Public Policy Degree

The public policy program at Southern Methodist University prepares students for careers as legislators and politicians, political staff, policy researchers, and lobbyists. The program focuses on the systematic analysis of public policy issues and decision processes. Program courses include: role of economics and political factors in public decision-making and policy formulation, microeconomic analysis of policy issues, resource allocation and decision modeling, cost/benefit analysis, statistical methods, and application to specific public policy topics. Get more details below including other Texas colleges that offer public policy degrees.

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Southern Methodist University

2400 Daffodil Ave., McAllen, TX

SMU, a nonprofit private institution, offers a variety of degree programs, allowing students to choose which major is right for them. Located in Dallas, TX, the campus offers a suburban setting for students to study in. The school's United Methodist affiliation is one of its defining characteristics and plays an important role within the school's curriculum. Enrollment at Southern Methodist University exceeds eleven thousand yearly.

A list of some of the more popular programs offered are:

• Legal Professions And Studies
• Social Sciences
• Business And Marketing Studies
• Psychology

Students applying for admission are required to submit an application, transcripts, records, test scores and any requested application essays, which will then be reviewed by admissions officials. Either the SAT or ACT exam must be taken in order to apply to Southern Methodist University. Scores between 27 to 31 on the ACT or 1180 to 1370 on the SAT are needed to increase your chances for getting accepted. 55% of students that apply are accepted to this school, of which 24 percent choose to attend. More information regarding admissions can be found at smu.edu.

The cost of undergraduate tuition is nearly $43,000, but may change per year. Students are encouraged to use the school's tuition calculator to better estimate their personal tuition costs. Housing may be available for those that want to live on-campus for around a cost of $9,200 annually. Students enrolled at Southern Methodist University may be eligible for aid which is usually grants and loans.

The SMU Mustangs participate in a number of athletic programs, within the NCAA organization. Sports available may include the following:

• Basketball (NCAA Division I-A)
• Track & Field (NCAA Division I-A)
• Football (NCAA Division I-A)
• Golf (NCAA Division I-A)

For a complete list of programs offered, enrollment information, admissions information, and more, please take a look at the school's website at http://www.smu.edu.

Students Enrolled in the Public Policy Program

Get more details below regarding enrollment, academics, and school demographics. Southern Methodist University offers a bachelor's degree program in public policy.

Students by Gender (2019)

Students by Race (2019)

Source: IPEDS Survey 2012-2020: Data obtained from the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data may vary depending on school and academic year.

Career Options for Graduates

Legislators

Description

Develop, introduce or enact laws and statutes at the local, tribal, State, or Federal level. Includes only workers in elected positions.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, legislators employment is expected to shrink at a rate of -0.7% from 2014 to 2024

Political Scientists

Description

Study the origin, development, and operation of political systems. May study topics, such as public opinion, political decision-making, and ideology. May analyze the structure and operation of governments, as well as various political entities. May conduct public opinion surveys, analyze election results, or analyze public documents.

Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Description

Teach courses in political science, international affairs, and international relations. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Source: Job descriptions, estimated salary and wages, and projected job growth are taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).