Public Policy

The Public Policy Bridging Disciplines Program (BDP) certificate introduces students to the development and implementation of public policy.

You will learn about substantive policy issues, become familiar with how policies are made and carried out, and develop an understanding of the complexities and uncertainties of the political process. The program will be beneficial to students who aspire to positions in policy-relevant institutions such as government agencies, legislative offices, think tanks, and advocacy groups, and it will teach students who plan to work in business or nonprofit organizations how government works.

This BDP focuses on how change happens. Students will learn about the policy-making process, beginning with the point when someone senses a problem or an opportunity and begins to press the matter. You will then walk through the processes by which that sense of a problem is turned into a public policy issue through research, mobilization, the engagement of political leaders, and in some instances, the passage and implementation of new policy.

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Degree-seeking undergraduates in good academic standing at The University of Texas at Austin are eligible to apply to the BDPs. Students must be in at least the second semester of their freshman year to be eligible to apply. Students must plan to be enrolled at UT as a degree-seeking undergraduate for at least two semesters after the semester in which they apply to the BDP. The BDPs are open to undergraduate students from every college and school at UT. However, because there is significant overlap in program focus and coursework, some majors and BDP certificates may not be combined. View eligibility information for more details.

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Applications for the Bridging Disciplines Programs are accepted twice a year, during the fall and spring semesters. Learn additional information and how to apply to the BDPs. Interested students can attend an information session, which are offered throughout the semester.

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With 19 credit hours of coursework and Connecting Experiences, students may earn a BDP certificate in Public Policy. View a complete list of courses and requirements.

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Students in the Public Policy BDP form a community with shared interests in the process of policy development and implementation in addition to policy-relevant issues. Students from a variety of majors participate in this certificate, including but not limited to Biology, Business, Engineering, Government, History, Journalism, Public Relations, Sociology, Social Work, and many others.

View student profiles to learn about personal experiences in the Public Policy BDP.

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After completing 19 credit hours consisting of coursework, as well as research and/or internship experiences, students earn a certificate that will be recognized on their transcript, demonstrating a secondary area of specialization that complements their major. By pursuing an interdisciplinary certificate, students in the BDPs learn to become more flexible, versatile thinkers, better prepared for a professional world that values innovation and collaboration. Students in the BDPs gain access to unique research and internship experiences at UT and around the world, giving them hands-on experience applying what they have learned in the classroom.