Solve problems. Serve communities. Build practical skills for public impact.
Public Service & Policy Major
Learn how policy is created, build practical leadership and analytical skills, and prepare to make an impact through public service in any sector.
Public service is about more than government or politics.
Every day, people improve their communities from city halls, nonprofit organizations, schools, healthcare systems, community organizations, and mission-driven businesses. What they have in common is a desire to solve problems and make informed decisions.
The Public Service & Policy major helps you build the skills to do exactly that.
At the Evans School, you’ll learn to:
- Understand how public decisions are made.
- Use data and other forms of evidence to analyze complex problems.
- Communicate with people who bring different perspectives to the table.
- Build leadership and management skills that help organizations succeed.
- Work with others to develop practical, people-centered solutions.
You’ll leave with a toolkit you can use wherever your career takes you.
National reputation. Personal experience.
Why Major in PSP at the Evans School?
Why Study at the Evans School?
The Evans School has spent more than 60 years preparing leaders to improve communities through public policy and governance.
As an undergraduate student, you’ll benefit from:
- Faculty with real-world expertise. Learn from faculty whose teaching is informed by experience in public policy, public service, research, and leadership.
- Interdisciplinary coursework. Explore topics across the University of Washington while building a strong foundation in policy, leadership, research methods, and public service through Evans coursework.
- A Bachelor of Arts with practical value. Combine the breadth of a liberal arts education with the applied learning of a professional school. You’ll strengthen skills in critical thinking, communication, analysis, and problem solving that employers value across sectors.
- Experiential learning. Put your learning into practice through a policy lab, where you’ll work with a professional client to address a real-world challenge.
- A welcoming academic community. Join a close-knit community that encourages collaboration, thoughtful discussion, and learning from different perspectives.
You’ll graduate with practical skills you can use immediately and a strong foundation for graduate study if you choose to continue your education.
Ready to Explore?
Whether you're already a UW student, or planning to transfer to the University of Washington, we'd love to help you explore whether the Public Service & Policy major is right for you. Join an information session, meet with an adviser, and learn about the next declaration deadline.
Learn More About the Major