Georgia Institute of Technology | Ivan Allen CollegeSchool of Public Policy
Mary Frank Fox with studentsUndergraduate Studies in Public Policy






Problem-Solving for Social Change!

he Bachelor of Science in Public Policy (BSPP) provides strong analytical, communication, management, and leadership skills to students seeking careers in public service, law, and the private sector. These skills are coupled with a solid understanding of the complex political, social, and economic forces that shape public problems and their solutions.

Students develop a valuable mixture of skillsWhy Do It?




Thinking Skills: critical thinking and logic, policy arguments, knowledge integration, decision heuristics, strategic planning

Research Skills: hypothesis formulation, data collection, qualitative and statistical techniques

Communications Skills: oral, written, electronic, social networking

Analysis and Evaluation Skills: problem definition, working with clients, management of risk, outcomes projection, evaluation methods

Governing and Managing Skills: leadership, ethical, organizational, and political skills, conflict management, project planning and management

In-service Training and Education: internships, undergraduate research projects, study abroad

Technical specialization: in-depth knowledge and expertise in the design and operation of complex systems, often in fields where science and technology evolve rapidly.

An important part of the undergraduate program in Public Policy is to learn how to navigate among the many disciplines that are used to shape strategic decisions. These include economics, political science, sociology, ethics, statistics, and philosophy. Knowledge and techniques from these fields are integrated in core and elective courses, culminating in a senior research project (often conducted for a public or nonprofit agency) that demonstrates students’ disciplinary and interdisciplinary agility. And many BSPP students choose to focus additional effort in the School’s pre-law or philosophy programs. In addition to the School’s academic advising structure, every student is assigned a faculty mentor who will help with course selections, internship and research opportunities, and career preparation.

Download our "Why Study Public Policy at Georgia Tech?" information sheet.

For answers to questions about studying at Georgia Tech, please visit
http://www.students.iac.gatech.edu/faq.html.