| Anchor | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Field Description
The Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs major prepares students to analyze problems and effectively solve issues with the principle goal of enhancing all aspects of public life. It prepares students to tackle social justice issues and uplift our communities both domestically and internationally. The emphasis is on establishing a strong foundation of skills focusing on policy, advocacy, and analysis/critical thinking.
The BSPA requires 120 credits: a minimum of 30 public affairs credits and another 90 credits from the CUNY Pathways general education curriculum. In the Pathways curriculum, the college option for BSPA students is a liberal arts minor. Minors relevant to public affairs include law, environmental sustainability, information studies, and survey research. BSPA students are not eligible to double major, but can obtain a double minor.
Public affairs courses are offered both in-person, on-line, and hybrid. Classes are small with 20-25 students. The professors are accomplished scholars with Ph.D. degrees from major universities or lecturers with current and previous positions as top policy leaders. The curriculum examines how public and nonprofit organizations are involved in the policy process. Civic engagement skills are developed in economic and financial analysis, political negotiations, qualitative and quantitative methods, and rhetoric. Policy areas of interest include the arts, community development, education, the environment, health care, housing, immigration, and social welfare.
BSPA Internships: In addition to the curriculum, BSPA students apply their knowledge through experiential learning. Several credit-bearing internship courses are offered that allow students to become immersed in real-world opportunities that create building blocks to the careers they are seeking. Students have the opportunity to work at the local, state, and national levels, as well as, within a myriad of nonprofit organizations. Review the Marxe School of Public and International Affairs internships for more information.
To gain more information about the Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs Program, contact Melissa Sultana, Deputy Director of Academic Program at Melissa.Sultana@baruch.cuny.edu or visit a member of the BSPA Team from 10:00am to 5:00pm weekdays at 135 E. 22nd Street, 4th floor (no appointment necessary).
BSPA Major Requirements:
- The BSPA requires 120 credits.
- The completion of 45 credits and a cumulative GPA of 2.25 or greater is necessary to become a BSPA student.
- A minimum of 30 credits are from the public affairs core and elective curriculum below (each course is 3 credits unless specified).
- The degree requires the satisfaction of the CUNY Pathways curriculum as designated by Baruch College.
- A minimum of 57 credits must be designated as liberal arts (several BSPA courses satisfy the liberal arts credit requirement).
- Pre-Calculus must be completed to satisfy the "Mathematical and Quantitative Reasoning" requirement of the Pathways Required Core as a STEM Variant.
- PAF 1250 or POL 1101 must be completed in the CUNY Pathways Flexible Core or as liberal arts electives.
- ENG 2150 is a prerequisite for most PAF courses; ECO 1001 is a prerequisite for PAF 3102; PSY 2100 or STAT 2000 is a prerequisite for PAF 3401.
Upon graduation, students within the Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs degree program at Marxe are expected to obtain knowledge and demonstrate skills associated with the following Program Learning Goals approved by the faculty.
Note: These goals are taught at varied levels within the core courses and will be addressed in further detailed throughout the program.
Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs GOALS | Goals Mapped to Core Curriculum |
1. Articulate how public policy is formulated, implemented, and evaluated.
| PAF 3010 Policy and Politics (prerequisite: ENG 2150) PAF 3102 Economic Analysis of Public Policy (prerequisites: ENG 2150 and ECO 1001) PAF 4401 Capstone (prerequisite: 18 PAF credits) |
2. Write documents that articulate purpose, utilize evidence, and demonstrate an understanding of audience. | PAF 3010 Policy and Politics (prerequisite: ENG 2150) PAF 3015Qualitative Studies of Communities PAF 3102 Economic Analysis of Public Policy (prerequisites: ENG 2150 and ECO 1001) PAF 3108 Public Campaigns and Advocacy PAF 4401 Capstone (prerequisite: 18 PAF credits) |
3. Produce oral presentations that articulate purpose, utilize evidence, and demonstrate an understanding of audience.
| PAF 3108 Public Campaigns and Advocacy PAF 4401 Capstone (prerequisite: 18 PAF credits) |
