What Can I Do with a Major in Public Policy?

Overview of Major

The Bachelor of Science in Public Policy (B.S. PUBP) provides strong analytical, communication, management, and leadership skills to students seeking careers in public service, law, and the private sector—sectors in which professionals need to understand how government works and can be helped to work better. These skills are coupled with a solid understanding of the complex political, social, ethical, and economic forces that shape public problems and their solutions.

The B.S. PUBP program has a strong focus on critical thinking and analytic skills in multiple disciplines. The B.S. PUBP core curriculum provides a solid foundation in areas such as economics, organizational behavior, politics, and philosophy, then emphasizes problem-solving and analysis. At the same time, students choose two clusters in particular areas of policy to gain breadth and depth, and they can use their many free electives to build greater strengths in policy, law, philosophy, or political science—or they can pursue a minor or certificate in language, economics, international affairs, history, management, etc. 

Past Public Policy Majors' Internship and Co-op Job Titles and Employers           

EmployerJob Title
ACLU of GeorgiaPolicy Intern
Americares FoundationStrategic Partnerships Intern
Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionIntern
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro AtlantaSpecial Events Intern
Centennial AcademyIntern
Center for Civic InnovationProgram Coordinator Intern
Children's Healthcare of AtlantaChild Advocacy Intern
City of Atlanta Office of ResilienceIntern for Chief Sustainability Officer
Civic DinnersCommunications & External Operations Intern
Clarkston Community CollegeSummer Camp Coordinator Internship
CNN-Turner BroadcastingInternational Features Intern
Congressional Black Caucus FoundationNo job title reported for Congressional Black Caucus Foundation
Corporation for National and Community ServiceGovernment Relations Intern
Deborah Silcox, Georgia House of RepresentativesIntern to the Representative
Delta Air LinesCo-Op, Corporate Security Intel and Risk Mitigation
Democratic Party of GeorgiaIntern
Department of Defense (DoD), Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for PolicyIntern - Stability and Humanitarian Affairs
Department of Energy (Washington, DC)Intern
Department of the InteriorIntern, Deputy Secretary's Office
GDOT (Georgia Department of Transportation)Policy and governmental affair intern
Georgia General Assembly Legislative Intern Program
  • Communications Intern (Senate Press Office)
  • Legislative Intern
Georgia House Democratic CaucusIntern
Georgia House of Representatives
  • Legislative Aide
  • Caption Clerk
Georgia Partnership for Excellence in EducationResearch Intern
Georgia State Senate (Atlanta, Georgia)Senate Intern
Georgia Tech Center for Serve-Learn-Sustain

