Univ of Southern California
University of Southern California
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Undergraduate Degrees

Bachelor of Science in Policy, Planning, and Development

The Bachelor of Science in Policy, Planning, and Development is an interdisciplinary major that prepares students for graduate study and/or professional careers by engaging them in the analysis of society’s political, social and economic issues in such areas as environment, health care and urban life. The major introduces students to theoretical foundations and practical applications through a set of cross-cutting introductory courses and specialized courses in one of five tracks: health policy and management, public policy and law, nonprofits and social innovation, real estate development, or sustainable planning. Students will be introduced to analytical and research tools, including economics, Geographic Information Systems, statistics, urban design, and applied field research. Throughout, the students’ education will be connected to professional practice, as exemplified by the mandatory internship. Finally, the major is structured to provide students with sufficient elective credits to explore minors or other programs at USC so they can broaden their education to better prepare themselves for the next stage of their lives.

General Education Requirements

The university’s general education program provides a coherent, integrated introduction to the breadth of knowledge you will need to consider yourself (and to be considered by other people) a generally well-educated person. This program requires six courses in different categories, plus writing and diversity requirements, which together comprise the USC Core. See here and here for more information.

Major Requirements

A minimum grade of C- 1.7 (A=4.0) must be earned in each PPD course specifically listed as a degree requirement. In addition, a minimum grade point average of C (2.0) or higher must be achieved to earn all PPD degrees. The GPA for all upper division PPD courses must also be a C (2.0) or higher. No more than 16 units of PPD course work may be taken prior to the successful completion of PPD’s pre-major requirements.

Pre-major Requirements (8 units)

A minimum grade of C, 2.0 (A=4.0), must be earned in each of the pre-major courses.

All pre-major requirements must be taken for a letter grade.

Math
MATH 117 (4)

Economics
ECON 203 Microeconomics (4)

General Electives (26 units*)

Policy, Planning, and Development Core Courses

core Courses (30 units)Units
PPD 225Public Policy and Management (gateway course)4
PPD 227Urban Planning and Development (gateway course)4
PPD 240Citizenship and Public Ethics4
PPD 245The Urban Context for Policy and Planning4
PPD 357Government and Business4
PPD 301PPD Practices: Internship Seminar2
PPD 303Statistics for Policy, Planning and Development4
PPD 373Public Policy and Planning Analysis4

Tracks

Students select one track for degree emphasis; they take 28 units (seven courses) from the track selected. Each track includes four required courses and three elective courses. During advisement, students will be given a list of recommended elective courses particularly appropriate for the chosen track, but students have the flexibility to craft the electives out of SPPD courses to meet their academic needs. The four requirement courses for each track are listed below.

Health policy and managementUnits
Required courses:
PPD 325Fundamentals of Health Policy and Management 4

Health Policy Focus:
PPD 314Public Policy and Law4
PPD 315Analytical Foundations for Public Policy4
PPD 415Health Policy4

Health Management Focus:
PPD 320Organizational Behavior in Public Administration4
PPD 407Financial Management of Public and Nonprofit Organizations4
PPD 413Administration of Health Care Organizations4

Electives (select 3):
Health Policy Focus:
GERO 416Health Issues in Adulthood4
HP 408Environmental Health in the Community4
HP 412Health Promotion and Prevention Policy4
PPD 330Introduction to Health Care Systems4
PPD 413Administration of Health Care Organizations4
PPD 414Community Health Policy and Planning4
(Study abroad if applicable to track)

Health Management Focus:
PPD 318Financial Accounting in Public and Nonprofit Organizations4
PPD 330Introduction to Health Care Systems4
PPD 403Management Analysis I4
PPD 414Community Health Policy and Planning4
PPD 478Social Innovations4
(Study abroad if applicable to track)

public policy and lawUnits
Required courses:
PPD 313Finance of the Public Sector4
PPD 314Public Policy and Law4
PPD 315Analytical Foundations for Public Policy4
POSC 340Constitutional Law4

