Minor in Politics and Public Policy
Rooted in the discipline of political science, the minor in Politics and Public Policy investigates US public policy issues and other matters of domestic politics while providing students hands-on and practical learning experiences. Students pursuing the Politics and Public Policy minor must participate in the Carnegie Mellon University Washington Semester Program for one semester during their undergraduate experience.
Curriculum
Core Seminars
Students must take the following two courses while participating in the CMU/WSP (24 units):
| 84-360 | CMU/WSP Internship Seminar (12 units) |
| 84-450 | Policy Seminar (12 units) |
Elective Seminars
Students must take 24 units from the below list of elective seminars offered in the CMU/WSP. Offerings vary by semester (24 units):
| 84-330 | The Shading of Democracy: The Influence of Race on American Politics |
| 84-331 | Money, Media, and the Power of Data in Decisionmaking |
| 84-332 | Effects of US Policy on Businesses: Perspectives of Asian Americans |
| 84-333 | Power and Levers for Change in Washington, DC |
| 84-334 | Presidential Power in a Constitutional System |
| 84-335 | Intelligence and Policy |
| 84-336 | Implementing Public Policy: From Good Idea to Reality |
| 84-337 | Biomedical Science Research, Policy, and Governance |
| 84-338 | Media and Politics: Political News Coverage in the Era of Trump, Twitter, and "Fake News" |
| 84-339 | Seminar in Public Policy Research |
| 84-340 | Making Change: How Organized Interests Work in Washington |
| 84-343 | Language and Power: How to Understand and Use Political Speech |
| 84-346 | Legal Issues in Public Administration |
| 84-348 | Advocacy, Policy, and Practice |
Foundational Course
Students select one course from the following list of courses offered at Carnegie Mellon University’s Pittsburgh or Qatar campus. Students may take this course before or after participating in the CMU/WSP (9 units):
| 84-104 | Decision Processes in American Political Institutions |
| 84-275 | Comparative Politics |
| 84-326 | Theories of International Relations |
Economics Requirement
Students must complete one of the following courses. Students may take this course before or after participating in the CMU/WSP. Excluded from all double-counting rules.
| 84-110 | Foundations of Political Economy |
| 73-102 | Principles of Microeconomics |
| 73-103 | Principles of Macroeconomics |