The College may introduce a public policy minor as early as next year, according to Syracuse University Professor Linda Fowler, the new director of the Rockefeller Center for the Social Sciences.
The Committee on Instruction has been considering the proposed minor for some time. It was going to vote to approve the minor at the end of last term, but decided to wait until it could get input from Fowler, Government Professor Roger Masters said.
"It's approved, but not formally approved," COI Chair Gary Johnson said. Johnson said the COI will approve the final draft of the proposal at the committee's next meeting on June 1.
Masters co-drafted the proposal for the minor with Environmental Studies Department Chair Ross Virginia. Virginia said instituting the minor has been discussed for two years.
Masters said he has tried to contribute to forming a "solid and very intelligent public policy minor. It will be very valuable."
According to the original draft for the proposal, which was presented to the COI in January, the minor will combine courses about environmental policy, health care, international policy, politics and policy analysis to offer students an understanding of the dynamic complexities of social issues.
"Policy Studies is a field of study that examines the processes of policy formation, the framing of policy options, and evaluation of likely consequences of public policies across the hierarchy of public sectors," the draft reads.
Fowler, who will replace Rockefeller Center interim director Roxanne Waldner July 1, said she met yesterday with several faculty members involved with the proposal to clear up several procedural questions.
"It is something I'll be paying quite a lot of attention to," Fowler said.
She said the Rockefeller Center will provide coordination, staff support and advising for this minor.
Fowler said she wants to receive input from students once the COI approves the minor.
The minor will probably include courses from departments including anthropology, biology, economics, education, engineering sciences, environmental sciences, environmental studies, government, philosophy, psychology and sociology, according to the original proposal.
Masters said the College used to have a public policy department and the installation of this minor is the fruition of a "desire to recreate the high quality studies of public policy on the Dartmouth campus."
Many faculty have wanted public policy in the curriculum and when the College began allowing minors two years ago, it seemed like a good opportunity, Masters said.
"It was well worth the wait," Masters said.
According to the original draft of the proposal, the minor will be composed of courses already taught in several departments.
Virginia said the minor will answer questions like, "What is public policy? What are ... the analytic tools that are required for formulating and implementing public policy?"
The first draft of the proposal outlines a plan for students to take three courses from one of four categories of courses titled: Biotechnology and Health Care, Environmental Policy, International Policy, and Politics and Policy Analysis.
Public policy minors would also take Government 36, The Making of American Public Policy, and two more courses from any of the other three areas.
Finally, a public policy minor must complete an integrative project, according to the draft proposal.