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Undergraduate Admission

Engineering and Public Policy

The kind of person who makes technology work for society will fit right in here.

Engineering and Public Policy Program
"I am so grateful for the research opportunities at CMU. From designing and building a wave tank as part of a self directed undergraduate proposal to joining with a professor to publish original work on social distancing, I have learned just as much from research as I have in the classroom."
Kelby '22

College of Engineering

Engineering and Public Policy

The Department of Engineering and Public Policy (EPP) teaches you to understand and work at the intersection of science, technology and society. Crafting effective policy in domains as diverse as climate change, misinformation, national security, artificial intelligence, disaster response, privacy and critical infrastructure requires expertise that spans technical and social science fields. As an Engineering and Public Policy student, you'll develop the skills in policy analysis, risk assessment, data science and decision-making needed to solve today’s complex problems in business, government and nonprofits across the globe. You’ll graduate prepared to be a better, more socially responsible engineer.

Engineering and Public Policy Majors, Minors and More

Choose the path that fits you best. Browse all current Engineering and Public Policy curriculums and courses.

Engineering and Public Policy

Additional Major
Integrated Master’s/Bachelor’s

When you enroll in the Engineering and Public Policy (EPP) additional major, you earn a joint degree between EPP and any of the five primary engineering departments (Chemical, Civil and Environmental, Electrical and Computer, Mechanical and Materials Science). You’ll add rigorous preparation in the analysis of social and political problems to the solid engineering curriculum of your primary major. Core course areas include economics, statistics, decision-making and communication.

Undergraduate students earning a bachelor of science at CMU — including those not taking an additional major in EPP — may plan an accelerated course of study that includes a master of science in Engineering and Public Policy. This Integrated Master's/Bachelor's program usually takes about five years total.

Science, Technology and Public Policy

Additional Major

The Engineering and Public Policy department offers an additional major in Science, Technology and Public Policy (STPP) for students who are earning a bachelor of science degree outside the College of Engineering. Project-based courses mirror problem-solving in today’s business world — you'll work with peers from across disciplines to solve challenges where society and technology meet. Core courses in economics, decision-making, communications and data analysis are augmented by electives about current day issues such as cybersecurity, human health, environmental impacts and business innovation.

Technology and Policy

Minor

Designed for non-engineering majors, the Technology and Policy minor allows you to explore how technology and policy interact. The coursework helps you grasp engineering methods and perspectives so you can apply them to societal problems that have a substantial technological component.

Information Security, Privacy and Policy

Minor

Security and privacy expertise is an asset even in careers outside of computer science, including in business, management and law. This minor is open to undergraduates across the university. Students gain a good understanding of potential security and privacy issues, including how they pertain to the design, deployment and management of technologies in real-world contexts.

Contact

Department of Engineering and Public Policy

5215 Wean Hall
Carnegie Mellon University
5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
 
 

Engineering and Public Policy Website

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Class of 2020, Six Months After Graduation

93%

Employed or in Grad School

$76,714

Average Salary

Recent Employers

Autonodyne

AVANGRID

Boeing

Microsoft

More Post-Graduation Stats

High School Course Requirements

4 years English
4 years Mathematics*
1 year Chemistry
1 year Physics
1 year Biology
2 years Foreign Language
3 electives
 

*Four years of mathematics should include at least algebra, geometry, trigonometry, analytic geometry, elementary functions (pre-calculus) and preferably calculus. Advanced mathematics courses are encouraged, especially a course in calculus.

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