Return to: Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy: Degree Programs
Bachelor of Arts
Open to UVA undergraduates and to transfer students, the Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy and Leadership is a multidisciplinary, liberal arts program focused on understanding how public policy decisions are made, and how civic leaders in government, non-profit organizations, and the private sector contribute to collective problem solving. The curriculum provides an opportunity to learn about the political, economic, historical, and social context of public policy. The program also gives students the ability to understand debates about the full range of policy issues facing the contemporary world and provides an introduction to the basic concepts of policy analysis.
Although not a pre-professional degree, the Batten undergraduate program gives students an opportunity to develop their critical and analytical thinking, communication, leadership, and research skills.
It is an excellent choice for students who are still exploring their career options, or who seek a broad introduction to the identification and management of contemporary societal problems and to the challenges and opportunities of civic leadership. Recipients of the Batten BA are prepared for a wide range of graduate programs, including both professional degrees and doctoral programs, as well as for jobs related to public policy in the for-profit and public sectors.
See the Academic Rules page for complete Batten major prerequisite courses and application information.
Students already committed to a career in public policy, and who are interested in and exhibit academic readiness for a professional master’s degree in that field, are advised to consider applying to the Accelerated Bachelor/MPP Program. Visit the Graduate Record for the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy for information on the Accelerated Bachelor/MPP program curriculum and application requirements.
Curricular Requirements
To earn a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy and Leadership from the Batten School, a student must present 120 credits of approved course work, which completes the general education curriculum requirements, major requirements, and elective requirements [See Academic Rules page for complete details]. No fewer than 96 of the 120 required credits must be passed on a graded (A-B-C-D) basis. All courses taken to fulfill competency requirements, area requirements, and major/minor requirements must be taken on a graded (A-B-C-D) basis. A candidate must earn a minimum grade of C in all courses taken to fulfill the core program requirements below (i.e. all program courses except the special topics courses). A candidate must have earned a grade point average of at least 2.500 on all graded courses taken in the Batten School or elsewhere in the University and offered for the degree.
No fewer than 60 credit hours must be taken at the University of Virginia.
The Batten BA curriculum consists of fourteen required Batten School courses, nine core courses and five electives or special topic courses:
- Two core courses on the foundations, theories, and substance of public policy.
- Two core courses on the economic analysis of public policy.
- Three core courses on basic models, concepts, and frameworks of civic leadership:
- Two core experiential courses
- Five special topics courses, which offer students the opportunity to study in depth specific public policy and leadership topics. These courses will vary by year, but will include topics such as
Pending approval by the Assistant Director of Undergraduate Academic Programs, students may take up to 6 credits (two courses) offered in other departments or through study abroad toward the special topics requirement. Courses must be 3000-level or higher and must address issues related to public policy and/or leadership.
In sum, students take 42 distinct credit hours for the Batten Public Policy and Leadership major: 27 credits of core coursework (9 courses) and 15 credits of special topics courses (5 courses). See the Batten Academic Rules pages for requirement exceptions for students with a 2nd major (double major) in Foreign Affairs or Global Studies.
