Korbel ranked 12th best place in the world to earn a master’s degree in international relations.
Korbel ranked 20th in the world for the best undergraduate degree in international studies.
Korbel ranked 12th best place in the world to earn a master’s degree in international relations.
Korbel ranked 20th in the world for the best undergraduate degree in international studies.
The Public Policy major prepares you to address some of the world's most significant challenges. You’ll acquire the knowledge and skills to analyze policy problems, understand the complexities of issues, and create viable solutions through public policy.
The major will prepare you for a wide range of careers. Our graduates go everywhere, attending top graduate and law schools in the U.S., serving as legislative aides for the U.S. Congress or as staff for various branches of government, and working in business or non-profit organizations.
Shape tomorrow from a vibrant academic community full of opportunities — in one of the most beautiful places in the world.
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The challenges of climate change, natural resource depletion, and increased demands on food, water, and energy resources are defining tasks of the 21st century. The specialization in Environmental Sustainability helps students understand the causes of these problems and how policies adopted by governments, businesses, and civil society organizations can address them. Public Policy students engage these questions from an interdisciplinary perspective and may take courses from multiple disciplines, including public policy, international studies, geography, and environmental science.
Environmental Sustainability
The challenges of climate change, natural resource depletion, and increased demands on food, water, and energy resources are defining tasks of the 21st century. The specialization in Environmental Sustainability helps students understand the causes of these problems and how policies adopted by governments, businesses, and civil society organizations can address them. Public Policy students engage these questions from an interdisciplinary perspective and may take courses from multiple disciplines, including public policy, international studies, geography, and environmental science.
US Foreign Policy
The role of the United States in international affairs is a central concern both in the US and around the world. How the US engages foreign governments and other actors in pursuit of its policy goals sits at the heart of US Foreign Policy. Public Policy students pursuing this specialization critically examine the nature of US national interest, the policymaking processes the generate US foreign policy, and the impact of US policies in world affairs. Courses in this specialization may be drawn from Public Policy, International Studies, or Political Science.
Domestic Policy
US domestic policies address such matters as education, social welfare, local economic development, housing, and more. Students specializing in US Domestic Policy learn about differing perspectives on how to address those issues, and consider what roles cities, states and the national government can play. Courses in this specialization may be drawn from Public Policy, International Studies, Political Science, or other social science disciplines.
Law and Policy
The legal system is an important component of the policy process at every level of interaction between citizens and government. Government is tasked with both creating and enforcing law while the legal system sits as the arbiter of any disagreement among the various actors impacted by the policy making process. Students in this specialization learn how policy and the legal system are interconnected, preparing them to begin careers in policy, law enforcement, and the legal system in general. Courses in this specialization may be drawn from Public Policy, International Studies, Political Science, Criminology or other social science disciplines.
The policy major allows you to design your own concentration by taking three courses in a policy area. Examples might include health policy, urban policy, or national security policy. Courses may be drawn from Public Policy, International Studies, Political Science, Business, Criminology or other social science discipline.
The role of the United States in international affairs is a central concern both in the US and around the world. How the US engages foreign governments and other actors in pursuit of its policy goals sits at the heart of US Foreign Policy. Public Policy students pursuing this specialization critically examine the nature of US national interest, the policymaking processes the generate US foreign policy, and the impact of US policies in world affairs. Courses in this specialization may be drawn from Public Policy, International Studies, or Political Science.
US domestic policies address such matters as education, social welfare, local economic development, housing, and more. Students specializing in US Domestic Policy learn about differing perspectives on how to address those issues, and consider what roles cities, states and the national government can play. Courses in this specialization may be drawn from Public Policy, International Studies, Political Science, or other social science disciplines.
The legal system is an important component of the policy process at every level of interaction between citizens and government. Government is tasked with both creating and enforcing law while the legal system sits as the arbiter of any disagreement among the various actors impacted by the policy making process. Students in this specialization learn how policy and the legal system are interconnected, preparing them to begin careers in policy, law enforcement, and the legal system in general. Courses in this specialization may be drawn from Public Policy, International Studies, Political Science, Criminology or other social science disciplines.
The policy major allows you to design your own concentration by taking three courses in a policy area. Examples might include health policy, urban policy, or national security policy. Courses may be drawn from Public Policy, International Studies, Political Science, Business, Criminology or other social science discipline.
Study abroad to learn first-hand about another culture, grow personally and earn academic credit that may be applied toward the major. The University of Denver currently has partnerships with approximately 150 study abroad programs and universities around the world. DU’s Cherrington Global Scholars program allows eligible students to spend a quarter studying abroad at no additional cost beyond that of a term at DU. Learn more: du.edu/abroad
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