B.A. in Public Affairs Degree Requirements
The B.A. in Public Affairs offers an in-depth and engaged educational experience with a clear public service ethos. Drawing from UCLA Luskin’s expansive resources in Public Policy, Social Welfare, and Urban Planning, the major combines critical thinking, social science methodology, and experiential learning, connecting the dots between theory and action.
Undergraduate students in the Luskin School of Public Affairs must complete the following degree requirements for graduation. For detailed information about the Luskin School of Public Affairs Undergraduate Program degree requirements visit the UCLA General Catalog.
- University Requirements (click here for details)
- Entry-Level Writing / ESL
- American History & Institutions
- School Requirements (click here for details)
- Writing I, Writing II, Quantitative Reasoning, Foreign Language, Diversity, General Education (GE) requirements
- Unit requirements (i.e. 60 upper division units, 180 minimum overall units, and 216 maximum units)
- Scholarship (i.e. GPA) requirement
- Academic (senior/major) residence requirement
- Department Requirements
- Major preparation and upper division requirements
- Major Scholarship (i.e. GPA) requirement
Student can track their degree and major requirements progress using their degree audit report (DARS) via MyUCLA > Academics > Degree Progress/Audit Report.
Public Affairs Major Curriculum
PUBLIC AFFAIRS MAJOR REQUIREMENTS EFFECTIVE SPRING 2023
Students who are pursuing the B.A. in Public Affairs and who have a Public Affairs pre-major catalog term of Spring 2023 or thereafter, or who are admitted to the Public Affairs major Spring 2023 and thereafter, must complete the following major requirements:
- Six major preparation courses (28-29 units in total) that establish a critical social science and methodological foundation while fulfilling some General Education requirements.
- Ten upper division courses (42 units in total) which provide more sophisticated theoretical and substantive grounding, including skills in qualitative and quantitative research methods. Upper division electives reflect a range of substantive topics in public affairs. The ten upper division courses include the three-quarter experiential learning capstone in the senior year that culminates in a capstone project.
For a detailed outline of the B.A. in Public Affairs major requirements, click here or click the tabs below.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS MAJOR REQUIREMENTS EFFECTIVE FALL 2018 THROUGH WINTER 2023
Students who are pursuing the B.A. in Public Affairs and who were admitted to the Public Affairs major Fall 2018 through Winter 2023 must complete the following major requirements:
- Eight major preparation courses (38 units in total) that establish a critical social science and methodological foundation while fulfilling some General Education requirements.
- Ten upper division courses (42 units in total) which provide more sophisticated theoretical and substantive grounding, including skills in qualitative and quantitative research methods. Upper division electives reflect a range of substantive topics in public affairs. The ten upper division courses include the three-quarter experiential learning capstone in the senior year that culminates in a capstone project.
For a detailed outline of the B.A. in Public Affairs major requirements, click here or click the tabs below.
REVIEW YOUR DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Students can track their degree and major requirements and progress using their degree audit report (DARS) via MyUCLA > Academics > Degree Progress/Audit Report.
For detailed information about the B.A. in Public Affairs degree and major requirements, schedule an appointment with a Luskin academic counselor (linked here) or click on the menus below.
Public Affairs Major Requirements (Effective Spring 2023 and thereafter)
OVERVIEW
Students who have a Public Affairs pre-major catalog term of Spring 2023 or thereafter, or who are admitted to the Public Affairs major Spring 2023 and thereafter, must complete 6 major preparation requirements and 10 upper division major requirements. Read the information below for details.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS MAJOR PREPARATION REQUIREMENTS
The Public Affairs major preparation coursework consists of the following 6 major preparation courses totaling 28-29 units. All major preparation courses must be completed with a minimum C grade. All major courses must be taken for a letter grade.
