
UW–Madison’s undergraduate certificate in public policy complements existing majors across campus and extends the La Follette School of Public Affairs' mission to training and mentoring the next generation of leaders in their careers and communities.
The certificate program allows undergraduate students to apply a policy perspective to their major course of study and bolsters their skills for success in the workforce or in their graduate school coursework. Students build a strong foundation for careers in government, nonprofit organizations, or the private sector.
The undergraduate certificate in public policy is ideal for students seeking careers related to key domestic and international issues such as criminal justice, education, energy, environmental studies, finance, transportation, and poverty. It also prepares students to be engaged citizens, ready to use their talents to improve the world around them.
How to Get in
To declare the certificate in public policy through the La Follette School of Public Affairs, students must:
- Hold UW-Madison sophomore standing or above, and be in good academic standing, according to the rules of your school or college
- Have taken, are enrolled, or are registered for at least one class that meets certificate requirements
Each year, the La Follette School invites students to declare the certificate in public policy. To declare the certificate:
- Review certificate requirements so that you are familiar with the program
- Declare the certificate
Requirements
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Introductory Course: 1 course required | 3 | |
Contemporary Public Policy Issues | ||
Analytical Tools for Policy Design, Implementation, and Evaluation: 1 course required | 3 | |
Evidence-Based Policy Making | ||
Analytic Tools for Public Policy | ||
Policy Specialization: 1 course from any of these areas | 3 | |
Social Policy, Inequality Poverty | ||
Inequality, Race and Public Policy | ||
Globalization, Poverty and Development | ||
American Indian Communities: Sovereignty, Struggles, and Successes | ||
Economics of Poverty and Inequality | ||
Urban and Regional Economics | ||
Behavioral Economics | ||
Disability and the Criminal Justice System | ||
Introduction to Public Policy | ||
Psychology, Law, and Social Policy | ||
Introduction to Social Policy | ||
Poverty and Social Welfare | ||
Public Management | ||
Public Leadership | ||
Strategic Public Management | ||
Administrative Law | ||
Financial Markets, Institutions and Economic Activity | ||
Information Ethics and Policy | ||
Contemporary Issues in Business, Government and NGOs | ||
State Government and Public Policy | ||
Health Policy | ||
Policy, Privacy, and Personal Identity in the Postgenomics Era | ||
Global Health: Economics, Natural Systems, and Policy | ||
Health Systems, Policy, Economics, and Research | ||
The Economics of Health Care | ||
International Migration, Health, and Human Rights | ||
Insuring Life's Risks: Health, Aging, and Policy | ||
Public Health in Rural & Urban Communities | ||
Environmental Policy | ||
U.S. Environmental Politics and Public Policy | ||
Climate Change Economics and Policy | ||
Energy, Resources and Economics | ||
Natural Resource Economics | ||
Food Production Systems and Sustainability | ||
Energy Technologies and Sustainability | ||
Environmental Sustainability Engineering | ||
Environmental Studies: Social Science Perspectives | ||
Rhetoric, Science, and Public Engagement | ||
People, Land and Food: Comparative Study of Agriculture Systems | ||
Green Urbanism | ||
Climate Change Governance | ||
Preserving Nature | ||
US Environmental Policy and Regulation | ||
Government and Natural Resources | ||
Natural Resources Policy | ||
Green - Sustainable Development | ||
Education Policy | ||
Introduction to Education Policy | ||
Race, Ethnicity, and Inequality in American Education | ||
Wealth, Poverty and Inequality: Transnational Perspectives on Policy and Practice in Education | ||
Climate Change, Sustainability, and Education | ||
Urban School Policy | ||
Introduction to Debates in Higher Education Policy | ||
School and Society | ||
Law and Public Education | ||
Gender and Education | ||
Education Policy and Practice | ||
Family Policy | ||
Family Economics and Public Policy | ||
Consumer Policy Analysis | ||
A Family Perspective in Policymaking | ||
International Policy | ||
The Private and Public Sectors in Policymaking | ||
Human Trafficking: Global and Local Perspectives | ||
The Human Rights of Children and Youth: Global and Local Perspectives | ||
The International Agricultural Economy | ||
The Financial System | ||
Economic Problems of Developing Areas | ||
Issues in International Macroeconomics | ||
Multinational Business Finance | ||
Politics of Gender and Women's Rights in the Middle East | ||
American Foreign Relations, 1901 to the Present | ||
Contemporary Issues in Business, Government and NGOs | ||
International Business | ||
Chinese Politics | ||
The European Union: Politics and Political Economy | ||
Theories of International Security | ||
American Foreign Policy | ||
Fieldwork and Internship: 1 course required | 3 | |
Administrative Internship | ||
Legislative Internship | ||
Wisconsin in Washington Internship Course | ||
Total Credits | 12 |
Residence & Quality of Work
- At least 6 credits must be completed in residence
- Minimum 2.000 GPA on all certificate courses
- 1
Courses taken Pass/Fail do not meet certificate requirements or calculate in the GPA.
