Program Details
Program Details

Program Details

Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy

Bachelor of Arts
Mary Baldwin University

By examining the relationships between government, economics, and communities the Public Policy major prepares students to develop informed solutions to public issues. Graduates will be able to identify policy problems and opportunities, learn how and when to address them within particular social and political contexts, and use analytical, qualitative and quantitative skills to create and evaluate policy solutions. Graduates will be prepared to pursue further study and/or careers in law, public policy, public administration, the social sciences, education, business, and the nonprofit sector.


Program Overview & Guidance
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Program Web Page
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External Link
Delivery Mode
In-Person
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Delivery Mode
Online
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Delivery Mode
Hybrid
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Program Guidance Element What You Need to Know
Considerations for Selecting Degree
Considerations When Selecting Courses

  • Create a schedule for all required courses, pay attention to prerequisites and when courses are offered, complete your first math and English courses in your first year
  • Connect with an advisor at your community college and Mary Baldwin University within your first year
Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses
Doing More With Your Degree
Program Successes & Highlights
Program Credit Requirements
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Applicable Admissions Agreements
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There are no Applicable Admission Agreements for the Program.

What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?
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Transfer Guidance Element What You Need to Know
Associate Transfer Degree Completion AA, AA&S, AS, ADN, and AAS in Human Services fulfill all general education requirements.

Students that transfer in with a qualifying associate's degree will have all Gen Ed requirements met and can meet some degree requirments/prerequisites with transfer credits.
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School Students that transfer in with a qualifying associate's degree will have all Gen Ed requirements met and can meet some degree requirments/prerequisites with transfer credits.
Credit for Prior Learning We accept AP, IB, and CLEP results for college credit if the score earned meets college expectations. MBU Online may also evaluate Prior Learning Portfolios for students. Please see https://marybaldwin.edu/admissions/online/credit/
Did You Know That...
  • Completing your Associate transfer degree post-high school satisfies all lower division general education requirements and increases the chance of completing your bachelor's degree?
  • Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at your community college means you may have exhausted your financial aid at that college and have limited your future financial aid at: Mary Baldwin University
College Level Information
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Transfer Admission Application
Transfer Students - Apply Here
External Link
Transfer Student Aid
Financial Aid for Transfer Students
External Link
College Fit Guidance What You Need to Know
Is This College Right For Me? Mary Baldwin's size allows students to gain maximum benefit from work with faculty who teach and mentor them. The average class size is 17 and very few are larger than 30. Campus housing is available for transfer students, and the campus community creates a variety of social, cultural, and cocurricular activities. Students also become involved in the broader Staunton community because civic engagement is a hallmark of a Mary Baldwin education. Student-athletes can participate in 12 different men's and women's varsity sports. Approximately 20% of students take advantage of this opportunity.
Transfer Student Catalog Year Students are governed by the degree requirements of the Catalog in effect at the time they begin their studies at Mary Baldwin University. However, students have the option of declaring themselves under the jurisdiction of a subsequent catalog; students may choose the Catalog in effect at the time they select a major or at the time they file for graduation. The Catalog governing degree requirements must be within 8 (eight) years of a student’s graduation date. Students transferring to Mary Baldwin University from the Virginia Community College System may elect to declare any Catalog in effect within the twenty-four-month period immediately preceding the term they first enroll.
First Year Student Catalog Year Students are governed by the degree requirements of the Catalog in effect at the time they begin their studies at Mary Baldwin University. However, students have the option of declaring themselves under the jurisdiction of a subsequent catalog; students may choose the Catalog in effect at the time they select a major or at the time they file for graduation. The Catalog governing degree requirements must be within 8 (eight) years of a student’s graduation date. Students transferring to Mary Baldwin University from the Virginia Community College System may elect to declare any Catalog in effect within the twenty-four-month period immediately preceding the term they first enroll.
Applying for Guaranteed Admissions
Where Can This Degree Transfer
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This section displays degrees most closely related to this program and to which you may be able to transfer. So, you can use this list to find the next degree you can complete in your major. Please click the degree name to visit that program page.

Institution Title Degree Award Name Award Level Delivery Mode
Roanoke CollegeBachelor of Arts in Public PolicyBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
William & MaryPublic Policy - Bachelor of ArtsBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearIn-Person
Regent UniversityB.A. in GovernmentBachelorBachelor of Arts4-YearHybrid
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBA in Public & Urban Affairs in Environmental Policy and PlanningBachelorBachelor of Arts in Public and Urban Affairs4-YearIn-Person
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBA in Public & Urban Affairs in Smart and Sustainable CitiesBachelorBachelor of Arts in Public and Urban Affairs4-YearIn-Person
Careers Where This Degree Applies
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O*Net Code Name Description Parent
11-1031.00LegislatorsDevelop, introduce, or enact laws and statutes at the local, tribal, state, or federal level. Includes only workers in elected positions.Management Occupations
25-1065.00Political Science Teachers, PostsecondaryTeach courses in political science, international affairs, and international relations. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
19-3094.00Political ScientistsStudy the origin, development, and operation of political systems. May study topics, such as public opinion, political decisionmaking, and ideology. May analyze the structure and operation of governments, as well as various political entities. May conduct public opinion surveys, analyze election results, or analyze public documents.Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
19-4061.00Social Science Research AssistantsAssist social scientists in laboratory, survey, and other social science research. May help prepare findings for publication and assist in laboratory analysis, quality control, or data management.Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
Cost To Complete
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