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)
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 new program requires six courses in different categories, plus writing and diversity requirements, which are described in detail here.
All students who (1) entered the School of Public Administration or the School of Urban Planning and Development as freshmen in the summer of 1997 or later; or (2) began 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 who began college full-time before summer 1997 and enter USC before summer 2000 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 (10 units)
Public Policy, Management and Planning Core Courses
Core Courses (34 units) Units PLDV 355 Introduction to Urban, Regional and International Planning 4 PLDV 361 Property Rights, Governance and the Environment 4 PLDV 404 Qualitative methods 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 Finanace of the Public Sector 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 Methods Courses (4 units)
One of the following coursesPLDV 315 Urban Sleuths: Exploring people and places in ciities 4 PLDV 410 Graphics Techniques in Urban Planning 4 PLDV 455 Analysis for Planning and Development 4 PLDV 474 Urban Diversity and Communication 4 Field Courses (12 units) PLDV 403 Advanced Finance and Investment for Planning and Develoopment 4 PLDV 405 Introduction to comparative International Planning and Development 4 PLDV 426 History and Development of cities 4 PLDV 440 Housing and Community Development 4 PLDV 446 Real Estate Markets 4 PLDV 447 Local Economic Development 4 Design PLDV 300 The Design of the Good : Conception and Judgement 4 PLDV 408 The Experience of Place 4 PLDV 414 Urban Design Practicum 4 PLDV 426 History and Development of Cities 4 Policy PLDV 440 Housing and Community Development 4 PLDV 452 Planning, Policy - Making, and Social Change 4 PLDV 467 Political Economy and Planning 4 PLDV 461 Environmental Issues 4 PLDV 480 Introduction of Urban Transportation 4 Interships
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.
Minor Programs
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 LAS or professional school students planning to enter management level positions.
Required courses Units PPMT 215 Public Organizations and Management 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
Public Mangement Electives Units Choose two courses from one of the following tracks : Managment PPMT 403 Management Analysis I 4 PPMT 482 Comparative Public Administration 4 PPMT 486 Politics and Administration 4 Human Resources PPMT 316 Administration of Personnel Resources 4 PPMT 417 Training and the Applied Behavioral Science 4 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 courses Units ECON 203 Principles of Mircoeconomics 4 PPMT 225 Public Policy Processes and Institutions (Gateway course) 4 PPMT 404 Statistics in Public Policy and Management (or equivalent) 4 PPMT 473* Public Policy Analysis 4
Public Policy Electives Choose Two Courses from the following Units GERO 451 Policy and Program Development in Aging 4 PLDV 440 Housing and Community Development 4 PLDV 480 Introduction to Urban Transportation 4 POSC 347 Environmental Law 4 PPMT 313** Finance and the Public Sector 4 PPMT 330 Introduction to Health Care Systems 4 PPMT 342 Crime and Public Policy 4 PPMT 350 Urban Instituitions and Policies 4 PPMT 357** Government and Business 4 PPMT 371 Nonprofit Sector and the Public Interest 4 PPMT 486 Politics and Administration 4 * Completion of the prerequisites ECON 203 and PPMT 404 is required before enrolling in PPMT 473.
** Completion of the prerequisite ECON 203 is required before enrolling in PPMT 313 or 357.
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 courses Units PPMT 230 Public Policy Processes and Institutions (Gateway course) 4 PPMT 330 Statistics in Public Policy and Management (or equivalent) 4 PPMT 439 Public Policy Analysis 4
Electives Units Choose three courses from one of the two tracks: Health Issues Track ECON 472* Economics of Medical Care 4 GERO 416 Health Issues in Aging 4 GERO 421 Managed Care for an Aging Society 4 HP 412 Health Promotion and Prevention Policy 4 HP 420 Gender and Minority Health Issues 4 HP 422 AIDS in Society 4 SOCI 475 Medical Sociology 4 Health Management Track ECON 472* Economics of Medical Care 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 *Completion of the prerequisite ECON 303 is required before enrolling in ECON 472.
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 Public Administration, 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 Public Administration (PPMT 401 Public Policy Management Issues and Practice). For additional course information, see International Relations.
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, PPMT 225 Public Policy Processes and Institutions, and one elective. The latter enables the student to focus on a specific area of law.
Required courses Units ECON 203 Principles of Micro-economics 4 LAW 200x Law and Society 4 POSC 340 Constitutional Law 4 PPMT 225 Public Policy Processes and Institutions 4 PPMT 404 Statistics for Public Policy and Management 4 PPMT 473 Public Policy Analysis 4 And one of the following: ECON 434 Economic Analysis of Law 4 POSC 345 International Law 4 POSC 347 Environmental Law 4 POSC 440 Comparative Law and the Judicial Process 4 POSC 441 Cultural Diversity and the Law 4 POSC 444 Civil and Political Rights and Liberties 4 POSC 452 Critical Issues in Law and Public Policy 4
USC Fact BookCampus MapAdmissionUSCweb
Produced by the USC Division of Student Affairs,
Office of University Publications
univpub@usc.edu