Bachelor of Science in Public Policy, Management and Planning

Degree Program

The Bachelor of Science in Public Policy, Management and Planning is offered jointly by the School of Public Administration and the School of Urban Planning and Development. The degree is designed to offer a solid introduction to the issues and institutions of public policy, management and planning. The program includes a foundation in general education; a core curriculum in public policy, management and planning; the opportunity for first-hand experience in the planning, policy or management process through a semester-long internship; and a series of elective courses in the area of planning and management.

The Bachelor of Science in Public Policy, Management and Planning builds from a base which includes general education, pre-major requirements and general electives. Also, the student must complete 54 units in the major.

Degree Requirements

General Education Requirements (32 units)

As of fall 1997, the university has instituted a new general education program, designed to be a simpler, more coherent and more integrated introduction to the breadth of knowledge outside the major discipline which is expected of every undergraduate who receives a degree from USC. This new program requires six courses in different categories, plus writing and diversity requirements, which are described in detail here.

All students who (1) enter the School of Public Administration as freshmen in the summer of 1997 or later; or (2) begin college elsewhere in the summer of 1997 or later; or (3) began college earlier but transfer to USC in the summer of 2000 or later, must satisfy the requirements of the new general education program. Other students whose schedules permit are encouraged to follow the new program as well. However, continuing and transfer students in the fall of 1997 may elect to satisfy a "transitional" plan instead.

Math/Computer Languages - MATH 108 or MATH 116 or higher and ITP 101 or higher (8 units)

Transnational Studies Select one of the following

a. Foreign Language - demonstrated competency through third semester of foreign language, or
b. Semester Abroad - equivalent of 8 semester units, or
c. Two courses (8 units) from Transnational Electives list

Transnational Electives		Units
ECON 350	The World Economy	4
GEOG 320	Geopolitics	4
IR 101x	Introduction to International Relations	4
IR 306	International Organizations	4
IR 307	Contemporary International Politics	4
IR 330	Politics of the World Economy	4
LING 115	Language, Society, and Culture	4
PLDV 250	Third World Cities	4
PPMT 482	Comparative Public Administration	4

Pre-Major Requirements

Pre-Major Courses (16 units)		Units
ECON 203	Principles of Microeconomics	4
ECON 205	Principles of Macroeconomics	4
SOCI 200	Introduction to Sociology, or
SOCI 342	Race Relations	4
POSC 100	Theory and Practice of American Democracy, or
POSC 300	Principles, Institutions, and Great Issues of American Democracy	4

General Electives (14 units)
Public Policy, Management and Planning Core Courses

Core Courses (34 units)		Units
PLDV 355	Introduction to Urban and Regional Planning	4
PLDV 361	Property Rights, Governance and the Environment	4
PLDV 404	Statistics for Planning and Development	4
PPMT 215	Public Organizations and Management	4
PPMT 225	Public Policy Processes and Institutions	4
PPMT 240	Citizenship and Public Ethics	4
PPMT 357	Government and Business	4
PPMT 401	Public Policy and Management Issues and Practices (Internship)	2
PPMT 473	Public Policy Analysis	4

Public Policy and Management Electives

A total of 4 units, selected from the following:		Units
PPMT 313	Administration of Financial Resources	4
PPMT 316	Administration of Personnel Resources	4
PPMT 403	Management Analysis I	4
PPMT 485	Organizational Behavior in Public Administration	4
PPMT 486	Politics and Administration, or
PPMT 410c	Washington, D.C., Semester	4

Planning Electives

A total of 16 units, selected from the following:		Units
History and Design
PLDV 410	Graphic Techniques in Urban Planning	4
PLDV 414	Introduction to Physical-Spatial Design	4
PLDV 426	History and Development of Cities	4
PLDV 475L	Design and Development Laboratory	4
PLDV 490x	Directed Research	4
PLDV 499	Special Topics	4
Policy and Analysis
PLDV 401	Political Foundations for Planning and Development	4
PLDV 402	Economic Foundations for Planning and Development	4
PLDV 455	Analysis for Planning and Development	4
PLDV 474	Urban Diversity and Communication	4
PLDV 490x	Directed Research	4
PLDV 499	Special Topics	4
Urban Planning
PLDV 440	Housing and Community Development	4
PLDV 452	Planning, Policy-Making, and Social Change	4
PLDV 461	Environmental Issues	4
PLDV 480	Introduction to Urban Transportation	4
PLDV 486	Los Angeles: The City, The Novel, The Movie	2
PLDV 490x	Directed Research	4
PLDV 499	Special Topics	4

Minor in Public Management

The minor in public management has several goals: to introduce the student to the public sector and its relationship to other institutions of society; to provide a representative sample of courses in the field of public management for students majoring in another subject but considering a career in the public or nonprofit sectors; and to help students become more active, involved and understanding citizens.

