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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.

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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.

Apply to Lott/PPL

 

Scholarships

All students admitted to the Public Policy Leadership program and possessing exceptional leadership and academic records, are under scholarship consideration.

Learn more about the degree

Want specifics about the Bachelor of Arts in PPL and Minor in PPL, such as courses taught and degree requirements?

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
Course details

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
Course details

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
Course details

Degree Requirements

Students in the B.A. in Public Policy Leadership complete 33 credit hours of public policy leadership courses.
  • PPL 101: Foundations of Public Policy Leadership
  • PPL 210: Public Policy & Quantitative Analysis
  • PPL 212: Critical Thinking, Communications & Public Policy
  • PPL 300: Public Policy and Ethics
  • PPL 310: Public Policy Design and Analysis

One course in Leadership/Organization:

  • PPL 370: Philosophy of Leadership
  • PPL 371: Nonprofit Organizations
  • PPL 372: Introduction to Public Administration
  • PPL 373: Leadership in Public Policy Setting
  • PPL 374: Grant Writing for Nonprofits
  • PPL 384: Civic Engagement, Pub Policy & Dem in US
  • PPL 399: Advanced Quantitative Methods
  • PPL 491: Topics in Leadership/Organization

One course in Domestic Policies:

  • PPL 328: The Corporation and Public Policy
  • PPL 331: Political Philosophy
  • PPL 342: Philosophy & Diversity in Public Policy
  • PPL 345: Environmental Ethics
  • PPL 361: Disaster Policy
  • PPL 362: Homeland Security Policy
  • PPL 363: Early Childhood Policy in the US
  • PPL 375: Regional Economic Development
  • PPL 377: Women and Public Policy in the US
  • PPL 383: Social Policy
  • PPL 384: Civic Engagement, Pub Policy & Dem in US
  • PPL 385: Food Policy & Agriculture Systems
  • PPL 386: Science, Technology, & Public Policy
  • PPL 387: Education Policy
  • PPL 389: Policy Response to Poverty in the US
  • PPL 390: Health Policy
  • PPL 399: Advanced Quantitative Methods
  • PPL 492: Topics in Domestic Policies

One course in International Policies:

  • PPL 320: Issues in Global Economics
  • PPL 329: Economic Geographies of Globalization
  • PPL 330: Global Border Policies
  • PPL 340: Philosophical Foundation of Human Rights
  • PPL 360: Global Perspectives, Issues, & Policies
  • PPL 376: Policymaking and Governance in China
  • PPL 380: World Regions: Geography and Policy
  • PPL 381: Global Environmental Issues
  • PPL 382: Geography of Religion and Belief Systems
  • PPL 388: Public Policies of European Union
  • PPL 493: Topics in International Policies

Three PPL advanced electives

Three courses outside the department:

  • POL 101: Introduction to American Politics
  • ECON 202: Microeconomics
  • ECON 203: Macroeconomics

Students complete 18 credit hours of public policy leadership courses, including PPL 101 and at least one 300-level or higher course in each of the categories for the major: leadership/organization, domestic policy, and international policy.