Science and Policy (Undergraduate Certificate)

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Offered by the College of Arts and Sciences , the Science and Policy certificate program provides STEM students with exposure and experience at the intersection of science and policy. This includes understanding the process of making policies that affect scientific research, application, and enterprise, as well as policies informed by robust scientific evidence. Students in the program have opportunities to: apply scientific knowledge and technical skills to real-world problems; learn how to bridge the gap between science and policy; hear from science policy experts; gain valuable insider understanding of how science-relevant policy is shaped; improve critical thinking and communication skills; and learn about career paths at the intersection of science and policy.

Admission to the Program

Admission to the program is open to all students with a declared major or minor in a STEM field. This includes all students majoring or minoring in any of the programs offered by the following departments: Biology , Chemistry , Computer Science , Environmental Science , Health Studies , Mathematics and Statistics , Neuroscience , Physics , and Psychology .

Certificate Requirements

12 credit hours with grades of B or better
Compliance with all regulations for a certificate (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 10.3 )

Course Requirements

Foundation (3 credit hours)

GOVT-210 Political Power and American Public Policy (3)

Science Communication (3 credit hours)

Complete 3 credit hours from the following:

Science and Policy (3 credit hours)

Complete 3 credit hours from the following:

Research Experience (3 credit hours)

Complete 3 credit hours from an independent research project or internship approved by program director:

Note: Students need to contact the program director 3 months in advance to be assigned a policy mentor.