Anonymous
Post 06/09/2026 09:28     Subject: Public policy
Here we go again with the STEM people saying all the liberal arts degrees are useless.

Uh, someone has to understand how government can work, how business and government operate in tandem, how to train an LLM and so on.

We won't always live in a time when using ones brain is seen as a negative.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2026 08:55     Subject: Public policy
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Some get a MPA or MPP while working and work pays for it


But what about a bachelor's public policy degree? Useless other than to get a bachelor's degree in something?



UVA has a very strong undergrad PP program through the Batten school plus a Masters program and a joint masters/PhD program. Those I’ve known who have done undergrad and/or the MPP program tend to go on to law school

What makes it very strong. It seems to be useless for a degree if students are just going to law school.


Exactly. It sounds up there with a History major


Yep, History's just absolutely useless unless you want employees able to (1) absorb and investigate vast amounts of information and make sense out of it, and (2) write well. If you don't do either well, you won't need to worry about your undergraduate major or institution.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2026 00:17     Subject: Public policy
Anonymous wrote:It's a great major and one that is increasingly important.


I will take what no one said ever for $100 Alex.
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2026 22:26     Subject: Public policy
It's a great major and one that is increasingly important.
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2026 22:12     Subject: Public policy
Anonymous wrote:Duke has an incredible public policy program. The analysis and thinking skills you learn are valuable for many things. Law school, Wall Street, consulting, or actual public policy. I knew a few pre-med but that is very rare.

And you apply to Duke in general then just choose it as your major. No specialized app.


lol
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2026 22:05     Subject: Public policy
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Some get a MPA or MPP while working and work pays for it


But what about a bachelor's public policy degree? Useless other than to get a bachelor's degree in something?



UVA has a very strong undergrad PP program through the Batten school plus a Masters program and a joint masters/PhD program. Those I’ve known who have done undergrad and/or the MPP program tend to go on to law school

What makes it very strong. It seems to be useless for a degree if students are just going to law school.


Exactly. It sounds up there with a History major
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2026 21:31     Subject: Public policy
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Some get a MPA or MPP while working and work pays for it


But what about a bachelor's public policy degree? Useless other than to get a bachelor's degree in something?



UVA has a very strong undergrad PP program through the Batten school plus a Masters program and a joint masters/PhD program. Those I’ve known who have done undergrad and/or the MPP program tend to go on to law school

What makes it very strong. It seems to be useless for a degree if students are just going to law school.
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2026 21:29     Subject: Public policy
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Some get a MPA or MPP while working and work pays for it


But what about a bachelor's public policy degree? Useless other than to get a bachelor's degree in something?



UVA has a very strong undergrad PP program through the Batten school plus a Masters program and a joint masters/PhD program. Those I’ve known who have done undergrad and/or the MPP program tend to go on to law school
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2026 16:42     Subject: Public policy
Can get a research assistant job in a think tank if any still exist under T2.0
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2026 14:58     Subject: Public policy
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Some get a MPA or MPP while working and work pays for it


But what about a bachelor's public policy degree? Useless other than to get a bachelor's degree in something?

Pretty much. Some people spend a few years working in campaigns but eventually you reach the age of 25 and you’d like some money and career progression
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2026 14:49     Subject: Public policy
I was a public policy major back in the day. Most of us went to law school.
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2026 14:03     Subject: Public policy
Duke has an incredible public policy program. The analysis and thinking skills you learn are valuable for many things. Law school, Wall Street, consulting, or actual public policy. I knew a few pre-med but that is very rare.

And you apply to Duke in general then just choose it as your major. No specialized app.
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2026 12:33     Subject: Public policy
Anonymous wrote:Some get a MPA or MPP while working and work pays for it


But what about a bachelor's public policy degree? Useless other than to get a bachelor's degree in something?
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2026 08:49     Subject: Public policy
Some get a MPA or MPP while working and work pays for it
Anonymous
Post 06/08/2026 08:04     Subject: Public policy
How is public policy looking these days? Health policy, tech policy, education policy and other cross policy areas? Worth getting a public policy degree? What jobs and careers exist in the field and how much of an impact has AI or will AI have?