Field Description
The Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs focuses on the advocacy and analysis of public policy. It is designed for those seeking to have a positive impact on society. Students learn to formulate, implement, and evaluate creative solutions to challenging global, national, state, and local problems. The coursework examines how public and nonprofit organizations are involved in the policy process. Civic engagement skills are developed in economic and financial analysis, political negotiation, qualitative and quantitative methods, and rhetoric. Policy areas of interest include community development, education, the environment, healthcare, housing, and social welfare. The degree prepares students for employment in government, political campaigns, and the growing social activism of the nonprofit sector. An excellent foundation is provided for graduate-level education in communications, law, management, public administration, public policy, and urban planning.
The Major
Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs
| Core Courses (18 Credits) | ||
| PAF 3010 | Policy and Politics | 3 credits |
| PAF 3015 | Qualitative Studies of Communities | 3 credits |
| PAF 3102 | Economic Analysis of Public Policy | 3 credits |
| PAF 3108 | Public Campaigns and Advocacy | 3 credits |
|
PAF 3401
| Quantitative Methods for Policy & Practice | 3 credits |
| PAF 4401 | Capstone | 3 credits |
Elective Courses: (12 credits; select four) | ||
| PAF 3005 | Public Service in New York City | 3 credits |
| PAF 3020 | Ethics and Civic Engagement | 3 credits |
| PAF 3040 | Information and Society | 3 credits |
| Nonprofit Administration | 3 credits | |
| PAF 3103 | Economics of the Public Sector | 3 credits |
| PAF 3105 | Principles of Survey Research | 3 credits |
| PAF 3106 | Public Opinion | 3 credits |
| PAF 3201 | Public Communication and Organizations | 3 credits |
| PAF 3301 | Models of Service Delivery | 3 credits |
| PAF 3342 | Cities and Sustainability | 3 credits |
| PAF 3343 | Building Cities: Markets and Government | 3 credits |
| PAF 3375 | Housing and Community Development | 3 credits |
| PAF 3402 | Policy Analysis | 3 credits |
| PAF 3403 | Advanced Statistical Analysis | 3 credits |
| PAF 3442 | Cities and Sustainability | 3 credits |
| Arts and Public Life | 3 credits | |
| PAF 4199 | Selected Topics | 3 credits |
| PAF 5000 | Independent Study | 3 credits |
| PAF 5001 | New York State Legislature Internship | 15 credits |
| PAF 5452 | Public Affairs Internship | 3 credits |
The Minor
The School of Public Affairs offers a Tier III 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 datagathering 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: | ||
| PAF 3105 | Principles of Survey Research | 3 credits |
| PAF 4402 | Survey Research Practicum | 3 credits |
The third course may be drawn from any of the following: | ||
| PAF 3015 | Qualitative Studies of Communities | 3 credits |
| PAF 3106 | Public Opinion, Policy, and Management | 3 credits |
| PAF 3401 | Quantitative Methods for Policy and Practice | 3 credits |
| MKT 3600 | Marketing Research | 3 credits |
| POL 3310 | Political Opinion | 3 credits |
| PSY 3056 | Social Psychology | 3 credits |
| SOC 4110 | Research Methods in Sociology and Anthropology | 3 credits |
| or | ||
| SOC 4111 | Social Statistics | 3 credits |
Courses
Courses in Public Affairs (PAF)
Citizenship and Public Affairs | 3 hours, 3 credits | |
Public Service in New York City | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
Policy and Politics | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
Qualitative Studies of Communities | 3 hours, 3 credits | |
Ethics and Civic Engagement | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
Information and Society | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
| Nonprofit Administration | 3 hours; 3 credits |
Economic Analysis of Public Policy | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
Economics of the Public Sector | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
Principles of Survey Research | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
Public Opinion Polling | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
Public Campaigns and Advocacy | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
Public Communication and Organizations | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
Models of Service Delivery | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
Building Cities: Markets and Government | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
Housing and Community Development Policy | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
Quantitative Methods for Policy and Practice | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
Policy Analysis | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
Advanced Quantitative Analysis | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
Cities and Sustainability | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
Advanced Statistical Analysis for Public Policy and Management | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
Reforming Education | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
Arts and Public Life | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
Selected Topics | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
Capstone | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
Survey Research Practicum | 3 hours; 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 Spec Top in PAF | 3 hours; 3 credits | |
Hon Thesis | 3.0 Credit 3.0 Hours | |
Hon Thesis | 3.0 Credit 3.0 Hours |