Required: 6 courses/28-29 units
- Three core major preparation courses:
- PUB AFF 40. Microeconomics for Public Affairs (5 units)
- PUB AFF 60. Using Data to Learn about Society: Introduction to Empirical Research and Statistics (5 units)
- Note: Effective Fall 2023, Public Affairs 60 is not open for credit to students with credit for Economics 41, Political Science 6, Statistics 10, 12, 13, or 15. If you have completed one of these courses, contact the Public Affairs Undergraduate Program to discuss your eligibility to petition for a course substitution.
- PUB AFF 80. How Social Environments Shape Human Development (4 units)
- Three additional major preparation courses from:
- PUB AFF 10. Social Problems and Social Change (5 units)
- PUB AFF 20. Power, Politics, and Policy Change (5 units)
- PUB AFF 30. Comparative Analysis of Wealth, Policy, and Power (5 units)
- PUB AFF 50. Foundations and Debates in Public Thought (5 units)
- PUB AFF 70. Information, Evidence, and Persuasion (4 units)
You can view course descriptions on the UCLA Registrar’s Office website here, and the quarterly Schedule of Classes here. Visit the Public Affairs Enrollment Procedures webpage for a list of the current academic year course offerings.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS MAJOR UPPER DIVISION REQUIREMENTS
The Public Affairs major upper division coursework consists of 10 upper division courses totaling 42 units. You must complete the major upper division requirements with a minimum 2.0 GPA. All major courses must be taken for a letter grade.
Required: 10 courses/45 units
- Theory Courses (2 courses, 8 units): Select two courses from the following list:
- PUB AFF M109. Introduction to Cities and Planning (4 units)
- PUB AFF 110. The Urban Revolution: Space and Society in Global Context (4 units)
- PUB AFF 111. Microeconomics: Market Failures and Inequality (4 units)
- PUB AFF 112. Social Movements (4 units)
- PUB AFF 113. Policy Analysis: Approaches to Addressing Social Problems (4 units)
- PUB AFF 114. People, Organizations, and Systems (4 units)
- Methods Courses (2 courses, 10 units)
- PUB AFF 115. Using Quantitative Methods to Understand Social Problems and their Potential Solutions (5 units)
- PUB AFF 116. Using Qualitative Methods to Understand Social Problems and their Potential Solutions (5 units)
- Capstone Requirement (3 courses, 15 units): Click here to learn more about the Experiential Learning Requirement.
- PUB AFF 187AX. Experiential Learning Capstone (5 units)
- PUB AFF 187BX. Experiential Learning Capstone (5 units)
- PUB AFF 187CX. Experiential Learning Capstone (5 units)
- Elective Courses (3 courses, 12 units)
- Elective courses for the Public Affairs major are selected from Public Affairs (PUB AFF) courses numbered 100-199 that are not already being used to satisfy the theory requirement, methods requirement, and capstone requirement.
- Elective courses can also be selected from Urban Planning (URBN PL) 100-199, Social Welfare (SOC WLF) 100-199, Public Policy (PUB PLC) 100-199, and Gerontology (GRNTLGY) 100-199.
- New electives are added every year. Please visit the Public Affairs Enrollment Procedures page for the most up to date listings.
You can view course descriptions on the UCLA Registrar’s Office website here, and the quarterly Schedule of Classes here. Visit the Public Affairs Enrollment Procedures webpage for a list of the current academic year course offerings.
MAJOR WORKSHEETS
For an outline of the B.A. in Public Affairs degree and major requirements, click the links below:
Public Affairs Major Requirements (Effective Fall 2018 through Winter 2023)
OVERVIEW
Students who were admitted to the Public Affairs major Fall 2018 through Winter 2023 must complete 8 major preparation requirements and 10 upper division major requirements. Read the information below for details.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS MAJOR PREPARATION REQUIREMENTS
The Public Affairs major preparation coursework consists of the following 8 major preparation courses totaling 38 units. All major preparation courses must be completed with a minimum C grade. All major courses must be taken for a letter grade.
