Public Affairs at Alma
Alma's Public Affairs Institute offers interdisciplinary experiences for students who, regardless of particular majors, have common academic and vocational interests in public affairs.
The program includes:
- Workshops
- Visiting speakers
- Scholars-in-residence
- Professional consulting
- Advising
The program's requirements are designed to be flexible and link to any major or minor, from Art to Women's Studies. Participating in the classes and other programs of the Public Affairs Institute allows students to link their other studies to civic needs and concerns.
How to get involved
Students interested in public issues are urged to apply to join the Public Affairs Institute before beginning classes at Alma. Applications are available from the College Admissions Office. Also, students are encouraged to visit campus and speak with Professor Lorenz or other faculty involved in Public Affairs.
How to Apply
Click here for the Public Affairs Institute application.
Curriculum
While students not members of the Institute may enroll in Public Affairs classes, if there is space, students in the formal institute program begin with a Colloquium in the Fall Term of the First Year.
The Colloquium is designed to expose students to representative public issues related to a variety of disciplines in the humanities, the social sciences, and the natural sciences.
In recent years the colloquium has focused on:
- The media and Elections
- Energy Policy
- Health Policy
- Religion and Politics
- Changes in Working Conditions Around the World
- Terrorism
Colloquium students have organized forums on industrial agriculture, community sustainability, and election outcomes. They have provided research support for the local community advisory group for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
After completing the Colloquium, Public Affairs students take an introductory course in public policy and management, offered in the Political Science Department.
Later they develop practica with a public or private non-profit agency, design an independent study of a public topic of interest, and conclude with a senior seminar.
