Undergraduate Programs
at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies

There was a 25 percent increase in the number of undergraduate students majoring in a program offered by the Andrew Young School, comparing Fall 2000 to Fall 2001.

In This Page

• B.B.A. in Economics
• Summer Policy Internship for Rising Seniors, Department of Economics
• B.S. In Human Resources Policy and Development
• B.S. In Urban Policy Studies

B.B.A. In Economics

Enrollment in the B.B.A. In Economics program is at its highest level in nearly a decade. The 130 B.B.A. majors in Fall 2001 represent a 21 percent increase for the second year in a row, and more than an 88 percent increase since Fall 1998. In addition, the B.A. and B.S. degree programs have an enrollment of 34 students, an increase of almost 50 percent from Fall 2000.

Job placements of Economics majors continue to be strong. Job placements of recent graduates include Hatfield Philips (a real estate finance firm), Arthur Anderson Consulting, Sun Trust Bank, the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank, McKinsey and Co., and DefJam South Recording Label. Some students have gone on to graduate programs at Georgia State University, Cornell University, the University of North Carolina, the University of Pennsylvania, University of California-Davis, and Ohio State University.

The Department continues to explore new course offerings and degree programs. One new course jointly offered with Morehouse College on the economy of South Africa is complimented by a study abroad program in South Africa. The Department is also in the process of designing a new joint major with the modern and classical language department, one that has proven extremely popular at other universities. In addition, a new course on global economics has just been added to the core curriculum of the University.

Now in its fourth year of existence, all principles of microeconomics classes use the Iowa Electronic Market (IEM). This is a real time and real money electronic futures market designed specifically as a teaching and research tool. Students use real money accounts to trade contracts with payoffs based upon real-world events such as political outcomes, companies' earnings per share and stock price returns. The AYSPS staffs this 10-computer lab with graduate teaching assistants.

The Economics Club, now in its fifth year, is open to all undergraduate students having an interest in economics. Among other activities this year, the club held several career explorium seminars and a resume writing workshop, met with local business leaders, organized a sky-diving trip, and hosted its annual faculty/student mixer at the home of Professor Bruce Seaman. In addition to academic and career-related activities, the club plans another recreational outing and a cookout for the Spring semester. The club is loosely aligned with the GSU chapter of the national Omicron Delta Epsilon (ODE) economics honor society. Officers for the 2001-2002 academic year were Paul Rumler (President), R. Anna Moore (Vice-President), Christina Molin (Secretary), and Oliver Teel (Treasurer). Professor Kelly Edmiston is the faculty advisor for the club and for ODE.

Summer Policy Internship for Rising Seniors, Department of Economics

The summer policy internship program, under the direction of Neven Valev, is a seven-week learning experience for undergraduate students entering their senior year. Areas of study include environmental health, economics, state and local governance, international issues, public financial management, education and education reform, health care, and other topics vital to a functioning society. Policy interns dive into research projects under the guidance of faculty mentors and participate in weekly seminars to hear from the policy center directors, present their own summer work, and explore graduate study opportunities. All students receive a stipend for the summer, and some elect to get academic credit as well. 

This year 12 rising seniors from institutions across the United States and foreign countries were selected to be summer policy interns. The students arrived in Atlanta in June and were paired with mentors in the Department of Economics and the AYSPS Policy Centers to explore a policy area and work on specific research projects during the seven week summer session. 

Student interns met twice weekly to discuss their research projects in the broader context of research at the Andrew Young School. A faculty member from each of the AYSPS research centers presented a current project and discussed what it meant to do public policy research. A panel of graduate students and junior faculty discussed their ideas on how undergraduates should prepare themselves for graduate school and research-oriented careers. One of the high points of the program was a trip to the Experimental Economics Laboratory, where the interns learned the theoretical importance of experimental research methods and participated in experiments. In the final week, interns made PowerPoint presentations on the research they accomplished during their internships. 

A highlight of the summer's activities was a roundtable discussion with The Honorable Andrew Young.  

B.S. In Human Resources Policy and Development

Effective in Fall 2001, the popular "Human Resources" specialization in the Urban Policy Studies degree program was spun off as a new degree option, the Bachelor of Science in Human Resources Policy and Development. The degree is designed to prepare students to work in one of the fastest growing new professions, helping individuals and organizations meet the challenges posed by a knowledge-driven society. The common core curriculum includes an introduction to the career development process, human resources development and social science research methods. Advanced elective courses permit more intensive study of specific aspects of the field, ranging from human resources policies to training strategies and organizational management. Approximately 50 students have already chosen to pursue this degree option.

B.S. In Urban Policy Studies

The Urban Policy core curriculum is designed to increase students' understanding of the people, economies, and workings of urban and metropolitan areas. Each student also selects a specialization which provides preparation for a specific employment area: aviation and transportation; planning and economic development; public policy; or local government management.

The public policy specialization, launched in 2000, continues to grow in popularity. This program draws on the substantial policy expertise of Andrew Young School faculty to offer an exciting range of courses on contemporary issues of public affairs and public policy.

The Aviation Program and New Aviation Certificate

The aviation program continued to grow in 2001. Increased student interest in aviation careers followed the terrorist attacks of 9/11, with emphasis on opportunities in the aviation security area with airlines, airports, and in the federal government.

Student interest also increased in professional pilot careers over the course of the year. Following requests from Delta Air Lines, a pilot training option was approved for the aviation specialization in the B.S. UPS degree. The program is a complete ab initio training regimen that takes students through full-motion simulator jet training. Students can earn up to 21 semester hours of practicum credit for the training that was previously allocated to upper division electives. The GSU aviation program coordinator, Atlantic Southeast Airlines, and Delta Air Lines jointly prepared the training curriculum. Graduates are qualified for airline flying positions. Training will be carried out by local flight schools that have entered into appropriate agreements with Georgia State University. National advertising will begin in the early months of 2002 and is expected to lead to record numbers of applicants.

The aviation program has a new student assistant, Ms. Hemal Thakkar, who also assumed the duties of PAUS department assistant. Ms. Thakkar came to the U.S. from India in 1989. At 21 she is just beginning her junior year at GSU and is an instrument-rated, commercial and multi-engine pilot.

Aviation Program Classes at Delta Air Lines

An expected lull in activity at Delta Air Lines followed the terrorist attacks of 9/11. By December, when Delta began to return to relatively normal flight schedules and the impact on employment had stabilized, enrollment in the Delta program began to increase. A record number of 4 classes were scheduled in December for the Spring 2002 semester.

Undergraduate Airline Management Certificates

The first Airline Management Certificates were awarded at a ceremony in August. The 16 recipients included 9 Delta Air Lines employees.

Internships

A new, formal internship program began with Atlantic Southeast Airlines in 2001 with GSU aviation students receiving priority selection. Nine students successfully completed the program in 2001. ASA management indicated strong satisfaction with the performance of GSU interns, and 3 of the 9 were hired as full-time employees. Internship opportunities for GSU aviation students are now expanding with Delta Air Lines and Gulfstream Aerospace in Savannah, Ga.