Undergraduate programs

Go beyond reading and discussion. Work with data, analyze real-world challenges, develop policy recommendations, and apply what you learn to issues that matter.

Whether your interests are education, healthcare, housing, climate, justice, technology, or human rights, public policy provides the tools to understand complex problems and create meaningful change.

The 30-credit major and 12-credit certificates pair easily with a wide range of academic interests, helping students connect policy to virtually any field of study.

Benefit from personalized advising, dedicated support, and meaningful connections with faculty, staff, alumni, and peers throughout your academic journey.

Build professional skills through applied coursework, internships, research opportunities, and community-engaged learning that connects classroom knowledge to practice.

Learn from faculty conducting research on today’s most pressing policy challenges, from health and education to poverty, housing, governance, and environmental issues.

Connect with alumni who are invested in student success and eager to share advice, mentorship, internship opportunities, and career insights across a wide range of sectors.

A required internship helps students build professional connections, gain hands-on experience, and discover which organizations, issues, and career paths are the right fit.

Develop sought-after skills in research, data analysis, communication, collaboration, and problem-solving that help students stand out in internships, graduate programs, and the job market.

Built on decades of excellence in public affairs education, La Follette combines the resources of UW–Madison, a highly engaged alumni network, and proximity to policymakers and practitioners to help students see public policy in action.