PDF reflects print Undergraduate Degrees
Bachelor of Science in Public Policy, Management and Planning
The Bachelor of Science in Public Policy, Management and Planning provides a broad interdisciplinary and preprofessional education for students interested in the analysis of and solutions to society's contemporary political, social and economic problems. It includes a set of core courses designed to introduce students to:
- The fields of public policy, public management, health, urban planning and real estate development.
- Analytic and research tools, including economics for public policy and planning, public policy and planning analysis, statistics, urban design and applied field research.
- Key foundational themes cutting across the fields including: the role of citizenship; issues in public ethics; the relationship between government, business and the nonprofit sector; the role of urban place; and strategies of urban problem solving.
- Professional careers and roles through an internship.
Students have the opportunity to pursue greater specialization and depth by completing five courses in one of five tracks that represent the academic strengths of the School of Policy, Planning, and Development, including:
- public policy areas and issues
- public management
- health policy and management
- urban planning
- real estate development
Students are able to complete their study of policy, management and planning while having sufficient opportunity through electives to pursue other interests, including a minor, a second bachelor's degree or further specialization in their major.
Students with an overall GPA of 3.0 and a major GPA of 3.5 by the end of the junior year are eligible to enroll in a senior honors seminar.
Careers in Public Policy, Management and Planning
Graduates receive preparation for a variety of entry level professional positions in the public sector, in not-for-profit agencies and for-profit companies involved with public policy concerns or urban planning and development. Graduates are also prepared for law school and related careers in law, as well as for graduate work in such fields as policy analysis, business and public administration, urban planning, real estate development, health services administration, gerontology and social work.
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.
Pre-major Requirements (12 units)
Math/Computer Languages
MATH 108 or MATH 116 or higher (4)
Economics
ECON 203 Microeconomics (4) and ECON 205 Macroeconomics (4)General Electives (34 units*)
Public Policy, Management and Planning Core Courses
| core Courses (30 units) | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| PPD 225 | Public Policy and Management (gateway course) | 4 |
| PPD 227 | Urban Planning and Development (gateway course) | 4 |
| PPD 240 | Citizenship and Public Ethics | 4 |
| PPD 245 | The Urban Context for Policy and Planning | 4 |
| PPD 357 | Government and Business | 4 |
| PPD 401 | Public Policy, Management and Planning Practices: Internship Seminar | 2 |
| PPD 404x | Statistics for Policy, Planning and Development | 4 |
| PPD 473 | Public Policy and Planning Analysis | 4 |
Tracks
Students select one track for degree emphasis; they take 20 units* (five courses) from the track selected.| Public Policy Areas and Issues | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| PPD 313 | Finance of the Public Sector | 4 |
| PPD 342 | Crime and Public Policy | 4 |
| PPD 343 | Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Public Policy | 4 |
| PPD 350 | Urban Institutions and Policies | 4 |
| PPD 352 | Los Angeles Mini Semester | 4 |
| PPD 360 | Urban Transportation Planning and Policy | 4 |
| PPD 371 | The Nonprofit Sector and the Public Interest | 4 |
| PPD 372 | Public Service in an Urban Setting | 4 |
| PPD 382 | International Development | 4 |
| PPD 439 | Housing and Community Development | 4 |
| PPD 461 | Sustainability Planning | 4 |
| PPD 476 | Politics and Administration | 4 |
| PPD 485 | U.S. Immigration Policy | 4 |
| PUBLIC MANAGEMENT | UNITS | |
|---|---|---|
| Students take required course plus four electives (20 units) | ||
Required course: | ||
| PPD 402 | Management of Public and Nonprofit Organizations | 4 |
Electives (choose four): | ||
| PPD 313 | Finance of the Public Sector | 4 |
| PPD 316 | Human Resource Management for Public Organizations | 4 |
| PPD 318 | Financial Accounting in Public and Nonprofit Organizations | 4 |
| PPD 320 | Organizational Behavior in Public Administration | 4 |
| PPD 343 | Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Public Policy | 4 |
| PPD 382 | International Development | 4 |
| PPD 403 | Management Analysis | 4 |
| PPD 407 | Financial Management of Public and Nonprofit Organizations | 4 |
| PPD 409 | Training and the Applied Behavioral Science | 4 |
| PPD 476 | Politics and Administration | 4 |
| Health Policy and Management | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| PPD 230 | Introduction to Health Policy and Management | 4 |
| PPD 318 | Financial Accounting in Public and Nonprofit Organizations | 4 |
| PPD 330 | Introduction to Health Care Systems | 4 |
| PPD 407 | Financial Management of Public and Nonprofit Organizations | 4 |
| PPD 413 | Administration of Health Care Organizations | 4 |
| Urban Planning | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| Required courses: | ||
| PPD 306 | Visual Methods in Policy, Management, Planning, and Development | 4 |
| PPD 358 | Urban and Regional Economics | 4 |
| PPD 417 | History of Planning and Development | 4 |
| PPD 461 | Sustainability Planning | 4 |
Electives (select one): | ||
| PPD 343 | Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Public Policy | 4 |
| PPD 360 | Urban Transportation Planning and Policy | 4 |
| PPD 362 | Real Estate Fundamentals for Planning and Development | 4 |
| PPD 382 | International Development | 4 |
| PPD 425 | Designing Livable Communities | 4 |
| PPD 435 | Analyzing Real Estate Markets for Planning and Development | 4 |
| PPD 439 | Housing and Community Development | 4 |
| Real estate development | units | |
|---|---|---|
| Required courses: | ||
| PPD 362 | Real Estate Fundamentals for Planning and Development | 4 |
| PPD 417 | History of Planning and Development | 4 |
| PPD 435 | Analyzing Real Estate Markets for Planning and Development | 4 |
| PPD 437 | Advanced Finance and Investment for Planning and Development | 4 |
Electives (select one): | ||
| CE 460* | Construction Engineering | 3 |
| FBE 427 | Real Estate Law | 4 |
| PPD 358 | Urban and Regional Economics | 4 |
| PPD 425 | Designing Livable Communities | 4 |
| PPD 431L | Design and Development Laboratory | 4 |
| PPD 439 | Housing and Community Development | 4 |
| PPD 461 | Sustainability Planning | 4 |
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.
PPD 498 Senior Honors Seminar (4 units) may substitute for a track course.
Students taking the Washington semester may fulfill their internship requirements in lieu of PPD 401 and 8 units of their track requirement.
Internships
Public Policy, Management and Planning majors are required to complete at least one internship by enrolling in PPD 401 Public Policy, Management and Planning 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 401 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.
Semester Programs
The 8-unit and 16-unit semester programs allow the student to benefit from both traditional and experiential learning modes and to become involved in a particular area of professional activity.
Los Angeles Mini Semester
The Los Angeles Mini Semester program provides opportunities to study and experience metropolitan Los Angeles, its many diverse communities, and its centers of power, influence and tradition.The Los Angeles Mini Semester is offered as an 8-unit program and consists of the urban foundation and the seminar.
The urban foundation provides an orientation to the study of urban affairs and serves as a conceptual framework for all other Los Angeles Mini Semester activities. Students may fulfill the university diversity requirement by completing the urban foundation.
The seminar offers an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at a specific urban issue. Typical seminar topics are housing, transportation, health care, education, or a particular neighborhood in Los Angeles.
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.