Master of Public Policy

at University of New Hampshire - Durham Campus USA

The Option in Accounting prepares students for careers in accounting and the qualifications to obtain certifications, such as certified public accountant (CPA), certified management accountant (CMA), and certified internal auditor (CIA). Accounting is called "the first language" of business for good reason: the fate of many products and marketing campaigns hinges on the financial officer's final analysis. For this reason, successful accounting professionals often assume leadership roles within their companies. 

Further, this option provides students with opportunities in a variety of fields, including internal audit, external audit, tax preparation and planning, and consulting. Demand for accountants is consistently strong. Students may also take advantage of the four-one (5 year) program to earn a M.S. in accounting at Paul College. Obtaining a master's degree aids in preparation and eligibility for the CPA exam and is recommended for future career progression.

The College of Life Sciences and Agriculture (COLSA) and the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences (CEPS) jointly offer a bachelor of science degree in environmental sciences. Environmental science is an interdisciplinary field concerned with the interaction of biological, chemical, and physical processes that shape the environment, and control the response of natural systems to human activities.    Students graduating with a degree in environmental sciences will have an understanding of these interacting processes, experience working in interdisciplinary teams to apply this understanding, and the ability to communicate effectively with both scientific and lay audiences.  While in this program, students will acquire significant experience with field, laboratory and analytical methods appropriate for employment in professional environmental science positions as well as a basic understanding of environmental policy.  The University of New Hampshire is a recognized leader in environmental sciences research, and the environmental sciences program capitalizes on faculty expertise in this area. Program faculty emphasize teaching and research in the areas of biogeochemical cycling, environmental chemistry, ecosystem science, global change, hydrology, plant ecology, soil science, and water resource management among many other fields.

Employment opportunities include environmental consulting firms; educational facilities (e.g., science centers), environmental monitoring laboratories (e.g., water treatment plants, the Environmental Protection Agency), government agencies (e.g., the U.S. Geological Survey, Bureau of Land Management, Natural Resource Conservation Service), university and government research laboratories, and nongovernment environmental organizations. The environmental sciences program also constitutes an excellent preparation for graduate programs in several areas relating to the environment.

The Program has four options, and specific course requirements for the major vary by option. The ecosystems and soils and watersheds options are both managed by the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment in COLSA, and the geosystems and hydrology options are both managed by Earth Sciences in CEPS. 

The bachelor of science degree in public service and nonprofit leadership provides an interdisciplinary, applied approach to the study of public and not-for-profit institutions and actors. Students explore the ways that leaders and citizens work in and around governments to address the complex problems confronted by New Hampshire and the United States today.  

All students choose a path that enables them to complete an accelerated Masters in Public Policy or Masters in Public Administration, where they take their most advanced courses in the Major alongside graduate students in the UNH Carsey School of Public Policy. Those courses count as 12 credits toward their BS degree and as 9 credits toward a UNH-Carsey MPP or MPA, should a student choose to continue on to a Masters. Most students entering as first-year students will be able to complete a combined BS/MPA or BS/MPP within five years. 

Public Service majors develop essential, transferable skills in critical thinking, practical problem solving, communication, teamwork, leadership, civic and community engagement, research, and data analysis. Coursework emphasizes experiential learning, such as interning at the N.H. State House or with local lobbying firms, engaged research in the real world, and hands-on service learning at a range of not-for-profit organizations in health, human services, advocacy, and the arts. All students must undertake at least one semester-long internship and at least one independent research project to be presented at the UNH Undergraduate Research Conference. 

Public service and nonprofit leadership graduates can pursue careers in state and local government, political campaigns, advocacy, non-profit organizations, journalism, education, and more, and are prepared to pursue graduate studies in law, public policy, public administration, community development, and public health. 

