Bachelor of Science in Public Policy

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Creating Policy, Creating Change
Policy makers are the kind of people who believe that change doesn’t happen by chance. They are elected officials, lobbyists, analysts, or other policy makers who work hard with and in government, business, and non-profit organizations to create public policies that promote the public interest. At Southeastern, you’ll learn to apply Biblical principles and a Judeo-Christian worldview to the development of public policies.

As a Christian, you can incorporate the needs of people into public policies that range from immigration to education. In health care policy, for example, you may speak out and take a position related to reform, like trying to expand coverage without substantially increasing costs. For such policy matters, Southeastern will train you to develop just and beneficial solutions for the people your policies affect. You’ll enter the public, private, or non-profit sphere with a compassionate heart—as concerned about the welfare of individuals, as you are about budgets and bottom lines.

A Christ-Centered Foundation
Southeastern’s public policy program begins with our Christ-centered liberal arts (general education) core curriculum, where you develop an understanding and appreciation of God and His creation, human creativity and reason, and our place of responsibility as stewards in the world God made. As you forge links between what you’ve learned in the core and the more specialized courses in your major, our hope is that you also begin to apply knowledge and faith to addressing the challenging public issues facing our world today.

As a public policy major, you will learn how to work within bureaucratic organizations to create and analyze policy, explore the effects of economics and law on policy, and integrate a genuine compassion for people into the fiscal and intellectual arenas that shape public policy.

Classes in economics, criminal justice, public policy, public administration, and methods (where you’ll learn how to evaluate and critique public issues) will demonstrate how dollars and cents, political organizations, the court system, and, of course, politics influences the formation of policy making. Through studies in government, the U.S. Constitution, and American history, you’ll be exposed to the legislative process and the original intent of the Constitution, as well as the roles of the presidency, bureaucracy, and court system. Before you graduate, you’ll gain hands-on experience with an organization active in public policy. Through an internship, you will work alongside local, state, or national policy makers.

What's Next?
A degree in public policy will equip you to work not only in government or lobbying groups, but also in research organizations, such as think tanks. You will be prepared to work as a key staffer for national, state, or local elected officials in the executive and legislative branches of government. You may even want to be an elected official yourself, and learn how to formulate sound public policy. In addition to being able to serve in government, as a public policy major you’ll be equipped to work as a research assistant or analyst at a think tank or public policy center. Our graduates also gain the tools to serve as leaders in these organizations, inspiring like-minded policy makers to influence the way the nation works. Public policy majors also can pursue graduate study in public policy, public administration, or law.

Catalog Description and Course Requirements