4. Analyze data and draw valid conclusions based on the findings.
| PAF 3015Qualitative Studies of Communities PAF 3401 Quantitative Methods for Policy and Practice (prerequisites: ENG 2150 and STA 2100) PAF 4401 Capstone (prerequisite: 18 PAF credits) |
5. Apply research findings to public policy questions or decision making situations. | PAF 3015Qualitative Studies of Communities PAF 3401 Quantitative Methods for Policy and Practice (prerequisites: ENG 2150 and STA 2100) PAF 4401 Capstone (prerequisite: 18 PAF credits) |
6. Demonstrate an understanding of pertinent values, such as diversity, integrity, ethical conduct, and professionalism; and articulate how they can impact public policy and decision making situations. | PAF 3010 Policy and Politics (prerequisite: ENG 2150) PAF 3015Qualitative Studies of Communities PAF 3108 Public Campaign and Advocacy PAF 4401 Capstone (prerequisite: 18 PAF credits) |
| Top |
|---|
| Anchor | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
The Major
Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs
| Core Courses (18 Credits) | ||||
| Policy and Politics | 3 credits | ||
| Qualitative Studies of Communities | 3 credits | ||
| Economic Analysis of Public Policy | 3 credits | ||
| Public Campaigns and Advocacy | 3 credits | ||
| Quantitative Methods for Policy & Practice | 3 credits | ||
| Capstone | 3 credits | ||
Elective Courses: (12 credits; select four) | ||||
| Public Service in New York City | 3 credits | ||
| Ethics and Civic Engagement | 3 credits | ||
| Information and Society | 3 credits | ||
| Nonprofit Administration | 3 credits | ||
| Economics of the Public Sector | 3 credits | ||
| Principles of Survey Research | 3 credits | ||
| Public Opinion | 3 credits | ||
| Public Communication and Organizations | 3 credits | ||
| Models of Service Delivery | 3 credits | ||
| Building Cities: Markets and Government | 3 credits | ||
| Housing and Community Development | 3 credits | ||
| Policy Analysis | 3 credits | ||
| Advanced Statistical Analysis | 3 credits | ||
| Cities and Sustainability | 3 credits | ||
| Arts and Public Life | 3 credits | ||
| Selected Topics | 3 credits | ||
| Independent Study | 3 credits | ||
| New York State Legislature Internship | 15 credits | ||
| Public Affairs Internship | 3 credits | ||
| Top |
|---|
| Anchor | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
The Minor
Liberal Arts Minor in Survey Research
The Marxe School of Public and International Affairs offers a liberal arts minor in Survey Research. The minor is designed to provide undergraduate students from many disciplines with a basic introduction to survey research as a mode of inquiry, a rigorous data-gathering process, a way of understanding mass opinion and its uses in a democracy, and the foundation of the research databases that inform other social science disciplines. Students will learn about the history and uses of surveys, study sound survey design, and design and implement their own survey.
| The 9-credit minor includes two required courses: | ||||
| Principles of Survey Research | 3 credits | ||
| Survey Research Practicum | 3 credits | ||
The third course may be drawn from any of the following: | ||||
| Qualitative Studies of Communities | 3 credits | ||
| Public Opinion, Policy, and Management | 3 credits | ||
| Quantitative Methods for Policy and Practice | 3 credits | ||
| Marketing Research | 3 credits | ||
| Political Opinion | 3 credits | ||
| Social Psychology | 3 credits | ||
| Research Methods in Sociology and Anthropology | 3 credits | ||
| Social Statistics | 3 credits | ||
| Top |
|---|
| Anchor | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Courses
| Anchor | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Courses in Public Affairs (PAF)
| Citizenship and Public Affairs | 3 credits | ||
| Public Service in New York City | 3 credits | ||
| Policy and Politics | 3 credits | ||
| Qualitative Studies of Communities | 3 credits | ||
| Ethics and Civic Engagement | 3 credits | ||
| Information and Society | 3 credits | ||
| Nonprofit Administration | 3 credits | ||
| Economic Analysis of Public Policy | 3 credits | ||
| Economics of the Public Sector | 3 credits | ||
| Principles of Survey Research | 3 credits | ||
| Public Opinion Polling | 3 credits | ||
| Public Campaigns and Advocacy | 3 credits | ||
| Public Communication and Organizations | 3 credits | ||
| Models of Service Delivery | 3 credits | ||
| Building Cities: Markets and Government | 3 credits | ||
| Housing and Community Development Policy | 3 credits | ||
| Quantitative Methods for Policy and Practice | 3 credits | ||
| Policy Analysis | 3 credits | ||
| Advanced Quantitative Analysis | 3 credits | ||
| Cities and Sustainability | 3 credits | ||
| Advanced Statistical Analysis for Public Policy and Management | 3 credits | ||
| Reforming Education | 3 credits | ||
| Arts and Public Life | 3 credits | ||
| Selected Topics | 3 credits | ||
| Hon Spec Top in PAF | 3 credits | ||
| Capstone | 3 credits | ||
| Survey Research Practicum | 3 credits | ||
| Independent Study | Hours and credits to be arranged | ||
| New York State Legislature Internship | Hours to be Arranged; 15 credits | ||
| Public Affairs Internship | Hours to be Arranged; 3 credits | ||
| Hon Thesis | 3 credits | ||
| Hon Thesis | 3 credits |
| Top |
|---|