Public Policy & Political Economy
Public policy and political economy majors at Rollins learn how economics and political science combine to shape public policy around the world. Students tackle pressing social problems, such as health care, poverty, and social mobility.
You’ll develop a set of quantitative and communicative skills that prepare you to analyze public policy challenges and craft meaningful solutions. The program locates public policy questions within an ethical context by considering such questions as what is of value to society and how best to achieve those values. Responsible leaders understand the implications of policy choices and recognize that decision makers have obligations to their communities.
Public policy majors are prepared to assume leadership positions in both the private and public sectors.
Why Study Public Policy & Political Economy at Rollins
Real World Experience
Through hands-on internships in applied policy analysis, you’ll gain insight into the various ways policy shapes and is shaped by a community.
Guided Research
Connect concepts with real-world application, working alongside expert faculty to conduct research, identify conclusions, and share your findings through professional publication.
Professional Possibilities
From private consulting to research think tanks, a PPPE degree appeals to an array of employers. You’ll also be prepared to pursue a master’s in public policy and urban planning or earn a JD or an MBA.
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“Through coursework and discussions, my awareness of the barriers to social stability for millions of Americans has increased, and my passion for addressing those barriers has increased as well. This program prepares students to design practical solutions to real-world problems.”
Rollins Public Policy & Political Economy Careers
Rollins public policy and political economy grads are making tomorrow happen at some of the world’s most respected companies.
James Ryan ’17 ’19MBA
Partner Marketplace Manager, PlanSource
Michael Purcell ’17
Attorney Adviser, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
André Nansen ’19
Junior Economist, The Norwegian Ministry of Finance
Real World Experience
Rollins public policy and political economy majors hone their expertise through prestigious internships and fellowships around the country.
See for Yourself
Get a feel for Rollins’ unique brand of engaged learning and personalized attention through one of our virtual or in-person visit experiences.
Popular Courses
With required courses in politics and economics and electives in relevant fields, our innovative curriculum melds the most useful aspects of several disciplines. You’ll study both theory and practical application, conduct significant research, and engage in open discussion.
PPE 119 Contemporary Issues in Public Policy and Economics
Investigate the intersection of economic and political ideas by studying public health policy, education standards, energy initiatives, and federal debt limits.
POL 363 American Social Policy
Dissect the relationship between politics and markets and why government intervenes in the economy.
POL 395 Topics in Political Theory
Explore topics like feminist political theory, American political thought, and conservative political thought through research, writing, and classroom discussion.
POL 270 Ethics and Public Policy
Debate the ethical and moral implications of hot-button issues like racial profiling, affirmative action, and the use of nuclear weapons.
ECO 202 Introduction to Economics in Historical Perspective
Examine the historical context of economics and explore how societies and institutions have evolved in different economic systems.
SOC 360 Poverty and Social Welfare
Delve into topics ranging from the war on poverty and the American welfare system to the relationship between poverty, welfare, and inequality.
Beyond the Classroom
The Democracy Project Co-founded by a PPPE alumnus, this student-led initiative creates a strategic road map to engage students in the electoral process, from organizing monthly voter-registration drives to hosting debates between local candidates.
International Engagement Rollins offers more than 90 study-abroad programs, so you’ll have ample opportunity to hone your skills in a global setting. For instance, PPPE major Kenzie Helmick ’20 studied social justice and community development in Chile, focusing on the nation’s transition to a democracy.
Student-Faculty Research Learn from seasoned mentors while applying your knowledge within a PPPE framework. You’ll work alongside a professor to develop research, draw conclusions, and publish and present your findings.
Dive Into Public Policy & Political Economy at Rollins
As a public policy and political economy major, you will become familiar with the theoretical approaches and context that political science and economics use to study and solve public problems. In its essence, you will be asked to understand and grapple with society's most pressing civic problems.
Keep Exploring
Take a deeper dive into public policy and political economy at Rollins by meeting your future professors, seeing our grads in action, and sitting in on a class.
December 13, 2023
Mannino ’25 Attends Harvard Public Policy Leadership Conference
The opportunities Elle Mannino ’25 has seized just two years into her Rollins journey prepared her to earn a spot at the prestigious Public Policy Leadership Conference (PPLC) at Harvard Kennedy School.
March 15, 2023
Paying It Forward
Highly accomplished environmental lawyer Renee Stone ’85 sits down with Abrielle Mannino ’25 to discuss her biggest takeaways from Rollins, the value of the liberal arts, and insights gleaned on her path to advocacy.
June 06, 2022
Tars Earn Public Policy and International Affairs Fellowships
Matthew Deveaux ’23, Capri Gutierrez ’23, and Nia Knox ’23 have been selected to attend Public Policy International Affairs’ prestigious Junior Summer Institute.
Expert Faculty
The public policy and political economy major draws faculty from both political science and economics. All professors hold terminal degrees in their fields, and their breadth and depth of expertise help create a rigorous learning environment.
Department of Public Policy & Political Economy
Telephone: 407.646.2505
Dan Chong, PhD
Associate Professor of Political Science; Director, Social Innovation Major
Research interests: International human rights, global poverty, and peace and conflict resolution
Donald Davison, PhD
Professor of Political Science
Research interests: Civil rights policy, voting rights, social welfare policy, statistics, and policy analysis
Joan Davison, PhD
Professor Emeritus of Political Science
Research interests: U.S. foreign policy, national security policy, ethnoreligious identity, and politics in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Mike Gunter, PhD
Professor of Political Science
Research interests: Global environmental affairs, politics of climate change, and sustainable development
Philip Kozel, PhD
Associate Professor of Economics; Co-Director of Public Policy Program
Research interests: Intellectual property, piracy, history of economic thought, and Marxian economics
Julia Maskivker, PhD
Associate Professor of Political Science
Research interests: Contemporary theories of justice, global ethics, and social and economic citizenship
Martina Vidovic, PhD
Associate Professor of Economics
Research interests: Applied microeconomics, applied econometrics, environmental economics with an emphasis on effectiveness of voluntary pollution-reduction programs