Academics
The Department of Public Policy Leadership (PPL) provides a challenging undergraduate major that prepares high-performing students for positions of leadership in an increasingly complex world.
The PPL Program
The interdisciplinary curriculum for the major incorporates economics, geography, history, philosophy, political science, and public administration. The program emphasizes the global nature of responsible decision making, the ethical imperatives of leadership, critical thinking, communication skills, and the conceptual and methodological skills necessary for careful policy analysis.
The Public Policy Leadership (PPL) Department offers a B.A. degree in Public Policy Leadership.
Students learn to:
- Develop effective thinking, communication, and interpersonal skills
- Recognize the importance and demands of ethics, diversity, and responsible leadership
- Understand policy-making – from local to global
- Acquire skills in policy analysis
- Deepen knowledge of particular policy areas, such as economics or public policy administration
Our faculty are not only academic experts; many also have professional experience outside academia.
Application Process
Students must be admitted to the Trent Lott Leadership Institute in order to enroll in the Public Policy Leadership degree. Incoming freshman apply through the UM Special Programs and Scholarship Application. The deadline for application to the program is January 10. Entry to the program is competitive and course requirements are rigorous. We seek students who have proven excellent in both academics and public or community service. Prospective students fill out two applications: first to the university and second to the Trent Lott Leadership Institute, which makes final admission decisions.
Scholarships
All students admitted to the Public Policy Leadership program and possessing exceptional leadership and academic records, are under scholarship consideration.
Featured Courses
Foundations of Public Policy Leadership
This foundational course introduces the U.S. policy process and decision-making, teaching students practical skills in policy design and analysis while enhancing their critical thinking and communication abilities to tackle complex policy issues.
- PPL 101
Leadership in Public Policy Setting
This course covers leadership fundamentals, from developing traits and skills to applying them in diverse settings, and provides tools for self-assessment, emotional intelligence, and conflict management to prepare students for various leadership roles.
- PPL 373
Education Policy
This course examines the key debates, causes, and solutions for challenges in U.S. pre-K-12 education, analyzing the impact of policy, practice, and major stakeholders on the effectiveness of educational reforms.
- PPL 387