Required: 8 courses/38 units
- PUB AFF 10. Social Problems and Social Change (5 units)
- PUB AFF 20. Power, Politics, and Policy Change (5 units)
- PUB AFF 30. Comparative Analysis of Wealth, Policy, and Power (5 units)
- PUB AFF 40. Microeconomics for Public Affairs (5 units)
- PUB AFF 50. Foundations and Debates in Public Thought (5 units)
- PUB AFF 60. Using Data to Learn about Society: Introduction to Empirical Research and Statistics (5 units)
- Note: Effective Fall 2023, Public Affairs 60 is not open for credit to students with credit for Economics 41, Political Science 6, Statistics 10, 12, 13, or 15. If you have completed one of these courses, contact the Public Affairs Undergraduate Program to discuss your eligibility to petition for a course substitution.
- PUB AFF 70. Information, Evidence, and Persuasion (4 units)
- PUB AFF 80. How Social Environments Shape Human Development (4 units)
You can view course descriptions on the UCLA Registrar’s Office website here, and the quarterly Schedule of Classes here. Visit the Public Affairs Enrollment Procedures webpage for a list of the current academic year course offerings.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS MAJOR UPPER DIVISION REQUIREMENTS
The Public Affairs major upper division coursework consists of 10 upper division courses totaling 42 units. You must complete the major upper division requirements with a minimum 2.0 GPA. All major courses must be taken for a letter grade.
Required: 10 courses/42 units
- Theory Courses (2 courses, 8 units):Select two courses from the following list:
- PUB AFF M109. Introduction to Cities and Planning (4 units)
- PUB AFF 110. The Urban Revolution: Space and Society in Global Context (4 units)
- PUB AFF 111. Microeconomics: Market Failures and Inequality (4 units)
- PUB AFF 112. Social Movements (4 units)
- PUB AFF 113. Policy Analysis: Approaches to Addressing Social Problems (4 units)
- PUB AFF 114. People, Organizations, and Systems (4 units)
- Methods Courses (2 courses, 10 units)
- PUB AFF 115. Using Quantitative Methods to Understand Social Problems and their Potential Solutions (5 units)
- PUB AFF 116. Using Qualitative Methods to Understand Social Problems and their Potential Solutions (5 units)
- Capstone Requirement (3 courses, 15 units): Click here to learn more about the Experiential Learning Requirement.
- PUB AFF 187AX. Experiential Learning Capstone (5 units)
- PUB AFF 187BX. Experiential Learning Capstone (5 units)
- PUB AFF 187CX. Experiential Learning Capstone (5 units)
- Elective Courses (3 courses, 12 units)
- Elective courses for the Public Affairs major are selected from Public Affairs (PUB AFF) courses numbered 100-199 that are not already being used to satisfy the theory requirement, methods requirement, and capstone requirement.
- Elective courses can also be selected from Urban Planning (URBN PL) 100-199, Social Welfare (SOC WLF) 100-199, Public Policy (PUB PLC) 100-199, and Gerontology (GRNTLGY) 100-199.
- New electives are added every year. Please visit the Public Affairs Enrollment Procedures page for the most up to date listings.
You can view course descriptions on the UCLA Registrar’s Office website here, and the quarterly Schedule of Classes here. Visit the Public Affairs Enrollment Procedures webpage for a list of the current academic year course offerings.
MAJOR WORKSHEETS
For an outline of the B.A. in Public Affairs degree and major requirements, click the links below:
Public Affairs Experiential Learning Capstone Requirement
Students pursuing the B.A. in Public Affairs must complete the 3-quarter experiential learning capstone experience that consists of a 3-quarter internship totaling 220 hours, 3-quarter seminar (PUB AFF 187 series), and culminating capstone project. Public Affairs majors enroll in the 3-quarter capstone seminar series (4 units per quarter) PUB AFF 187AX, PUB AFF 187BX, and PUB AFF 187CX, during their final year at UCLA.
Public Affairs capstone internships can range from internships in community-based organizations, social enterprise businesses, or regional governments. Student who participate in UC Center Sacramento, Quarter in Washington Program (or, UCDC), or Global Internship Program, may petition to satisfy the first quarter of the experiential learning capstone with coursework completed through these programs.
