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) | ||
| 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 | |
| Cities and Sustainability | 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 | |
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: | ||
| 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 | |
| or | ||
| 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 |