The department of Earth Sciences offers a Master of Science degree with a specialization in Geochemical Systems.  This program is intended for students with interests in all aspects of geochemistry: bedrock, sediment, water, ice, and air with particular emphasis on interpreting and modeling the interaction of these media (e.g., biogeochemistry, air quality, and climate change).

The German major is offered by the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures. This program is of interest to the following groups of students:

• Those who have a special interest in the German language, literature and culture.
• Those who intend to enter fields in which a background in foreign languages and cultures is desirable, such as business, engineering, the sciences, law, international affairs, government service and international service.
• Those who plan to teach German in secondary schools. Since most secondary schools require their teachers to teach more than one subject, students planning to enter teaching at this level should plan their programs carefully. They should combine a major in one culture and language with a minor or at least a meaningful sequence of courses in another subject. Dual majors also are possible. For certification requirements, see the section coordinator.

All German majors are strongly encouraged to double major or include a relevant minor in their studies.

The art history curriculum provides a comprehensive, in-depth study of Western art from the ancient world to the present as well as some exposure to non-Western cultures and artistic traditions. All courses in the program teach basic skills of interpretation and critical analysis within the framework of broad cultural perspectives that connect the visual arts to larger historical developments. They also teach good writing and research skills. In addition, art history majors typically branch out into other fields, such as history, literature and foreign languages. By the time they graduate, most majors are well equipped to pursue such traditional careers in the field as museum and gallery work, teaching, publishing or librarianship. But because art historical education is so broad, it also prepares students for a variety of other, more flexible options, such as law, business or architecture.

The program in art education is organized into a five-year, teacher-education sequence. This curriculum is designed to prepare teachers of art in the public schools. The satisfactory completion of the B.A. studio art curriculum for art education students and required education courses, in conjunction with the fifth-year internship, will satisfy the initial certification requirements for teachers of art in the public schools of New Hampshire and in most other states. These requirements may change by the time students apply for certification and the students are required to fulfill the then-current requirements. Art education students may take accredited crafts courses at other institutions as art electives.

English teaching majors synthesize knowledge across areas — literature, language, composition, speaking, listening, identity, linguistics and education, just to name a few. We think critically and collaborate. We spark learning and we study it. We evaluate texts and resources, examine literacy skills, consider appropriate media, and design reading and writing opportunities and instruction in a variety of contexts. In particular, the English teaching major focuses on preparing future teachers and educational leaders, but the skills students learn are valuable in many settings, from the classroom to the workplace to the broader world.

The goal of the English teaching major is to prepare informed, thoughtful, and skilled English teachers who will become educational leaders in their own communities and in the teaching profession. In the English Department, students learn about literature, cultural theories of race and identity, composition, grammar, a variety of textual and digital media, and instructional practices appropriate to grades five through twelve. In the Education Department, students learn about human development, the history of schooling, and many philosophical perspectives on learning and education.

The Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems B.A. provides students with a broad base of knowledge and experiences with modern agriculture and food systems. Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems is an interdisciplinary field comprising the social, physical, and life sciences and beyond. Agriculture is key to solving many of the major challenges facing the world; such as producing food to meet the needs of an ever-growing population while conserving land, water, and soil resources.

Our students get hands-on experience in applied coursework, and we encourage our students to conduct research alongside faculty. Our students become practitioners and entrepreneurs of agricultural and food businesses, researchers and policy-makers at state/federal agencies and non-profit organizations, laboratory technicians, and agricultural educators. Some go on to obtain an advanced degree in the agricultural sciences.

Students choosing the Communication Arts Human Relations option explore practical, theoretical, and historical perspectives on the study of human relationships in professional and personal contexts. With so many of today’s employers emphasizing the value of human communication skills in potential employees, the Human Relations Option offers students the knowledge and hands-on learning they need to develop their oral and written communication skills, as well as their ability to work in teams. Coursework covers topics such as verbal and nonverbal communication, perception, identity, conflict, human resource management, power, health, social psychology, human development, and counseling.  An internship in the area of human relations is required.