City of Atlanta Urban Agriculture Intern

Serve-Learn-Sustain iGniTe/GT1000Sustainable Communities Summer Intern

Georgia Tech Center for Serve-Learn-Sustain | Small Bites Adventure Club
Information Management and Outreach Intern
GeorgiaLink Public Affairs GroupLegislative Intern
GivingPointManager of School Partnership and Social Media
Glover Park GroupIntern
Governor's Intern ProgramStudent Intern
Governor's Office of Planning and BudgetIntern
Groundwork AtlantaSocial Media and Engagement Intern
Historic District Development CorporationSAGE RCE Coordination Intern
Historic Westside GardensIntern
Humorist MediaIntern
Judicial Council/Administrative Office of the CourtsLegislative Intern
Just CityPolicy and Data Analyst Intern
KnowBe4Data Privacy Intern
Lincoln County Board of CommissionersGrant Writing Intern
Mallory Hagan for CongressIntern
MITRE CorporationHealth Analyst Intern
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)Science Mission Directorate Intern
NCR VoyixESG Intern
Office of Congressman John LewisIntern
Office of Congressman Rich McCormick, U.S House of RepresentativesCongressional Intern
Office of Congressman Sanford BishopEnergy and Environmental Policy Advisory Intern
Office of Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-CortezLegislative Intern
Office of Congresswoman, Karen HandelIntern
Office of Secretary of StateIntern
Office of U.S. Senator Mike RoundsSenate Intern
Office of U.S. Senator Benjamin CardinOffice Intern
Office of U.S. Senator David PerdueGovernment Relations Intern
Oldcastle APG IncStrategic Initiatives Intern
Park PrideAdvocacy and Community Building Intern
Peachtree Government RelationsLobbying Intern
Piedmont Park ConservancyDevelopment Intern
PlantlantaSLS Summer Intern
Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer ResearchAdvocacy Intern
Refugee's Women NetworkIntern
Sanford BishopEnergy Policy Intern
Senator Johnny IsaksonIntern
Shea Roberts for Georgia, Inc.Chief of Staff
State Charter Schools Commission of GeorgiaIntern
Technology & Social Change Group (TASCHA) at the University of Washington Information SchoolResearcher
The Borgen ProjectPolitical Affairs Internship
The Carter Center
  • Mental Health Department Intern
  • Health Program Development Internship
The White HouseOffice of Operations Intern
Transformation AllianceIntern
U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)Intern
U.S. House of Representatives
  • Intern for Congressman John Lewis
  • Internship with Congressman Earl L. "Buddy" Carter
  • Legislative Intern
United States Customs & Immigration ServicesImmigrant Investor Program Intern
UrbanTransProgram Management Intern
Wellspring LivingOperations Intern
White House Office of Science and Technology PolicyIntern

Common Career Areas

Area/IndustryPathsEmployers
Business
  • Sales
  • Human Resources
  • Management
  • Public Relations
  • Market Research
  • Customer Service
  • Product and Service Organizations
  • Retail Stores
  • Hotels
  • Restaurants
  • Manufacturers
  • Insurance Companies
Federal Government
  • Public Policy
  • Research
  • Intelligence
  • Foreign Service
  • Law Enforcement
  • General Services
  • There are over 170 federal departments and agencies.
Health Policy
  • Research
  • Policy analysis
  • Policy development
  • Legislative work
  • Lobbying
  • Hospitals, Health Systems, and Clinics
  • Medical Groups
  • Hospices
  • Home Health Agencies
  • Long-Term Care Facilities
  • Mental Health Facilities
  • Managed Care Organizations
  • Health Finance Organizations
  • Insurance companies
Law
  • Law Assistance
  • Prosecution
  • Defense
  • Contractual
  • Corporate
  • Nonprofit or Public Interest
  • Law Firms
  • State and Local Government
  • Corporations  
  • Public Interest Organizations
Local and State Government
  • Public Policy
  • City or Town Management
  • Legislative, Executive, or Judicial Services
  • Program Administration
  • General Services
  • Counties
  • Cities
  • Municipalities
  • Townships
  • School Districts
  • Departments of State Government
Non-Profit
  • Administration
  • Management
  • Fund Raising/Development
  • Policy Analysis
  • Research
  • Local and National Nonprofit Agencies
  • Charitable Organizations
  • Trade or Professional Associations
  • Foundations
  • Special Interest Groups
  • Labor Unions
  • Libraries
Politics
  • Elected or Appointed Leadership
  • Campaign Management
  • Staff Administration
  • Special Interest Advocacy
  • Political Advising
  • Legislative, Executive, or Judicial Officials
  • National, State, or Local Government
  • Campaigns: National, State, or Local
  • Industrial, Educational, and Public Interest Groups
  • Lobbying Organizations
Regional and Urban Planning
  • Transportation
  • Demography
  • Housing
  • Community Development
  • Program Development
  • Historic Preservation
  • Urban Design
  • Architecture
  • Federal, State, and Local Government
  • Local planning agencies
  • Real Estate and Development Contractors
  • Investment Companies
  • Transportation Agencies
  • Zoning Administration
  • Utility Companies

Student Organizations

Campus Resources

Online Resources

Jobs and Employment

ONET and Occupational Outlook Career Research

Professional Associations

Additional Resources