Certificate Completion Requirement
This undergraduate certificate must be completed concurrently with the student’s undergraduate degree. Students cannot delay degree completion to complete the certificate.
Learning Outcomes
- Students will demonstrate understanding of major current and past public policy debates, and how to approach questions and research with a public policy lens.
- Students will gain knowledge and demonstrate application of methodological tools utilized in the public policy arena (e.g., policy memo writing, policy analysis, experience working with administrative data, program evaluation, cost-benefit analysis, performance management).
- Students will demonstrate understanding and application of knowledge regarding the substantive policy area of interest of their choice (e.g., education, health, social, environmental, science).
- Students will gain practical professional experience in a public policy work setting.
Advising and Careers
The La Follette School of Public Affairs welcomes you to reach out to our student services team. Here are some quick steps toward getting what you need. Before getting in touch, be sure to visit our undergraduate certificate in public policy webpage as many questions you may have may be answered there. It is updated regularly and just may hold the answers you seek!
- If you’re interested in learning more about the certificate or would like guidance as a current certificate student, contact Kelly Otto at klotto@wisc.edu.
- If you're unable to get in touch with Kelly, contact Mary Michaud at mdmichaud@wisc.edu.
- If you’re already a certificate student, you can connect with Marie Koko, our Career Services Coordinator, about careers and internships. Send her an email at marie.koko@wisc.edu.
- If you have a technical question about your DARS report, enrollment, or other things administrative, connect with David Wright-Racette at wrightracette@lafollette.wisc.edu.
- If you’re interested in learning more about La Follette’s graduate programs in public and international affairs, contact Mo O’Connor, our graduate advisor, at mcoconnor@lafollette.wisc.edu.
- If you’re an alumnus, parent, or student who is curious about how to get involved or contribute to the mission of the La Follette School, please contact Associate Director Steve Kulig at skulig@lafollette.wisc.edu.
Staff Contact Information
Kelly Otto, Academic Advisor, La Follette School of Public Affairs
klotto@wisc.edu
608-265-6025
2414 Sterling Hall
Mary Davis Michaud, Faculty Associate, La Follette School of Public Affairs
mdmichaud@wisc.edu
608-262-7390
2408 Sterling Hall
Marie Koko, Senior Career Services Coordinator, La Follette School of Public Affairs
marie.koko@wisc.edu
608-262-3908
2406 Sterling Hall
Mo O’Connor, Graduate Program Manager, La Follette School of Public Affairs
mcoconnor@lafollette.wisc.edu
608-262-3582
107 Observatory Hill Office Building
Steve Kulig, Associate Director, La Follette School of Public Affairs
skulig@lafollette.wisc.edu
608-262-8631
103 Observatory Hill Office Building
Skills and Careers
Given the increasing complexity in every realm of public policy, students in the undergraduate certificate in public policy program gain skills in quantitative analysis, communication, writing, critical thinking, and problem-solving that are in demand by more and more employers in almost every sector.
The certificate program focuses on evidence-based practices and provides students with the skills to gather data and information from various sources, analyze and synthesize the findings, and write a clear and concise report to illustrate the main points.
With the focus on evidence-based practices, the public policy certificate program provides research and data analysis skills that are transferrable to nearly any occupation. Students maximize their electives and earn a credential that highlights these highly sought-after skills in the context of real-world practice.
Career development is an integral part of the La Follette School experience, with staff members and alumni eager to support and mentor students with diverse interests. Students benefit from networking opportunities, employer visits, professional development seminars, and other services.
SuccessWorks
SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps you turn the academic skills learned in your classes into a fulfilling life, guiding you every step of the way to securing jobs, internships, or admission to graduate school.
Through one-on-one career advising, events, and resources, you can explore career options, build valuable internship and research experience, and connect with supportive alumni and employers who open doors of opportunity.
- What you can do with your major (Major Skills & Outcomes Sheets)
- Make a career advising appointment
- Learn about internships and internship funding
- Try “Jobs, Internships, & How to Get Them,” an interactive guide in Canvas for enrolled UW–Madison students
People
Faculty
The undergraduate certificate in public policy gives students access to the La Follette School’s award-winning faculty members. These interdisciplinary faculty have expertise in social policy, health policy and management, public management, policy analysis, environmental policy, poverty, and government finance.