USC Public Policy
Transfer Requirements and Classes
The major preparation USC lists for Public Policy transfers starts with MATH 117g, PPD 203 and PPD 225; the full list is below.
56 California community colleges have a current transfer agreement with USC for this major. Pick yours below to see which of its classes count.
56
California community colleges with a transfer agreement for Public Policy
Your community college
Which classes count at your community college?
Pick your college to see its class for each USC requirement.
Major Requirements
USC Public Policy Major Preparation
The courses USC lists as Public Policy major preparation for transfer applicants, for the 2026-27 academic year. Course numbers are USC's own; pick your community college above to see the matching class there.
Pre-Major Requirements
Complete all of these
- MATH 117g Precalculus for Business and Economics
- PPD 203 Economic Analysis for Public Policy
Core Curriculum (30 Units)
Complete all of these
- PPD 225 Solving Public Problems
- PPD 240g Citizenship and Public Ethics
- PPD 300 Social Justice Issues in Public Policy and Urban Planning
- PPD 301 PPD Practices: Internship Seminar
- PPD 303 Statistics for Policy, Planning, and Development
- PPD 315 Analytic Foundations for Public Policy
- PPD 373 Public Policy and Planning Analysis
- PPD 431 Undergraduate Policy, Planning, and Development Studio
Health Policy and Management Track
Complete all of these
- PPD 325 Fundamentals of Health Policy and Management
- PPD 330 Introduction to Health Care Systems
- PPD 357 Government and Business
- PPD 413 Management of Health Care Organizations
- PPD 415 Health Policy
Philanthropy, Nonprofits and Social Innovation Track
Complete all of these
- PPD 353 Philanthropy and Social Change
- PPD 371 The Nonprofit Sector and the Public Interest
- PPD 402 Management of Public and Nonprofit Organizations
- PPD 407 Financial Management of Public and Nonprofit Organizations
- PPD 478 Social Innovation
Public Policy and Law Track
Complete all of these
- PPD 313 Finance of the Public Sector
- PPD 314 Public Policy and Law
- PPD 342 Crime and Public Policy
- LAW 300 Concepts in American Law
- POSC 340 Constitutional Law
- LAW 200w Law and Society
- PPD 357 Government and Business
Required Courses
Complete all of these
- PPD 313 Finance of the Public Sector
- PPD 404 Empirical Methods for Public Policy
- PPD 427L Geographic Information Systems and Planning Applications
- DSCI 250 Introduction to Data Science
- PPD 430 Urban Informatics
Urban Environmental and Sustainability Policy Track
Complete all of these
- PPD 245g The Urban Context
- PPD 344 Environmental Policy and Sustainable Development
- PPD 361 Sustainable Communities, Policy and Planning
Two courses selected in consultation with adviser
Complete all of these
- PPD 360 Urban Transportation Planning and Policy
- PPD 380a Urban Problem-Solving and Public Policy
- PPD 400 Topics in Public Policy and Urban Studies
- PPD 410 Comparative Urban Development
- PPD 420 Environmental Impact Assessment
- PPD 422 Transportation Data and Automation
- PPD 430 Urban Informatics
Cross-cutting Topics Course
Complete all of these
- PPD 313 Finance of the Public Sector
- PPD 314 Public Policy and Law
- PPD 325 Fundamentals of Health Policy and Management
- PPD 342 Crime and Public Policy
- PPD 353 Philanthropy and Social Change
- PPD 357 Government and Business
- PPD 371 The Nonprofit Sector and the Public Interest
- PPD 380a Urban Problem-Solving and Public Policy
- PPD 400 Topics in Public Policy and Urban Studies
- PPD 404 Empirical Methods for Public Policy
Also listed by USC
USC lists these under the headings shown, apart from the list above.
Track Electives (Select two)
- ACAD 260 Introduction to Healthcare Innovation
- GERO 416 Health Issues in Adulthood
- HP 408 Environmental Health in the Community
- LAW 403 Mental Health Law
- MEDS 220 Healthcare Foundations: Core Concepts and Terminology
- MEDS 405 Health Care Systems: A Doctor's Perspective
- PPD 314 Public Policy and Law
- PPD 318 Financial Accounting in Public and Nonprofit Organizations
- PPD 320 Organizational Behavior for Public Leadership
- PPD 403 Management Analysis I
- PPD 404 Empirical Methods for Public Policy
- PPD 407 Financial Management of Public and Nonprofit Organizations
- PPD 414 Community Health Policy and Planning
- PPD 478 Social Innovation
- BUCO 485 Business Communication Management for Nonprofits
- IR 371 Global Civil Society: Non-State Actors in World Politics
- PPD 318 Financial Accounting in Public and Nonprofit Organizations
- PPD 320 Organizational Behavior for Public Leadership
- PPD 357 Government and Business
- PPD 372m Public Service in an Urban Setting
- PPD 380a Urban Problem-Solving and Public Policy
- PPD 400 Topics in Public Policy and Urban Studies
- PPD 382 International Development
- PPD 404 Empirical Methods for Public Policy
- PPD 314 Public Policy and Law
- PPD 344 Environmental Policy and Sustainable Development
- PPD 415 Health Policy
- ECON 434 Economic Analysis of Law
- LAW 310w Global Justice for Mass Atrocities and Genocide
- LAW 403 Mental Health Law
- LAW 404 Psychology of the Criminal Justice Process
- POSC 444 Civil and Political Rights and Liberties
- PPD 360 Urban Transportation Planning and Policy
- PPD 361 Sustainable Communities, Policy and Planning
- PPD 371 The Nonprofit Sector and the Public Interest
- PPD 382 International Development
- PPD 404 Empirical Methods for Public Policy
- PPD 410 Comparative Urban Development
- PPD 414 Community Health Policy and Planning
- PPD 439 Housing and Community Development
- PPD 478 Social Innovation
- PPD 485m U.S. Immigration Policy
Electives
- DSCI 250 Introduction to Data Science
- DSCI 352 Applied Machine Learning and Data Mining
- DSCI 429 Security and Privacy
- ECON 303 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory
- PPD 314 Public Policy and Law
- PPD 318 Financial Accounting in Public and Nonprofit Organizations
- PPD 342 Crime and Public Policy
- PPD 357 Government and Business
- PPD 358 Urban and Regional Economics
- PPD 361 Sustainable Communities, Policy and Planning
- PPD 382 International Development
- PPD 407 Financial Management of Public and Nonprofit Organizations
- PPD 415 Health Policy
- PPD 427L Geographic Information Systems and Planning Applications
- PPD 439 Housing and Community Development
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does USC have a Public Policy major for transfer students?
Yes. USC offers Public Policy and lists the major preparation it expects transfer applicants to complete.
What classes do I need to transfer to USC for Public Policy?
USC's Public Policy major preparation includes MATH 117g, PPD 203, PPD 225, PPD 240g, PPD 300 and PPD 301, with more courses in the list on this page. Pick your community college on this page to see which of its classes match.
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