Public Affairs

Faculty
Description
Major Requirements
Minor Requirements
Program Policies
Course Descriptions

Faculty

Shelley Tomkin, Professor of Political Science (Program Chair) 
Kathleen McGinnis, Professor of Political Science 
Andrea Cristina Cunha Parsons, Assistant Professor of Economics
John Volpe, Assistant Professor of Economics

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Description

The public affairs major combines the disciplines of political science and economics in order to provide students with a solid basis for understanding and analyzing the public policy-making process in all its stages and forms. Through fundamental requirements and the flexibility of two tracks, this major allows the student to concentrate in either political or economic policy depending on her interests and needs. With coordinated and planned course selections, the student can further specialize in various institutional, topical, and substantive policy areas.

Students who successfully complete the major become well-versed in the theories, concepts, and practical procedures of the challenging world of public policy making, where women are increasingly assuming leadership roles. The major should prepare the student for effective participation in careers in the federal government, congressional offices and interest groups. It also provides an excellent background for students interested in pursuing careers in the legal profession as well as in a wide variety of graduate and professional school programs.

A major and minor in public affairs is offered in the School of Professional Studies. Majors complete a total of 39-42 credits distributed between a set of required courses (15-18 credits) and an additional 24 credits in an area of specialization in either economic policy or politics and policy. Majors are also urged to select appropriate electives in such disciplines as sociology, history, and communications. Additional work in statistics and computers is highly recommended.

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Major Requirements

Required Courses (15-18 credits)

BOTH of the following courses in political science:

POLS 103 American Political Process 
POLS 305 Public Policy

ALL of the following courses in economics: 

ECON 101 Introduction to Microeconomics
ECON 102 Introduction to Macroeconomics 
ECON 311 Microeconomic Theory (only for economic policy specialization)

ONE course in statistics:

MATH 110 Introduction to Statistics

Area of Specialization

Majors must choose to specialize either in politics and policy or in economic policy. Students are urged to make the course selections in a purposeful and coherent fashion in close consultation with the advisor and public affairs faculty. For example, students pursuing the economic policy specialization are encouraged to gain important theoretical and conceptual underpinnings by taking ECO 366 Macroeconomic Theory and ECO 369 Public Finance.

Specialization Option I: Politics and Policy (24 credits)

FIVE approved courses in political science 
TWO approved courses in economics 
ONE approved course from either list 

Specialization Option II: Economic Policy (24 credits)
 
FIVE approved courses in economics 
TWO approved courses in political science 
ONE approved course from either list

The following courses are approved for selection to fulfill the requirements for the public affairs areas. The chair of the relevant program and the chair of the Public Affairs Program must approve any course substitutions from the lists of approved courses below. 

Approved Political Science Electives 

POLS 201 Civil Rights and Liberties
POLS 211 Women and the Law
POLS 277 Personality and Political Leadership
POLS 301 Congress and Policymaking
POLS 303 American Presidency
POLS 311 Constitutional Law
POLS 313 Religion, Law, and Politics in the US
POLS 343 US Foreign Policy I
POLS 344 US Foreign Policy II
POLS 363 Field Work: Legislative Tracking
POLS 367 Field Work: Public Opinion and Polling
POLS 369 Field Work: Political Advocacy
POLS 403 Political Power: Interest Groups, Lobbying, & Public Policy
POLS 405 Seminar in Public Policy
POLS 443 Seminar on Conflict Theory and Management

Approved Economics Electives
 

ECON 223 Women in the Economy
ECON 224 Public Finance
ECON 226 Labor Economics
ECON 241 Money and Banking
ECON 253 Issues in Economic Development
ECON 312 Macroeconomic Theory 
ECON 351 International Trade
ECON 353 International Finance

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Minor Requirements

Minor Requirements (15 credits)

BOTH of the following courses in economics: 

ECON 101 Introduction to Microeconomics  
ECON 102 Introduction to Macroeconomics

BOTH of the following courses in political science:

POLS 10 3 American Political Process 
POLS 305 Public Policy 

ONE course chosen from between: 

ECON 311Microeconomic Theory 
MATH 110 Introduction to Statistics

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Program Policies

Advanced Placement and CLEP Policy:
As an interdisciplinary program, public affairs follows the policies of its disciplinary components on issues applicable to this major. Please refer to the statements of the appropriate program for policies on advanced placement, TELL, and CLEP in the major or minor. 

Grades in Major Courses:
Students are required to earn a grade of "C" (2.0) or better in all courses counted to fulfill requirements for the major. 

Pass/No Pass:
Courses fulfilling the major requirement may not be taken pass/no pass. 

Senior Assessment:
Graduating seniors must have taken an upper level research seminar or have completed an independent written research project developed by the student under the direction of the program chair.

TELL Policy:
Students may apply no more than 12 credits from the TELL program towards a major or minor in public affairs. 

Transfer Credits:
The Public Affairs Program, as an interdisciplinary major, follows the transfer policies of the contributing disciplines for courses that will apply to this major. At least two economics courses and two political science courses that apply to this major must be taken at Trinity. Public affairs minors must take at least nine credit hours of applicable courses at Trinity. 

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Course Descriptions

Course descriptions appear with the sponsoring programs (see Economics and Political Science).

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