USC
University of Southern California
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Undergraduate Degrees

Minor Programs

Minor in Children and Families in Urban America

What’s happening to children and families in urban America? Students will examine changing demographics, economics, and cultures and the challenges of building communities that support families. They will assess innovative ways to improve access to and utilization of human services, including inter-professional practice, integrated services and community-based initiatives. Analysis of current social policies and policy reform initiatives will provide a framework for students who want to help improve student outcomes for children and families.

This minor includes courses from social work, planning, psychology, communication, education and other academic areas. It requires 22 units. See the USC School of Social Work for course requirements.

Minor in Construction Planning and Management

This program covers the most current theories and practice of construction planning and management. The program provides a valuable adjunct credential to professional school students pursuing careers in business administration, public administration, environmental studies, and other areas; and a unique opportunity for professional focus to students in the USC College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

Construction activities are complex. In contemporary society, effective planning and management of these activities requires specialized knowledge of the technical, economic and political environment. This program couples the knowledge of how construction activities are organized with a broader understanding of the urban system in which construction projects are embedded. With the exception of statistics, all of the required courses are within the Department of Civil Engineering and the School of Policy, Planning, and Development.

Any USC undergraduate who has completed the equivalent of two full-time semesters in good standing is eligible to pursue the minor program. This minor program is rigorous enough to serve as an introductory credential for students subsequently electing to pursue advanced studies in development, urban planning, construction management or allied fields.

See the Department of Civil Engineering for course requirements.

Minor in Environmental Planning and Development

A wide range of USC undergraduates will enter professional and business positions in which issues related to environmental planning will play an important role. This minor offers students the opportunity to study the growing professional field of environmental planning. The minor combines a strong scientific foundation with professional courses in planning and development and with electives from a variety of academic programs at USC. It requires 31-32 units. See Environmental Studies for course requirements.

Minor in Health Policy and Management

This 24-unit minor in health policy and management provides students with a background in the institutions, policy and management issues in the field of health care and the skills necessary to pursue a range of health-related management and/‌or policy opportunities in the for-profit, nonprofit and governmental sectors. This minor is appropriate for students interested in pursuing careers in the health care field, especially students majoring in pre-health services fields, business, gerontology or the social sciences.

Required coursesUnits
PPD 230Introduction to Health Policy and Management (gateway course)4
PPD 330Introduction to Health Care Systems4
PPD 413Administration of Health Care Organizations4

ElectivesUnits
Choose three courses from one of the two tracks:
Health Issues Track
ECON 472*Economics of Medical Care4
GERO 416Health Issues in Aging4
GERO 421Managed Care for an Aging Society4
HP 412Health Promotion and Prevention Policy4
HP 420Gender and Minority Health Issues4
HP 422AIDS in Society4
SOCI 475Medical Sociology4

Health Management Track
ECON 472*Economics of Medical Care4
PPD 316Human Resource Management for Public Organizations4
PPD 318Financial Accounting in Public and Nonprofit Organizations4
PPD 320Organizational Behavior in Public Administration4
PPD 407**Financial Management of Public and Nonprofit Organizations4

*Prerequisite: ECON 303

**Prerequisite: PPD 318

Minor in International Policy and Management

The minor in international policy and management brings together courses from the School of International Relations, dealing with the new global challenges, specific regions of the world, and international organizations and policies, and the School of Policy, Planning, and Development, dealing with core management skills and public policy processes. Students will examine the changes and challenges which are transforming the world, and the policy and management skills used to deal with them. To increase their understanding of the context and application of these concepts, students must complete a semester-long internship either in Washington, D.C. (through participation in the Washington, D.C. semester program) or in Los Angeles with an organization that has an international focus.

Students minoring in international policy and management take three courses in international relations, including the gateway course, IR 305 Managing New Global Challenges; three courses in public policy and management; and an approved internship from either the School of International Relations (IR 491 Field Study) or from the School of Policy, Planning, and Development (PPD 401 Public Policy, Management, and Planning Practices: Internship Seminar). For additional course information, see International Relations.

Minor in International Urban Development

As the world shrinks, students are increasingly working in a global environment. Even those who are employed in the United States find the world a competitor, employees from around the world and customers of all nationalities. This minor addresses the needs of these students by introducing them to relevant urban, economic and social policy issues as they are framed in international settings.

The minor is open to all students except majors in international relations and urban planning and development. The minor is designed for students who wish to either work in the international arena or who expect that their professional careers will be affected by activities in that arena. Students should sign up for the minor in the International Relations student affairs office.

See International Relations for course requirements.

