BA in Social Policy and Public Service in Irvine United States | University of California Irvine

The Social Policy and Public Service (SPPS) major offers an interdisciplinary approach to examining policies and their societal impacts at both individual and collective levels. Students can choose from three specialization tracks during their upper-division studies: (1) Education, (2) Governance, or (3) Health. The program focuses on social welfare systems, institutional frameworks, and policy analysis to enable comprehensive understanding of societal challenges while developing practical skills. Rooted in a scientist-practitioner approach, the program features hands-on learning through nonprofit and government placements, community-based research projects, and internships that cultivate analytical thinking and solution-oriented abilities.

SPPS enables students to combine coursework in governance, community leadership, and social services. With a strong research foundation, the program addresses systemic inequities while collaborating with local organizations to provide 300 hours of fieldwork and internship opportunities. Partner nonprofits expose students to operational practices while offering research collaborations for professional development. The three-quarter field placement component builds community engagement skills, fosters leadership development, and creates mentoring connections with professionals. Students apply academic knowledge through practical experiences including internships, field research, or faculty-guided projects.