Public Policy Analytics Minor
The Howard H. Baker Jr. School of Public Policy and Public Affairs offers a minor in public policy analytics that is open to students pursuing any major. The minor is intended to provide skills in employing advanced analytical methods that have become critical to the design, implementation and evaluation of public policy on the part of government agencies, nonprofits, think tanks and academicians. Students are exposed to the foundations of public policy and the policy-making process, analytical tools from economics and political science, quantitative methods and program evaluation techniques, subject matter from a selected public policy field and development of a portfolio that requires hands-on applications in conducting public policy research.
Requirements
Students must successfully complete the following 18 hours of requirements:
- ECON 311 – Intermediate Microeconomics (3 credit hours)
- **BCPP 480 – Policy Process and Program Evaluation (3 credit hours)
- BCPP 481 – Advanced Policy Process and Program Evaluation (3 credit hours)
- One of the following courses (3 credit hours):
- ECON 381 – Introduction to Econometrics (3 credit hours)
- BAS 320 – Regression Modeling (3 credit hours)
- POLS 301 – Research Methods (3 credit hours)
Students must additionally take 2 courses in one of the following tracks from the approved list (or customize your own):
- Economic and Community Development
- Energy, Mobility, and Environment
- Global Security and Foreign Affairs
- Tools for Policy Analysis
**Prior to enrolling in BCPP 480, students must complete the following courses (12-13 credit hours):
- One of the following courses:
- BCPP 101 – Introduction to Public Policy (3 credit hours)
- POLS 240 – Introduction to Public Administration and Public Policy (3 credit hours)
- POLS 311 – Contemporary Issues in American Public Policy (3 credit hours)
- One of the following courses:
- CMST 210 – Public Speaking (3 credit hours)
- CMST 217 – Honors: Public Speaking (3 credit hours)
- CMST 240 – Business & Professional Communications (3 credit hours)
- CMST 247 – Honors: Business & Professional Communications (3 credit hours)
- One of the following courses:
- STAT 201 – Introduction to Statistics (3 credit hours)
- STAT 207 – Honors: Introduction to Statistics (3 credit hours)
- On of the following courses:
- ECON 201 – Introductory Economics: A Survey Course (4 credit hours)
- ECON 207 – Honors: Introductory Economics (4 credit hours)
- ECON 211 – Principles of Microeconomics (3 credit hours)
Admissions Process
Admission occurs on a rolling basis. Typically, students add the minor as Sophomores after exploring their academic interests, but students at all levels are encouraged to consider whether the minor fits with their career goals and academic plans. Students who want to learn more or wish to be considered for admission should start by filling out the interest form. We will reach out to set up an initial meeting and share application instructions.
Please be sure to communicate your interest with your assigned academic advisor before completing the interest form. Students are required to meet with their minor advisor upon admission to the minor.
