It’s that time again! With course enrollment for the spring on your mind, the Admissions team is sharing helpful tips and classes to consider as you prepare for application to the Batten School.

Most importantly, you should focus on completing program prerequisites, earning a grade of C or higher. These are the only classes you must take prior to enrolling at Batten, so make enrolling in these courses a priority. Prerequisite courses can be taken all the way up until the semester you begin at Batten, so if you plan to apply to one of our programs next year, you have through next summer to complete them. However, it is helpful for the Admissions Committee to see final grades for these classes in your application. If you are a First Year thinking about the major or Public Policy & Leadership (PP&L) minor, or a Second Year considering the Accelerated MPP, try to complete them this spring or next fall. If you are a Second Year and haven’t yet completed them, no worries – just think about ways to balance this gap in information with strengths in other parts of your application.

For the major and minor in Public Policy & Leadership, you must take microeconomics (ECON 2010) and social psychology (PSYC 2600 OR LPPL 2600, which is Batten’s section of social psych looked at through a policy lens). Students applying to the major must also take LPPP 2200: Introduction to Public Policy, a course that is offered only in the fall or the spring (no summer option is available). Please note, beginning this year admission into the Public Policy and Leadership minor is open, meaning all students will be admitted following a preliminary review of academic qualifications and performance in the prerequisites, until we hit classroom capacity.

For the Accelerated MPP program, you will need to take microeconomics (ECON 2010) and a calculus-based math course. We like for you to take a college-level math course at UVA to build skills and demonstrate readiness for graduate level quantitative work, so if you intend to bring in the calculus pre-req using AP or transfer credit, you might also consider taking STAT 1100, STAT 1601, or STAT 2120.

Finally, students interested in the Social Entrepreneurship Minor should take ENTP 1010: Startup - An Introduction to Entrepreneurship. (Remember, the Social Entrepreneurship Minor accepts all applicants!)

Students can take additional Batten classes 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 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!). Keep in mind, if you ultimately stay in the College of Arts and Sciences, you must earn 108 credits of coursework in the College, so if you do take additional Batten classes, be sure to course plan to make sure you can meet all your requirements.

First year students from economically underrepresented backgrounds with an interest in Batten are encouraged to apply to Bridge to Batten. The program has three components: a 1-credit CR/NC Spring 2025 seminar designed to encourage academic, personal, and professional exploration of the public policy world; dedicated advising and support from faculty and professional staff at the Batten School to help navigate university resources; and peer mentorship to deepen relationships through community-driven and social opportunities to connect with members of the Batten student community. Apply today!

Other students looking for a taste of Batten could consider LPPL 2100: The Resilient Student: Transition, Thriving, and Leadership. Additionally, LPPP 3230: Public Policy Challenges of the 21st Century is a great introduction to the most pressing policy problems facing our world today and fulfills core course credit in the major and PP&L minor. Students interested in particular policy areas can explore them through special topics (elective) courses like LPPS 3050: Introduction to Social Entrepreneurship (which counts towards SE Minor requirements); LPPS 3240: Terrorism and Counterterrorism; LPPS 3280: Lessons in Leadership: JFK and the Most Personal Office; or LPPS 3380: Poverty, Learning and Education Policy. Any courses taken at the 3000-level or higher count towards curricular requirements if you end up joining the major or minor in Public Policy & Leadership!

You can check SIS for the most up-to-date information about our course offerings; we have also listed our current spring courses below for reference.  New courses may still be added to SIS, so be sure to check back! 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 Estrella!

Open Batten Core and Special Topics Courses (as of October 22)

LPPP 2050: Bridge to Batten (1-credit CR/NC course for economically underrepresented students considering Batten's programs and/or a career in public policy. Check out more information here!)

LPPL 2100: The Resilient Student: Transition, Thriving, and Leadership

LPPP 2200: Introduction to Public Policy (pre-req for major, core course in PP&L minor)

LPPL 2600: Foundations of Behavioral Science (pre-req for major and PP&L minor)

LPPL 2750: Teambuilding and Facilitation

LPPS 3040: US National Security Policy

LPPS 3050: Introduction to Social Entrepreneurship (required course in SE minor)

LPPS 3150: For a Good Cause: Practical Nonprofit Fundraising

LPPL 3210: Behavioral Sciences for Civil Leadership (core course in the major and PP&L minor)

LPPS 3220: Big Tech, Society, and Public Policy

LPPP 3230: Public Policy Challenges of the 21st Century (core course in the major and PP&L minor)

LPPS 3240: Terrorism and Counterterrorism

LPPS 3280: Lessons in Leadership: JFK and the Most Personal Office

LPPS 3290: Social Innovation in Emerging Markets: India and Southeast Asia (counts towards SE minor)

LPPS 3350: Constitutional Law

LPPS 3365: Effectual EntrepreneurshipLPPS 3380: Poverty, Learning and Education Policy

LPPS 3390: Special Education Policy and Practice

LPPS 3440: Introduction to Management Consulting and Strategic Decision Making

LPPL 3450: Resilient Leadership for Teams and Teammates

LPPS 3490: War and Society

LPPS 3420: International Law and Policy

LPPP 3559-001: Grassroots Engagement

LPPS 3724: Just Policy: Justice, Goodness, and Public Policy

LPPL 4225 Leadership and Practice

LPPS 4260: Politics of Development

LPPS 4330: Confronting US Climate Policy

LPPS 4730: Impact Investing