Minor in Law and Public Policy

The minor in law and public policy draws upon four fields of study: public policy and management, law, economics and political science. It provides students with an understanding of the political and economic contexts in which laws are made as well as how legal institutions shape policy formulation. Students learn to analyze the consequences of policy and alternatives; the roles played by government, business and nonprofit organizations in public decision making; and the legal bases for various areas of public policy.

Students minoring in law and public policy take six required courses, including the gateway class, PPD 225 Public Policy and Management, and one elective. The latter enables the student to focus on a specific area of law.

Required coursesUnits
ECON 203Principles of Microeconomics4
LAW 200xLaw and Society4
POSC 340Constitutional Law4
PPD 225Public Policy and Management4
PPD 404xStatistics for Policy, Planning, and Development4
PPD 473*Public Policy and Planning Analysis4

And one of the following:
BUAD 403Legal Environment of Business4
ECON 434Economic Analysis of Law4
POSC 345International Law4
POSC 347Environmental Law4
POSC 432The Politics of Local Criminal Justice4
POSC 440Comparative Law and the Judicial Process4
POSC 441Cultural Diversity and the Law4
POSC 444Civil and Political Rights and Liberties4
POSC 452Critical Issues in Law and Public Policy4

*Prerequisite: ECON 203, PPD 225 and PPD 404x

Minor in Nonprofits, Philanthropy and Volunteerism

This four-course minor enables students to learn about the nonprofit sector – its organizations, philanthropy and voluntary action. The three course core provides: (1) an overview of the nonprofit sector and philanthropy and its role in the United States, including its historical and theoretical foundations, its various components and its relation to public policy; (2) a focus on voluntary action and service as one means for social change and problem-solving; and (3) insights into the management of nonprofit organizations. Students select an elective that extends their understanding to the role of nongovernmental organizations in international affairs or to the role of public relations for nonprofits.

This minor is intended for students who plan (1) to work in a nonprofit or charitable organization, whether it is a large organization such as United Way, a small social service agency, an environmental advocacy group, a museum or a religious organization, (2) to participate with nonprofits as a volunteer throughout their lives or (3) pursue further graduate work in a service-related profession.

REQUIRED COURSESUNITS
PPD 371The Nonprofit Sector and the Public Interest4
PPD 372Public Service in an Urban Setting4
PPD 402Management of Public and Nonprofit Organizations4

Electives (select one)
JOUR 455**Public Relations for Non-Profit Organizations4
IR 371Global Civil Society: Non-Governmental Organizations in World Politics4

**Prerequisite: JOUR 350 Principles of Public Relations (4)

Minor in Public Management

The 24-unit minor in public management provides the student with a basic introduction to management in the context of a public or nonprofit organization, an understanding of central managerial skills in accounting, financial management and human behavior, and the opportunity to choose between a general or human resource management elective track. This minor is appropriate for College of Letters, Arts and Sciences or professional school students planning to enter management level positions.

Required coursesUnits
PPD 318Financial Accounting in Public and Nonprofit Organizations4
PPD 320Organizational Behavior in Public Administration4
PPD 402Management of Public and Nonprofit Organizations4
PPD 407*Financial Management of Public and Nonprofit Organizations4

*Prerequisite: PPD 318

Public Management ElectivesUnits
Choose two courses from one of the following tracks:
Management
PPD 403Management Analysis I4
PPD 476Politics and Administration4
PPD 482Comparative Public Administration4

Human Resources
PPD 316Human Resource Management for Public Organizations4
PPD 409Training and the Applied Behavioral Science4

Minor in Public Policy

This minor prepares students to understand the context, theory, formulation, analysis and implementation of public policy and allow them to choose two policy areas to apply their knowledge. The minor complements majors in fields such as sociology, economics, political science, history and gerontology.

Required coursesUnits
ECON 203Principles of Microeconomics4
PPD 225Public Policy and Management4
PPD 404xStatistics for Policy, Planning, and Development4
PPD 473*Public Policy and Planning Analysis4

Public Policy Electives
Choose two courses from the following:Units
POSC 347Environmental Law4
PPD 313**Finance of the Public Sector4
PPD 330Introduction to Health Care Systems4
PPD 342Crime and Public Policy4
PPD 350Urban Institutions and Policies4
PPD 357**Government and Business
PPD 360Urban Transportation Planning and Policy4
PPD 371Nonprofit Sector and the Public Interest4
PPD 439Housing and Community Development4
PPD 476Politics and Administration4

*Prerequisite: ECON 203, PPD 225 and PPD 404x

**Prerequisite: ECON 203

Minor in Planning and Development

The minor in planning and development is an excellent complement to undergraduate study in a variety of fields. Insight into the planning and development process can broaden career choices and deepen understanding of allied major programs. Students majoring in American studies and ethnicity, economics, business administration, architecture, geography, gerontology, international relations, journalism and social work, to name a few, would gain from the cross-disciplinary perspective this minor provides.

