Public Policy Leadership, B.A.
Prepare for leadership in an increasingly complex world.
"The Public Policy Leadership Program offers undergrads an unusual chance to focus intensely on policy. You just dive in and learn the analytical skills you need to write legislation and policy proposals."
Joe Caplis (B.A. in Public Policy Leadership '21)
J.D. Candidate, Harvard Law School
About the Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy Leadership
The Department of Public Policy Leadership in the College of Liberal Arts offers the B.A. in Public Policy Leadership. The degree prepares high-performing students for positions of leadership in an increasingly complex world.
Turning ideas into action is the focus of the public policy leadership major. Students combine the study of public policy with the study of the leadership qualities necessary to plan and implement successful policy. The interdisciplinary curriculum incorporates economics, geography, history, philosophy, political science and psychology.
- PPL majors gain a broad knowledge of public policy and skills in policy analysis, organizational leadership, social science research, critical thinking, written communication, oral communication, consensus building, and decision-making.
- Students acquire an understanding of the ethical imperatives of leadership, and a clear appreciation of the global nature of responsible decision-making.
Students must be admitted to the Trent Lott Leadership Institute in order to enroll in the Public Policy Leadership degree. The deadline for application to the program is January 10. In partnership with the Trent Lott Leadership Institute, the department offers enriching experiences to students through interactions with policy makers/practitioners, summer study abroad, and internships.
Public Policy Leadership is the only interdisciplinary undergraduate program of its kind in the SEC.
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Program Information
Degree
B.A. in Public Policy
Required Credit Hours
120
Program Type
Major
Minor
Program Location
School
Duration
4 years
Degree Requirements
Find out about credit hour and course requirements from the 2025-26 academic catalog.
Students in the College of Liberal Arts earning the B.A. degree have a common set of 48-50 hours of general education. The specific courses taken to complete the categories of general education may differ between majors.
Categories of General Education:
- First Year Writing I, II
- English Literature Survey
- Modern or Ancient Language
- History
- Additional Humanities
- Fine or Performing Arts Appreciation
- Mathematics
- Social Sciences
- Natural Sciences
To see the details for these general education requirements, visit the UM online catalog or the degree sheet attached at the top of this webpage.
- 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
Six PPL elective courses (18 credit hours) at the 300-level or higher. Of these, students take at least one course in each of the following three categories.
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
- PPL 497: Washington Policy Process
One course in Domestic Policies:
- PPL 328: The Corporation and Public Policy
- PPL 331: Political Philosophy
- PPL 342: Philosophy & Diversity in Public Policy
- PPL 343: Punishment Policy
- PPL 345: Environmental Ethics
- PPL 361: Disaster Policy
- PPL 362: Homeland Security Policy
- PPL 363: Early Childhood Policy in the US
- 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 378: Geographies of Conservatism
- 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
See all PPL courses in the catalog.
Students complete three additional requirements for the major.
- POL 101: Introduction to American Politics
- ECON 202: Principles of Microeconomics
- ECON 203: Principles of Macroeconomics
Students complete 18 credit hours of public policy leadership courses, including at least one 300-level or higher course in each of the categories.
- PPL 101: Foundations of Public Policy Leadership
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
- PPL 497: Washington Policy Process
One course in Domestic Policies:
- PPL 328: The Corporation and Public Policy
- PPL 331: Political Philosophy
- PPL 342: Philosophy & Diversity in Public Policy
- PPL 343: Punishment Policy
- PPL 345: Environmental Ethics
- PPL 361: Disaster Policy
- PPL 362: Homeland Security Policy
- PPL 363: Early Childhood Policy in the US
- 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 378: Geographies of Conservatism
- 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
Departmental Opportunities
Video: What is Public Policy?
Learn more about Public Policy Leadership from our faculty and students.
Public Policy Leadership Alumni
- Senior Associate, KPMG
- Sr. Operations Manager, US Chamber of Commerce
- Digital Media Relations Manager, National Restaurant Assoc
- Press Secretary, Office of a Senator
- Asst. Deputy Chief for Policy, US Dept. of Education
- Associate Attorney, Forman, Watkins, Krutz
- Executive Committee, Dem. National Comm.
- Policy Analyst for CFO, Dept of Homeland Security
- Head of Communications, Brightshop
- Development & Alumni Relations, Vanderbilt Univ.
- Dir. of Member Services, Congressional Republican Conference
- Development Facilitator, City of Denton
- Associate Attorney, Baker Botts
- Flight Commander, US Air Force
- Policy Analyst, Republican Governor's Assoc
- Law Fellow, Southern Poverty Law Center
Welcome to the College of Liberal Arts
As Coordinator of Student Recruitment for the College of Liberal Arts, I work with students, and their parents, who are interested in attending UM for their undergraduate degrees. I coordinate personalized visits to our departments, answer questions about the majors and programs in the CLA and handle all recruitment communications from the CLA. Please feel free to send me any questions you may have. It is my job to make sure you have everything you need to make an informed decision on where to spend your college career, and I hope it will be with the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Mississippi!
Annabelle Harris
Admissions Counselor
Future CLA Students
College of Liberal Arts Undergraduate Students
We invite future undergraduates to learn about the College of Liberal Arts, the value of the liberal arts education, our programs, career opportunities, and resources to help you succeed. You can also request a personalized degree sheet.
Next Steps
Explore Affordability
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