Oct 15, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Interdisciplinary Studies - Public Policy B.A.


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Interdisciplinary Studies recognize that academic disciplines do not exist in a vacuum, that to fully understand a subject one must move beyond the silos of the individual disciplines and integrate the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that are to be found in related, complementary academic subjects. Thus the student will study at least two different subjects in the Interdisciplinary program, looking for connections between them.

About the Concentration

Public Policy spans a variety of different disciplines, connecting any discipline’s focus with the laws, policies and institutional framework surrounding that particular focus. Someone entering the world of policy benefits from a broad knowledge of policy issues, and specific information about how agencies operate.

Building on a core set of courses on public policy, policy analysis and statistical methods, students branch out into areas directly connected to their policy interest ranging from globalization, health care, education, gender and development, human rights, climate change, environmental policy in general, and beyond.   Besides connecting with disciplines across campus, some courses taught online at other U Maine schools connect well with the program, especially concerning local government and public administration.

UMF is committed to experiential learning, and our goal is to have practical real-world experiences to help the transition from college to the working world.  While many students will go into policy related fields in state, local or national government, policy knowledge is also important for business and prepares one well for continued academic study, especially in fields such as law.

Major requirements Total 30 credits


Electives from a list of qualifying courses 18 credits*


Each of these electives will include significant content related to public policy. Students must select courses from at least two disciplines.

Other Requirements


General Education Requirements


For specific information about general education requirements and expectations, see the General Education Requirements in the Academic Programs section of this catalog.

Minimum Total Credits for The Degree: 120


Learning Goals


Students will demonstrate the following skills and knowledge:

  1.  An ability to communicate by writing and speech important information such as policy analysis, comparison of alternative courses of action, and recommendations;

  2. Understanding of the cultural, social and governmental framework of policy making;

  3. Practical connections outside the university to better understand the real world dilemmas and challenges of policy making;

  4. Ability to link diverse ideas and subjects, developing a problem-solving approach to issues;

  5. Understanding the human meaning of policy choices, infusing policy analysis with empathy and the understanding of the social and psychological impact of policy

Assessment Criteria


Students will be assessed on the basis of how they:

  1.  Complete various assignments showing understanding of a variety of public policy issues, and methods to address them;

  2. Students will identify, understand and critique policy and academic literature related to the issues they focus upon;

  3. Students will develop the capacity for policy analysis, looking at measures of efficacy, efficiency and unintended consequences;

  4. Students will engage in individual research and show the capacity to construct a research program and develop methods of measurement and analysis;

  5. Students will demonstrate effective public speaking and writing

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