All Public Policy

For all the criticism leveled at the government, it is really the only body that can solve certain kinds of problems. Unfortunately, what exactly should be done in areas like housing, public health, transport, security, and natural resource management is rarely obvious.​For this reason, a public policy degree draws from various disciplines. Social sciences, economics, and political science make up a large part of the coursework. Increasingly, statistics and data science (two essential skills for researchers) are presented at more than an introductory level. This is rounded out with courses in subjects like management, ethics, and communication.​Public policy graduates therefore have a broad range of knowledge and are very versatile. They generally also have the choice of specializing in a certain area, such as emergency management or local government. They are well suited to many roles where it is essential to gain a detailed, top-down understanding of major problems. This can then be used to devise a plan for solving or mitigating them, always keeping in mind that there are never enough resources to go around.​Not everyone is cut out for a career in public policy. In the first place, you will mostly be dealing with hard facts, not opinions. If you dislike sifting through large volumes of data, another major will probably suit you better. Excellent communication skills are useful in almost all careers, but they are essential to success in a public policy role. Someone who has trouble speaking their mind or writing a coherent email will struggle.