Why Study Public Policy Essay Example

and how policy can improve, more effective public policy might be formulated. 5. The Ramapo College Mission Statement emphasizes teaching character building and effective citizenship. Public Policy respects and supports that obligation. The next section provides discusses the scope of public policy. Why Study Public Policy at St. Mary's? Public policy decisions touch nearly every aspect of daily life, although we often fail to recognize or understand their impact.

Daily, we are exposed to the policy proposals and preferences of those in or seeking office and they are in turn influenced by the preferences of the public and the pressures of organized interest groups. Given the impact that policy choices can have on our lives it is essential that we have an understanding of how policy choices are made and how we might evaluate those choices. Why do we need this knowledge? Policymakers are more responsive to the demands and interests of an active and informed public.

The purpose of the Public Policy major is to equip students with sufficient competence in analytical skills supported by social science theory to prepare them for graduate or professional work. Majors should be sufficiently prepared to seek positions in organizations which deal with public policy issues: business firms, trade associations, lobbying organizations, and government agencies. The major provides students with the factual, analytical, practical, and theoretical skills necessary for contemporary policy design, implementation, and evaluation. Interdisciplinary Nature

Public policy is interdisciplinary in nature; it is affected by social and economic conditions, political as well as cultural values, and the structure of government. The study of public policy requires the integration of knowledge from multiple disciplines to understand and critically assess public

problems and potential solutions. The Public Policy major draws upon the knowledge and experience usually available through separate majors such as anthropology, economics, sociology, and political science. Only through a coordinated exposure to these fields can a student understand how they interact in the world of public policy.