Starting in Fall 2009, the School of Public Policy within Ivan Allen College will implement a new undergraduate curriculum. The new program is designed to build professional competency among SPP graduates.

School of Public Policy Associate Professor Richard Barke explained that the new core curriculum provides more structure and stronger analytical emphases. Several previous core courses have been replaced with new courses in Political Processes, Applied Political Economy, and Policy Analysis. Students will develop breadth and depth in particular policy realms through two, three-course policy elective clusters in Energy/Environmental Policy, Science and Technology Policy, Social and Urban Policy, Philosophy, or Politics. Majors will be required to complete a policy internship. The knowledge and skills of the new curriculum will build toward a penultimate two-semester senior task force project (replacing the current one semester project) that will be developed and taught in cooperation with clients in government, business, and the not-for-profit sector.

"Enrollments in the public policy major were already growing in the past year or two," commented Barke. "We expect the new curriculum to be particularly attractive to students with an interest both practical problem-solving skills and a broad liberal arts perspective on ethical and social issues."

Several new faculty members have been hired to contribute to this new curriculum. Students currently enrolled in the degree program will have the option to graduate under the new or existing plan.