University of North Carolina Department of Public Policy

University of North Carolina Department of Public Policy Welcome to the Department of Public Policy at the University of North Carolina! The Ph.D. Please contact us if you would like to hear more.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has a strong commitment to public policy education and research, and to engagement with the public to improve policy outcomes. This page provides a gateway to the Department of Public Policy and the new Carolina Institute for Public Policy, and links to other related units. The Department offers a distinctive emphasis on public policy educat

ion and research at the undergraduate and doctoral levels, rather than on professional master's degrees. Our undergraduate major includes strong preparation in writing and analysis, personal advising, internship opportunities (including an optional Washington Policy Semester), thesis research experience, and a capstone practicum in which our students develop policy solutions for public agencies and non-profit organizations. in Public Policy provides a strong core curriculum in research design and methods, policy economics and institutions, and ethics, and particular strengths in education and child policy, domestic and international social policy, health, aging, immigration, environmental policy, and entrepreneurship and innovation. Our doctoral graduates now hold positions in many leading universities and policy research organizations. We invite you to share the intellectual excitement we experience here every day. Please also visit us on twitter! www.twitter.com/uncpublicpolicy

Still looking for a PLCY elective for next semester? Consider PLCY 590: Debt, Wealth, & Public Policy. Enroll in the cou...
04/20/2026

Still looking for a PLCY elective for next semester? Consider PLCY 590: Debt, Wealth, & Public Policy. Enroll in the course through ConnectCarolina during open enrollment, beginning today!

Course Description: Why do some families build wealth while others stay trapped in debt? And, what role does policy play? This course explores how public policies in areas like higher education finance, consumer credit, and homeownership shape who gets ahead and who falls behind in the United States. Students will learn to analyze real policy systems, evaluate evidence on what works (and what doesn't), and understand why the wealth gap and not just income inequality is central to questions of economic mobility and financial security. This course is open to all students who want to think critically about how policy shapes economic opportunity in America.

Join us on Friday, April 24th to celebrate the community driven public policy projects and internships completed during ...
04/08/2026

Join us on Friday, April 24th to celebrate the community driven public policy projects and internships completed during the 2026-academic year. This is a poster event, so drop in anytime between 10:30 am to 12:00 pm for discussion and snacks.

In keeping with Carolina’s IDEAs in Action Curriculum, UNC Public Policy’s experiential education programs offer students structured, active learning opportunities that invite them to explain the connections between academic studies and outside-the-classroom experiences, apply knowledge in complex situations, and use these experiences to raise or answer questions in academic settings.

To learn more about all our offerings in the experiential learning program, please visit our website (Linked in bio).

Congrats on all of your hard work this year, TarHeels!

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UNC Public Policy seniors put their skills to work through the Public Policy Capstone course— partnering with communitie...
03/30/2026

UNC Public Policy seniors put their skills to work through the Public Policy Capstone course— partnering with communities, tackling real policy challenges, and making a difference beyond the classroom.

Read the full story on our website to see how students from the Fall 2025 Capstone course are creating meaningful change using their skills aquired in the classroom.

Address

Abernathy Drive
Chapel Hill, NC
27599

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+19199621600

Website

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