Required courses		Units
PPMT 215	Public Organizations and Management	4
PPMT 316	Administration of Personnel Resources	4
PPMT 351	Financial Accounting in Public and Nonprofit Organizations	4
PPMT 414	Financial Management of Public and Nonprofit Organizations	4
PPMT 485	Organizational Behavior in Public Administration	4
PPMT 486	Politics and Administration	4

Minor in Public Policy

This minor prepares the student to understand the context, theory, formulation, analysis and implementation of public policy and complements majors in fields such as sociology, economics, political science and history and gerontology.

Required courses		Units
PPMT 215	Public Organizations and Management	4
PPMT 225	Public Policy Processes and Institutions	4
PPMT 357	Government and Business	4
PPMT 404	Statistics in Public Policy and Management	4
PPMT 473	Public Policy Analysis	4
PPMT 486	Politics and Administration	4

Minor in Human Resources Management

This minor provides students with the background necessary for entry level positions in human resources management.

Required courses		Units
PPMT 215	Public Organizations and Management	4
PPMT 316	Administration of Personnel Resources	4
PPMT 403	Management Analysis I	4
PPMT 416	Introduction to Personnel Technology in Public Employment	4
PPMT 417	Training and the Applied Behavioral Science	4
PPMT 485	Organizational Behavior in Public Administration	4

Minor in Health Services Administration

This minor provides the student with a background in the institutions, policy and management issues in the field of health care.

Required courses		Units
PPMT 230	Health Care and American Public Decisions	4
PPMT 330	Introduction to Health Care Systems	4
PPMT 351	Financial Accounting in Public and Nonprofit Organizations	4
PPMT 414	Financial Management of Public and Nonprofit Organizations	4
PPMT 439	Administration of Health Care Organizations	4
PPMT 485	Organizational Behavior in Public Administration	4

Internships

Public Policy and Management and Public Policy Management and Planning majors are required to complete at least one internship. Public Policy and Management majors, and other students, may participate in internships by enrolling in PPMT 401 Public Policy and Management Issues and Practices or PPMT 410b as part of the Washington, D.C., Semester. Internships are matched as closely as possible to the student's interests and skills.

PPMT 401 and PPMT 410b and the accompanying service 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 eight-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 eight-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. The urban foundation introduces participants to Los Angeles and to its metropolitan area from several perspectives: historical, political, sociological, architectural, cultural and ethnic. 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.

During the fall and spring semesters, the Washington, D.C., Semester has four components: two seminars, independent study and the internship.

The seminar serves as the focal point of the program, giving students the opportunity to integrate their experiences and learning through extensive discussions, papers and presentations. Meeting in small groups, students prepare briefings on current issues, integrate political/administrative theory and practical experience and share internship insights. Seminar participants visit the White House, the Supreme Court, Congress, many Cabinet departments, embassies and other agencies and organizations. In the seminar, students are encouraged to recognize the interrelationships among the various experiences that constitute the semester program. This integration of learning is central to the seminar. The independent study component allows students to pursue in-depth a national topic that is of particular interest. The design, research and resulting paper are done in consultation with a member of the faculty at the Washington Public Affairs Center. Students include personal interviews with decision makers in their research designs. The study culminates in a substantial written report and an oral presentation to all Washington, D.C., Semester participants.

A 10-week Summer Program in Washington, D.C., is occasionally available. This eight-unit semester is divided into two major components: an internship and a seminar on American government and politics.

Sacramento Semester

The Sacramento Semester is offered occasionally as a 16-unit program and, in the summer only, as an eight-unit program. The 16-unit program has four components - seminar, field experiences, independent study and an internship; the eight-unit program consists of the seminar and the internship.

NEXT SECTION