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Individualized Major in Public Policy

The Individualized Major

The Individualized Major Program was developed to serve undergraduate students who are interested in a major that is not offered at the University of Connecticut. Over 1,500 students have graduated with an Individualized Major since 1974 when it was first created.

The individualized major is a structured plan of study, incorporating at least 36 credits of 200-level courses, that is thematically focused and drawn from at least two departments in the University. Students work with three faculty advisors and an advisor from the Individualized and Interdisciplinary Studies Program (IISP) to develop a plan of study. This plan of study concludes with a final integrative project which may be a thesis or enrollment in the Individualized Major capstone course. Acceptance into the Program is based on submission of a formal proposal and approval by faculty advisors and an admissions committee.

Public Policy as a Theme

Public policy is a natural theme or focus for an individualized major. Faculty from DPP are available to serve as advisors, to help students develop individualized major proposals and plans of study, to help design and oversee capstone experiences, and to provide on-going advising for individualized majors.

The individualized major is designed to be very flexible. Thus, there are many ways to design an individualized major focused on public policy. One good way to go is to start with core courses offered by the Department of Public Policy such as PP 3001 Public Policy and PP 3010 Public Policy Research Methods I. These courses develop foundational concepts and skills in research and writing that can be applied to a wide array of policy topics. Next the student would select courses around some theme. For example students could focus on the policy making process, on a specific area of public policy such as social policy or environmental policy, or on management concepts and skills. Many other possibilities exist.

Many Public Policy courses are offered at the Greater Hartford campus. However, student from any UConn campus can complete an individualized major focused on public policy. Currently students from both the Storrs and Greater Hartford campus have designed individualized majors that draw heavily on DPP courses.