Admission Requirements
A GPA of at least 2.0 and a grade of B or better in PPD 100 or PPD 250.

Curriculum Requirements
To earn the minor, students must complete a total of 24 units.

Course RequirementsUnits
PPD 100Los Angeles: The Enduring Pueblo, or
PPD 250Third World Cities4
PPD 227Urban Planning and Development4
PPD 306Visual Methods in Policy, Management, Planning and Development4
PPD 358Urban and Regional Economics4
PPD 417History of Planning and Development4

Choose one course from the following list of specialized courses:
PPD 360Transportation Planning and Policy4
PPD 362Real Estate Fundamentals for Planning and Development4
PPD 382International Development4
PPD 425Designing Livable Communities4
PPD 439Housing and Community Development4
PPD 461Sustainability Planning4

Minor in Real Estate Development

This minor provides students with an overview of the field of real estate development – its principles, market analysis, finance and history, as well as the opportunity to pursue more specialized interests and skills through a set of electives (including courses in architecture, civil engineering and business). It is a 23-24 unit minor, requiring four core courses and two electives. The minor is intended for any students with interests in careers in real estate development or other areas that might be related to real estate development, such as local government, non-profit housing and land use enterprises, urban economics, public-private partnerships or related entrepreneurial ventures.

REQUIRED COURSESUNITS
PPD 362Real Estate Fundamentals for Planning and Development4
PPD 417History of Planning and Development4
PPD 435*Analyzing Real Estate Markets for Planning and Development4
PPD 437*Advanced Finance and Investment for Planning and Development4

Electives (select two):
CE 460**Construction Engineering3
FBE 427Real Estate Law4
PPD 357Government and Business 4
PPD 358Urban and Regional Economics4
PPD 425Designing Livable Communities4
PPD 431LDesign and Development Laboratory4
PPD 439Housing and Community Development4
PPD 461Sustainability Planning4
23-24

*Prerequisite: PPD 362

**7 units if CE 460 is selected

Minor in Urban Policy and Planning

The minor in Urban Policy and Planning focuses on the application of public policy, urban planning and public management to the analysis and solution of urban problems. It draws upon the interdisciplinary faculty and programs of the School of Policy, Planning, and Development and includes foundational courses that introduce students to the nature of urban phenomena and the analysis and solution of urban problems. The minor also introduces students to the professional and academic fields of either urban planning and development or public policy and public management. Additionally, based on their specific interests, students have the opportunity to explore in greater depth three areas and approaches of urban problem-solving. This minor is appropriate for students interested in expanding their understanding of the fields of urban planning and public policy and management as potential professional careers as well as increasing their comprehension of the analysis and solution of urban problems.

Required courses (12 units)Units
Foundational Courses (8 units)
PPD 225Public Policy and Management, or
PPD 227Urban Planning and Development4
PPD 245The Urban Context for Policy and Planning4

Organizations in the Urban Context (4 units)
PPD 402Management of Public and Nonprofit Organizations4

Elective courses (12 units)Units
Students select three courses from this list. They are encouraged through advisement to consider course clusters that reflect special interests. (See examples.)
PPD 342Crime and Public Policy4
PPD 350Urban Institutions and Policies4
PPD 360Urban Transportation Planning and Policy4
PPD 362Real Estate Fundamentals for Planning and Development4
PPD 371The Nonprofit Sector and the Public Interest4
PPD 372Public Service in an Urban Setting4
PPD 425*Designing Livable Communities4
PPD 439Housing and Community Development4
PPD 461Sustainability Planning4

*Prerequisite: PPD 306

examples of three-course clustersUnits
Real Estate/Housing
PPD 362Real Estate Fundamentals for Planning and Development4
PPD 425Designing Livable Communities4
PPD 435Analyzing Real Estate Markets for Planning and Development, or
PPD 439Housing and Community Development4

Nonprofit/Voluntary Sector Approaches to Problem Solving
PPD 371The Nonprofit Sector and the Public Interest4
PPD 372Public Service in an Urban Setting4
PPD 439Housing and Community Development, or
PPD 461Sustainability Planning4

Sustainable Communities
PPD 360Urban Transportation Planning and Policy4
PPD 425Designing Livable Communities4
PPD 461Sustainability Planning4

Critical Urban Policy Issues (any three)
PPD 342Crime and Public Policy4
PPD 350Urban Institutions and Policies4
PPD 360Urban Transportation Planning and Policy4
PPD 439Housing and Community Development4