Introduction to the Public Policy Certificate
The Public Policy Certificate allows students to develop their abilities as policy advocates and policy analysts by focusing attention on areas of public policy that are of contemporary importance to Florida and to the nation.
By the end of the certificate students will be able to:
- Apply key interdisciplinary social science concepts and methods useful in studying public policy.
- Interpret information about public problems and think critically about alternative methods of resolving these problems.
- Integrate disciplinary perspectives to more holistically understand a policy problem within their chosen policy area.
- Create a high-quality policy report that highlights the interdisciplinary nature of a chosen policy problem in Florida and demonstrates knowledge gained through the certificate work.
*This certificate is available to face to face and distance learners. However, not every course from the list below is offered online so students are encouraged to consider course availability before selecting their policy area.
Admission Prerequisites
In order to apply for admission to the Public Policy Certificate program, students must meet the following requirements:
- Minimum of 3.0 cumulative GPA
Program Administrators
Dr. Alexandra Cockerham
Director, Undergraduate Certificate in Public Policy
alexandrcockerham9@fsu.edu
Melanie Presnell
Undergraduate Academic Program Specialist
mpresnell@fsu.edu
Application Procedure
To apply to complete the Undergraduate Certificate in Public Policy, students must meet the prerequisite noted above and:
- Email completed application form, personal statement, and faculty recommendation letter to ISS-PublicPolicy@fsu.edu prior to completing 6 credit hours towards the Public Policy Certificate. If you have completed more than 6 credit hours towards the Public Policy Certificate, your application may not be processed.
- Admission is limited to 20 students per academic year. Applications will be considered in the order in which they were received.
Certificate Requirements
Students must complete 16 credit hours at FSU toward this certificate. Successful completion of the courses applied to the Undergraduate Certificate in Public Policy is defined as a grade of C or higher.
The following breakdown of courses is required:
- Three general policy courses (9 credit hours)
- ISS4014 Evidence Based Public Policy
- ISS3330 Interdisciplinary Research Methods
- One course from the following list
- ISS4304 Contemporary Social Problems and Integrative Solutions
- ISS4164 Policy
- PUP3002 Introduction to Public Policy
- Two courses from ONE policy area (6 credit hours). These courses must come from TWO different disciplines within the policy area. See the policy areas and associated course lists below.
- Environmental Policy
- Government Regulation
- Health and Aging
- Poverty and Inequality
- Risk Management
- Education & Family
- Criminal Justice
- One Capstone project course (1 credit hour)
This course is not offered over the summer session.
The capstone highlights the interdisciplinary nature of public policy and combines student’s knowledge gained through the certificate work to be prepared at the culmination of the program of study. Students will complete this project in a 1-credit hour DIS during their final semester of undergraduate work.
When students are approaching their final semester, reach out to Dr. Alexandra Cockerham for enrollment in this course.
Award for Public Policy Certificate
In the semester you are planning to complete all requirements for the Public Policy Certificate, you must:
- Email ISS-PublicPolicy@fsu.edu a completed copy of your Public Policy Certificate Completion Form
If you do not submit a filled Public Policy Certificate Completion Form prior to your graduation from FSU, the Public Policy certificate may not be awarded. The filled Public Policy Certificate Completion Form must be submitted prior to grades posting in the semester in which you will complete all requirements for the Public Policy certificate.
Contact Information: Questions and submissions can be sent via email to ISS-PublicPolicy@fsu.edu
Certificate with Honors
Completing an undergraduate certificate with honors is open to all students including honors and non-honors students. For more information on the Certificate with Honors program, please visit the Division of Undergraduate Studies website.