The capstone internship is accompanied by the PUB AFF 187 seminar that enables students to reflect on and share their engagement experience with classmates, apply what they have learned in their coursework to their community or public engagement, and analyze how the engagement experience conforms with or differs from what they learned in coursework. This experiential-learning opportunity culminates with a capstone project in the spring quarter that integrates the student’s field experience with theories and methods learned in their coursework.
Learn more about the Public Affairs experiential learning capstone series, opportunities, and requirements on the Public Affairs Experiential Learning page.
Important Policies for the Public Affairs Major
The following policies apply to the Public Affairs Major:
- The Luskin School of Public Affairs requires the same University, Writing, Quantitative Reasoning, Diversity, and General Education Requirements as the College of Letters & Science.
- All courses for the Public Affairs pre-major and major must be taken for a letter grade.
- Exceptions due to the COVID-19 Pandemic: While all requirements for the Public Affairs major must be completed for a letter grade, this requirement was waived for courses taken in Spring 2020, Summer 2020, Winter 2021, Spring 2021, Fall 2021, Winter 2022, and Spring 2022. During these terms, students who earned a grade of Pass in a Public Affairs major course must petition to apply the course toward the major requirements; approval is not guaranteed. Grades of No Pass do not satisfy major requirements. Contact the Public Affairs Undergraduate Program via MyUCLA Message Center for questions about this exception.
- Effective Fall 2023, Public Affairs 60 is not open for credit to students with credit for Economics 41, Political Science 6, Statistics 10, 12, 13, or 15. If you have completed one of these courses, contact the Public Affairs Undergraduate Program via MyUCLA Message Center to discuss your eligibility to petition for a course substitution.
- All upper division courses for the major must be from the Luskin subject areas in Public Affairs, Urban Planning, Gerontology, Public Policy, Social Welfare. Students can petition to use courses outside of the Luskin subject areas but petitions will be considered on a case-by-case basis and approval is not guaranteed.
- Students may only take one elective course outside of Luskin subject areas and the course must be approved by petition. Any student who wishes to take more than one elective from outside the Luskin subject areas should meet with the Public Affairs Undergraduate Program to discuss the petition process. Be advised that approval is not guaranteed.
Course Descriptions, Course Offerings, and Enrollment
Course Descriptions
You can view course descriptions for all Luskin undergraduate courses (numbered 1-199) on the UCLA Registrar’s Office website. Click the links below to view the course descriptions for each of the Luskin disciplines:
- Public Affairs Course Descriptions
- Urban Planning Course Descriptions
- Public Policy Course Descriptions
- Social Welfare Course Descriptions
- Gerontology Course Descriptions
Public Affairs Course Offerings
You can view the current and tentative lower and upper division course offerings for the current academic year on the Public Affairs Enrollment Procedures page here. To view current course offerings, access the Schedule of Classes on the UCLA Registrar’s Office website here (search by term and department). For questions about planning your courses, contact the Public Affairs Undergraduate Program via MyUCLA Message Center.
Enroll in Public Affairs Courses
UCLA undergraduate students enroll in courses through MyUCLA Class Planner. You can learn more about enrollment procedures for Public Affairs and Luskin undergraduate courses (numbered 1-199) on our website here. For questions about enrollment in Public Affairs courses, contact the Public Affairs Undergraduate Program via MyUCLA Message Center.
Sample Program Plans
To help you plan your courses and ensure you complete all degree requirements by your intended degree candidacy term, you can access and download sample 2, 3, and 4-year degree plans linked below.
Once admitted to UCLA, we encourage you to schedule regular appointments with a Luskin undergraduate academic counselor to discuss your progress and outline a strategic degree plan that accounts for your degree requirements as well as your career and graduate/professional school plans. To schedule an appointment with a Luskin undergraduate academic counselor, submit your appointment request via MyUCLA Message Center.
