bring about the peaceful resolution of conflicts. Pre-requisites Complete any 1 of the following courses: POL100 Introduction to Comparative Politics POL104 Introduction to International Relations	3
POL319	Politics of the European Union This course is designed to introduce students to the political, economic and social transformation of the European Union. Students will gain an understanding of the historical evolution of the EU, the institutional design of the EU, the major policy areas governed by the EU and major issues facing the expansion of EU in the near future.	3
POL324	U.S. Foreign Policy This course examines the diverse factors that influence the formulation and implementation of American foreign policy. This entails the study of three components: the composition of governmental institutions involved in the policy-making process; the societal forces affecting foreign policy; and the changes in the global environment, which present new challenges to the foreign policy process. To this end, the course examines several issues, including the dominant patterns of continuity and change in foreign policy, the ability of the president to govern in foreign affairs, and the tension inherent between the needs of democracy and national security concerns. Pre-requisites Complete the following course: POL104 Introduction to International Relations	3
SWK322W	Social Welfare: Women and Policy This course is designed to examine current issues and policies that impact the lives of women and to explore methods of creating or modifying policies. This course will utilize a comparative policy framework to explore the strengths and weaknesses of current interventions regarding their promotion of social and economic justice.	3
Or appropriate course substitute approved by the program director
2 historical analysis electives from the following:
HIS216	Rise of the Third World The emergence of Third-Worldism after 1945 is the central historical development of the twentieth century. The Afro-Asian movement namely aimed at recasting the historical initiative away from implacable colonialist powers. This course focuses on the analysis of doctrines and models that have collectively marked the rise of the Third World.	3
HIS228	Recent African History Western media typically paints a catastrophic view of Africa with stories of conflicts, environmental degradation, horrendous sanitary conditions, and their corollaries. Are the positive trends regarding economic growth, democratization, and endogenous creativity bring overlooked? The course tackles this question while offering opportunities to gain substantial, practical knowledge about contemporary Africa.	3
HIS247	American Environmental History Environmental history examines human interaction with their environment over time, a relationship shaped by cultures and political economies. In US history, there have been competing ideologies of capitalist exploitation, conservationism, preservationism, and sustainability. The course will also introduce students to different facets and methods of environmental history.	3
HIS342	Post/Modern China: Digital Storytelling An examination of Chinese cultural history from early 1900s to early 2000s, via literature and film, with training in digital storytelling techniques. Discussion of this dramatic national narrative framed by political and aesthetic considerations. Our interpretation and transmission of these narratives framed also by ethics and efficacy. Pre-requisites Complete the following course: ENG105 First - Year Communication Seminar	3
Or appropriate course substitute approved by the program director

+Interdisciplinary - Policy Studies

Policy Studies is a multidisciplinary major, centered in economics, history, and political science. The required core of courses provides students with the tools essential for a coherent understanding of and participation in policy making, as well as those tools necessary to undertake a policy-oriented tutorial. Policy Studies is designed to prepare students for either a career in international or domestic policy making in public and private settings and can serve as a base for graduate work in international relations, public policy, and law, as well as for more traditional academic fields. The Interdisciplinary Policy Major is 24 credits plus an internship and integrative capstone project.

POL100	Introduction to Comparative Politics Introduction to politics, policies, and political institutions outside of the United States. Includes concepts such as electoral systems, party systems, parliamentary and presidential systems, democratization, and political change in both Western and non-Western settings.	3
or
POL101	American Government and Public Policy This course provides an introduction to the principles and practices of government, federalism, with special attention to the policy process, political participation and selected political issues in the United States.	3
ECN101	Principles of Macroeconomics The concepts of national income and output are analyzed, and emphasis is placed on factors that influence the levels of economic activity, unemployment, and inflation, including fiscal and monetary policy and the role of international economics.	3
or
ECN102	Principles of Microeconomics Microeconomics is the study of how households and firms make decisions and how they interact in specific markets. Students are introduced to the basic concepts and tools that economists use to understand how the economy works. This course is designed to increase economic literacy through acquiring core knowledge about economics.	3
POL202W	Understanding Public Policy This course introduces students to the concepts and tools used in the analysis of public policies, and uses these concepts and tools to examine public policies in the United States and other industrial democracies. Pre-requisites Complete any 1 of the following courses: GOV101 American Government and Public Policy POL101 American Government and Public Policy	3
HIS 200 - level elective
POL311W	Selected Topics in Social Science Research The course introduces methods and approaches used to describe, explain, and evaluate social science research. Students will get an introduction to an instructor chosen research topic. Students will learn to formulate questions, create a literature review, gather and evaluate evidence and provide feedback on outside research concerning the selected course topic.	3
ECN355	Economic Analysis of Public Policy This course focuses on evaluating the rationale for government intervention in the economy and evaluating the efficiency, incentive, and distributional effects of government policies. Policies' impacts on issues such as how best to protect intellectual property, improve airline safety or control illegal immigration are also analyzed. Pre-requisites Complete the following course: ECN102 Principles of Microeconomics	3
POL 300 - level elective
Additional policy course from a list (including ECN, POL, and SWK course)