Electives (select 3):
ECON 434Economic Analysis of Law4
LAW 200xLaw and Society4
POSC 444Civil and Political Rights and Liberties4
PPD 342Crime and Public Policy4
PPD 410Comparative Urban Development4
PPD 415Health Policy4
PPD 439Housing and Community Development4
PPD 461Sustainability Planning4
PPD 478Social Innovations4
PPD 485U.S. Immigration Policy and Liberties4
Washington, D.C. Semester
(Study abroad if applicable to track)

nonprofits and social innovationUnits
Required courses:
PPD 371The Nonprofit Sector and the Public Interest4
PPD 402Management of Public and Nonprofit Organizations4
PPD 407Financial Management of Public and Nonprofit Organizations4
PPD 478Social Innovations4

Electives (select 3):
BUCO 485Business Communication Management for Nonprofits4
IR 371Global Civil Society: Non-Governmental Organizations in World Politics4
PPD 318Financial Accounting in Public and Nonprofit Organizations4
PPD 320Organizational Behavior in Public Administration4
PPD 353Introduction to Philanthropy and Grant-Writing4
PPD 372Public Service in an Urban Setting4
PPD 382International Development4
PPD 403Management Analysis I4
(Study abroad if applicable to track)

Real estate developmentunits
Required courses:
FBE 400xIntroduction to Real Estate Finance and Development4
PPD 362Real Estate Fundamentals for Planning and Development4
PPD 417History of Planning and Development4
PPD 437Advanced Finance and Investment for Planning and Development4

Electives (select 3):
CE 460*Construction Engineering3
FBE 427Real Estate Law4
PPD 410Comparative Urban Development 4
PPD 420Environmental Impact Assessment4
PPD 425Designing Livable Communities4
PPD 435Analyzing Real Estate Markets for Planning and Development4
PPD 438Local Economic Development4
PPD 439Housing and Community Development4
(Study abroad if applicable to track)

*Students in the real estate track who select CE 460 as an elective will earn 27 units rather than 28 in the track and will require 27 units of general electives rather than 26 to reach 128 units total.

sustainable planningunits
Required courses:
PPD 417History of Planning and Development4
PPD 420Environmental Impact Assessment4
PPD 427LGeographic Information Systems and Planning Applications4
PPD 461Sustainability Planning4

Electives (select 3):
PPD 306Visual Methods in Policy, Management, Planning and Development4
PPD 358Urban and Regional Economics4
PPD 360Urban Transportation Planning and Policy4
PPD 362Real Estate Fundamentals for Planning and Development4
PPD 410Comparative Urban Development4
PPD 414Community Health Policy and Planning4
PPD 425Designing Livable Communities4
PPD 438Local Economic Development4
PPD 439Housing and Community Development4
(Study abroad if applicable to track)

The faculty director of the undergraduate program may approve students’ petitions to substitute or mix track classes if based on an appropriate academic/career rationale.

Capstone

All students will take four units of a capstone experience during their senior year. This may be fulfilled by taking PPD 431L Undergraduate Policy, Planning, and Development Studies (4) or PPD 497ab Senior Thesis (2-2). Students wishing to enroll in PPD 497ab must have a 3.7 GPA in PPD courses and an overall 3.5 GPA.

Internships

Policy, Planning and Development majors are required to complete 140 hours of internship by enrolling in PPD 301 PPD Practices: Internship Seminar or the Washington, D.C., Semester internship. Internships are matched as closely as possible to the student’s interests and skills.

PPD 301 and the internship in a position provide numerous opportunities to develop and formulate future career goals, as well as to gain personal and professional experience while completing the undergraduate degree.

Honors

SPPD honors are available at graduation to qualified PPD majors and result in a special designation of departmental honors on a student’s transcript. Achievement of PPD honors requires a 3.7 GPA in PPD major courses and a 3.5 overall GPA as well as nomination by the professor in the capstone experience. In addition, students must earn an A in their capstone course (PPD 497ab or PPD 431).

Washington, D.C., Semester

The Washington, D.C., Semester program provides an intensive semester of confrontation with the political center of the nation and its complex components. The program offers opportunities for behind-the-scenes work in national government agencies and related organizations, combined with an academic environment and the chance to explore, share and learn with a group of fellow students.