Approved Course Lists for Public Policy Areas
Policy Area: Environmental Policy
Economics:
ECP 3302 Economics of Natural Resources, Energy, and The Environment
ECP 4312 Economics of Energy, Environment, and Sustainability
Political Science:
PUP 4203 Environmental Politics and Policy
Urban and Regional Planning:
URP 4022 Collective Decision Making
URP 4402 Sustainable Development Planning in the Americas
Sociology:
SYD 3020 Population and Society
SYD 4510 Environmental Sociology
Policy Area: Government Regulation
Economics:
ECO 4504 Public Sector Economics
ECP 3451 Economics and the Law
ECP 3617 Land Use, Housing, and Government Regulation
ECP 4413 Government Regulation of Business
ECO 3223 Financial Markets, the Banking System, and Monetary Policy
Political Science:
CPO 3743 States and Markets
PUP 4744 Public Policy and Business
PUP 4034 Organizations and Public Policy
PUP 4024 Interest Groups, Social Movements, and Public Policy
Public Administration:
PAD 3003 Public Administration in Society
PAD 4120 Managing Florida’s Government and Its Key Policy Issues
Policy Area: Health and Aging
Political Science:
PUP 4604 Health Services Organizations and Policy
Economics:
ECP 4530 Economics of Health
Geography:
GEO 4450 Medical Geography
GIS 4421 GIS and Health
Public Administration:
PAD 4844 Public Health and Emergency
Sociology:
SYA 3741 Sociology of Death and Dying
SYO 4402 Medical Sociology
History:
HIS 3491 Medicine & Society
HIS 2496 Pandemics and People
Policy Area: Poverty
Economics:
ECO 4132 Economics of Compassion
Interdisciplinary Social Science:
ISS 4164 Policy
Sociology:
SYA 3741 Sociology of Death and Dying
SYO 3530 Social Class
SYO 4250 Sociology of Education
Political Science:
POS 4624 Supreme Court, Civil Liberties, and Civil Rights
Public Administration
PAD 4382 Disaster Recovery and Mitigation
PAD 4301 Disaster Management Planning for Urban Poor Communities
Urban and Regional Planning:
URP 4811 Multicultural Urbanism
URP 5540 State and Local Economic Development
URP 4936 Hope & Resilience w/Climate Change
Policy Area: Education & Family
Education:
EDF 2085 Teaching Diverse Populations
EDF 4210 Educational Psychology Developing Learners
SOW 4633 The Social Worker in the Public School System
Sociology:
SYO 4250 Sociology of Education
IFS 3016 Examining the Educational Achievement Gap
SYO 3100 Family Problems and Social Change
Family and Child Sciences:
CHD 3472 Child Guidance
CHD 4615 Public Policy: Child and Family Issues
CHD 4630 Methods of Studying Families and Children
FAD 4455 Family Life Education
CHD 2220 Child Growth and Development
FAD 2230 Family Relationships: A Life Span Development Approach
Policy Area: Criminal Justice
Criminology and Criminal Justice:
CCJ 3644 White Collar Crime
CCJ 3666 Victimology
CCJ 3677 Crimes against Humanity
CCJ 4004 Comparative Criminology and Criminal Justice
CCJ 4036 Communities and Crime
CCJ 4497 Criminal Justice and Public Policy
CCJ 4344 Punishment and Punitiveness
CCJ 4623 Violence in America
CCJ 4507 Networks and Crime: Peers, Groups, and Gangs
CCJ 4505 Juvenile Delinquency
CCJ 4663 Crime and Justice
CCJ 4667 Crime Victimization and Victim Services
CCJ 4684 Family Violence
CCJ 4687 Evaluation and Assessment of Victim Services
Sociology:
SYP 4550 Alcohol and Drug Problems
SYP 4570 Deviance and Social Control
SYP 3540 Sociology of Law
Political Science:
POS 4624 The Supreme Court, Civil Liberties, and Civil Rights
POS 3691 Law and Society
History:
AMH 3320 Mass Incarceration
AMH 3470 Organized Crime
Policy Area: Risk Management
Economics:
ECP 3302 Natural Resources, Energy and the Environment
Political Science:
PUP 4203 Environmental Politics and Policy
Sociology:
SYP 3000 Social Psychology of Groups
SYP 4570 Deviance and Social Control
Public Administration:
PAD 4372 Leadership and Communication in Emergency Management
PAD 4391 Foundations in Emergency Management
PAD 4393 Emergency Management Programs, Planning and Policy
PAD 4301 Disaster Management Planning for Urban Communities