| Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy

Undergraduate BA major and minor in public policy

Why choose the Ford School? We face unprecedented, complex public challenges—inequality, climate change, access to education, refugee crises, and so much more. Our world needs the efforts of an energetic, committed, creative generation—prepared...

Thank you for your interest in our undergraduate programs

Undergraduate studies at the Ford School are based in social science disciplines such as sociology, economics, and political science-layered with analysis of and engagement with real-world public challenges. Our coursework emphasizes teamwork,...
Program in Practical Policy Projects

Tobacco Policy in Schools

September 2021 - December 2021
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Sharon C. Espinosa (MPP ‘23), Karina Zanyk McLean (MPP ‘23)
This team of students partnered with the American Heart Association Department of Health Strategies to help develop recommendations for schools to use in developing tobacco policies. The team researched current school policies throughout Michigan and the U.S. to identify best practices of reducing tobacco usage among student populations. The students were encouraged to identify policies that use a lesser or non-punitive approach in terms of punishing offenders within a student body. In addition, the team used their findings to craft policy recommendations for revising current...
Program in Practical Policy Projects

The People’s Budgeting Project

September 2021 - December 2021
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Larry Kata (MPP/MHI ‘22), Sharif Krabti (MSW ‘21), Rachel Schafer (MPP ‘22), Michelle Ubah (MPP ‘22), Maheen Zahid (MPP ‘22)
The team’s research sought to uncover how to create a more participatory, justice-centered budgeting process for Washtenaw County. Their final presentation summarizes these findings in a way that’s accessible to citizens looking to become engaged around this issue.  The team focused on 1) current county budget processes and 2) best practices for implementing participatory budgeting. They found that while change tends to be incremental, there are signs that trying to create more opportunities to change the budgeting process is viable. If those changes come in the form of participatory...