Planning Your Degree
Academic Counseling for Students Pursuing the B.A. in Public Affairs
Students pursuing the Public Affairs major must work closely with a Luskin undergraduate academic counselor to ensure they are completing all degree requirements, including major requirements, within their time-to-degree and unit maximum. Speak with a Luskin Academic Counselor through MyUCLA Message Center.
LUSKIN ACADEMIC COUNSELING FOR STUDENTS ADMITTED TO UCLA AS FRESHMEN
Undergraduate students who were admitted to UCLA as freshmen and who are pursuing the Public Affairs pre-major work with both College of Letters & Science and Luskin undergraduate academic counselors.
While a student is coded as a Public Affairs pre-major, the College of Letters & Science serves as the primary academic counseling unit and the Public Affairs Undergraduate Program serves as their departmental counselors. College counseling is comprised of four counseling units: Academic Advancement Program, Athletics, Honors, and College Academic Counseling. For more information about College advising click here.
Once a student is admitted to the Luskin School of Public Affairs and Public Affairs major, the Public Affairs Undergraduate Program serves both as their primary academic counseling unit and their departmental counselors.
Due to the structure of Athletics and College Honors, some students will continue to work with College counselors. Public Affairs majors who are also student athletes will continue to work with Athletics College Counselors to ensure they are meeting NCAA requirements, but Athletics will not monitor their degree progress, process petitions, or assist with enrollment. Similarly, Public Affairs majors who are completing the College Honors Program will continue to work with Honors Counselors to monitor their progress through the Honors Program curriculum, but College Honors will not monitor their degree progress, process petitions, or assist with enrollment.
LUSKIN ACADEMIC COUNSELING FOR TRANSFER STUDENTS
The Public Affairs Undergraduate Program serves as both as the primary academic counseling unit and departmental counselors for undergraduate students pursuing the B.A. in Public Affairs who are admitted to UCLA as transfer students.
Due to the structure of Athletics and College Honors, some transfer students will also work with College counselors. Public Affairs majors who are also student athletes will continue to work with Athletics College Counselors to ensure they are meeting NCAA requirements, but Athletics will not monitor their degree progress, process petitions, or assist with enrollment. Similarly, Public Affairs majors who are completing the College Honors Program will continue to work with Honors Counselors to monitor their progress through the Honors Program curriculum, but College Honors will not monitor their degree progress, process petitions, or assist with enrollment.
Graduating Early as a Public Affairs Major
Students who plan to graduate early must request approval from the Public Affairs Undergraduate Program. To be eligible to graduate early, the student’s proposed degree plan for early graduation must account for all degree requirements and accommodate the Public Affairs three-quarter capstone preparation process and the three-quarter sequential capstone requirement. Be advised that requests to graduate early may be denied if a student’s proposed early graduation plan does not accommodate B.A. in Public Affairs experiential learning capstone requirement.
Students who plan to graduate early must contact the Public Affairs Capstone Advisor via MyUCLA Message Center as early as possible to discuss their eligibility to graduate early and outline a plan for early graduation. For more information about graduating early as a Public Affairs major, click here.
Public Affairs Majors Pursuing a Double Major or Minor
OVERVIEW
Students who are pursing the Public Affairs major have the option to pursue a double major and/or minor, provided they meet the eligibility criteria for the respective major or minor. Students who are interested in pursuing a double major and/or minor must work closely with a Luskin academic counselor to ensure they can complete all degree requirements within their time-to-degree and at a manageable pace and course load. Students are not granted additional time to complete a double major and/or minor.
To help you plan your courses and ensure you complete all degree requirements by your intended degree candidacy term, you can access and download a sample 2, 3, and 4-year program plans. To view sample program plans for other majors, visit the “Tassels to the Left: Degree Paths” website.
SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS POLICY ON DOUBLE MAJORS
Effective Fall 2023 and thereafter, students in good academic standing may be permitted to pursue a double major between the School of Public Affairs and other academic units. The second major must be outside the School (e.g., Public Affairs major and Economics major). With few exceptions, double majors in the same department are unacceptable[1]. Students must be able to complete the proposed double major within the 216 units maximum and their time-to-degree. Students completing a double major within their time-to-degree may petition to exceed the 216 units maximum and approval is not guaranteed.
