With shopping carts open for the spring and J-Term, the Admissions team is sharing helpful tips as you consider applying to the Batten School. You can watch the full video below, but we have recapped the key points of the session.

First, you should focus on completing program prerequisites! These are the only classes you MUST take prior to enrolling at Batten, so make taking these courses a priority. Prerequisite courses CAN be taken all the way up until enrollment, so if you are applying to one of our programs for next year, you have through the summer to complete them. For the major and minor, you will need to take microeconomics (ECON 2010) and social psychology (PSYC 2600 OR LPPL 3100 which is Batten’s section of social psych through a policy lens). Additionally, students applying for the major should enroll in LPPP 3200: Introduction to Public Policy this spring (no summer option is available). For the Accelerated MPP program, you will need to take microeconomics (ECON 2010) and a calculus-based math course. We like to see you take the math course at UVA to demonstrate proficiency and readiness for graduate level quantitative work, so if you intend to bring in the calculus pre-req using AP or transfer credit, consider taking STAT 1100, STAT 1601, or STAT 2120. We will accept any prerequisite coursework with a C or higher or a grade of CR under the University’s pandemic grading option. Additionally, students interested in the Social Entrepreneurship Minor should enroll in ENTP 1010: Startup - An Introduction to Entrepreneurship.

Outside of these courses, students can take Batten courses before applying; however, this is NOT required for evaluation. Rather, it is a way for you to see if our programs could be a good academic fit as you explore various options. It could also free up space further down the road for things like study abroad, double majoring, or picking up a minor (or two!). 

For those looking to get a taste of Batten, you can take LPPL 2100: Resilient Student: Transition, Thriving and Leadership, LPPL 3100: Foundations of Behavioral Science (fulfills the BA/Minor social psychology prerequisite), or LPPP 3230: Public Policy Challenges of the 21st Century (part of the core curriculum for the BA/Minor). Other students interested in exploring a policy area of interest through Batten special topics courses might consider LPPS 3040: US National Security Policy, LPPS 3470: American Healthcare System: Challenges and Opportunities, or LPPS 3410: Innovation and Social Impact (this last class also counts toward SE minor requirements). Any courses taken at the 3000-level or higher count towards curricular requirements if you end up joining the BA or Minor! 

For a complete list of our spring offerings, you can check Lou’s List for a general list of courses or SIS for the most up-to-date information on remaining seats in a course.  And if you have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to our office at BattenAdmissions@virginia.edu or make an appointment with our undergraduate admissions team, Anne and Courtney!