COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Arts, Major in Policy Studies at KPU requires the completion of 51 area-specific credits, comprising 27 lower-level and 24 upper-level credits, in addition to the general BA framework requirements. At the lower level, students take foundational courses including ECON 1101 (or ECON 1110), ENVI 1121 (Environmental Issues), POST 1100 or PHIL 1111 (Sustainability and Ethics), POST 2200 (Collective Power), and SOCI 2260 (Research Methods in Sociology). Additionally, students must complete 6 credits each in Philosophy (excluding PHIL 1111) and Political Science at the 1100- or 2000-level. The upper-level curriculum focuses on applied knowledge and interdisciplinary understanding. It includes CMNS 3100 (or CMNS 3250), PHIL 3118 (or PHIL 4117), POST 3110 (Applied Sustainability Seminar), POST 3300 (Sustainability Challenges), POST 4110 (or POLI 4110), POST 4150 (or PSYC 4150), and POLI 3500 (or POLI 4420). Students must also choose one elective from a diverse selection of courses related to sustainability, environment, policy, and social issues, including options from Agriculture, Geography, History, and Sociology such as GEOG 3220, HIST 3180, or SOCI 3345. This curriculum is designed to develop students' critical thinking, communication, and applied research skills, while enabling them to analyze and address contemporary policy issues related to sustainability, equity, and governance. The program culminates in applied seminars and research-based learning, positioning graduates for careers in policy development, public service, non-profits, or further academic study.