The School of Public Affairs determines final approval of a double major request. Review is done on a case-by-case basis, and filing the request does not guarantee approval. Students interested in a double major should contact the Public Affairs Undergraduate Program for an outline of criteria required for the petition.
If approved, no more than 20 upper-division units may be shared by both majors, and a minimum of 20 upper division units applied toward the major must be unique to the major.
SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS POLICY ON MINORS AND SPECIALIZATIONS
Students in good academic standing may petition for a minor provided they can complete the requirements within 216 units and their time-to-degree. Students completing a minor within their time-to-degree may petition to exceed the 216 units maximum and approval is not guaranteed.
Effective Fall 2020, students pursuing the Public Affairs major cannot pursue a minor in Public Affairs or Urban and Regional Studies.
A minimum of 20 units applied toward the minor requirements must be in addition to units applied toward major requirements or another minor.
Students may petition for the Computing specializations, which are sequences of supplemental courses that enhance work in a major.
The School of Public Affairs determines final approval of a minor or computing specialization request. Review is done on a case-by-case basis, and filing the request does not guarantee approval. Students interested in a minor or computing specialization should contact the Public Affairs Undergraduate Program for an outline of criteria required for the petition.
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FOOTNOTES:
[1] Examples of the majors in the same department include, Economics and Business Economics in the Department of Economics; and Psychology, Psychobiology, and Cognitive Science in the Department of Psychology.
Studying Abroad as a Public Affairs Major
OVERVIEW
Students who are pursing the Public Affairs major have the option to study abroad. Because Luskin has limitations on when students can study abroad, it is important that students speak with a Luskin undergraduate academic counselor early in their UCLA career to discuss their study abroad interests and incorporate study abroad into their program plan.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS STUDY ABROAD ACADEMIC PLANNING FORM (APF)
Public Affairs pre-majors and majors who wish to study abroad must submit to the Public Affairs Undergraduate Program an Academic Planning Form (APF) to receive program planning clearance for the courses they intend to complete while participating in their study abroad program. The purpose of the APF is to ensure that the student’s plan to study abroad allows them to complete all degree requirements within their time-to-degree, does not interfere with the required Public Affairs experiential learning capstone requirement, and is compliant with the major residency and senior residency requirements.
It is recommended that students meet with a Luskin academic counselor to discuss their plan to study abroad, review their intended program plan, and review the policies and procedures for GE, major, and/or minor course substitution petitions. Course substitution petitions are reviewed by a faculty committee and approval is not guaranteed.
For questions about the Public Affairs Academic Planning Form please contact the Public Affairs Undergraduate Program via MyUCLA Message Center.
To learn more about study abroad opportunities, visit the UCLA International Education Office.
Preparing for Graduate/Professional School
The B.A. in Public Affairs is designed to prepare students to be competitive to apply to any of the professional schools (business, law, public policy, social welfare, urban planning, education, public health) and to master’s and doctoral programs in the social sciences and education. Our Luskin Undergraduate Academic Counselors can recommend courses, research opportunities, and experiential learning placements tailored to your graduate school aspirations.
Careers in Public Affairs
The B.A. in Public Affairs provides a strong foundation in multidisciplinary social science theories and methods. The B.A. also helps students develop strong analytical, communications, and data analysis skills. In addition, it gives students the opportunity to apply this knowledge in a professional environment to help organizations address social problems and improve the quality of people’s lives. Taken together, the coursework and experiential learning component of the Public Affairs B.A. prepare graduates for entry-level employment in the public, nonprofit, or private sectors. The major also prepares students for graduate study in a wide range of fields including the social sciences, law, public policy, social welfare, urban planning, and education. Career paths for students with a Public Affairs B.A. include law, politics, research and data analysis, business and management, communications, teaching, public health, and academia, among others.
