Two new minors offer study options in public policy, real estate

The College of Engineering is collaborating with partners across The Ohio State University on two new interdisciplinary minor options in public policy and real estate. 

Most students worry about selecting a major when they enter college, but choosing a minor can help set students apart as well as create a more dynamic education experience. The Science, Engineering and Public Policy (SEPP) minor, now available through the John Glenn College of Public Affairs, helps bridge the gap between policy and engineering.

“Engineers and technical people need to have policy exposure because what they are doing can be very policy-relevant, especially areas such as energy, the environment, information technology and cyber security,” said Assistant Professor Jeff Bielicki, who holds a joint appointment in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geodetic engineering and the John Glenn School of Public Affairs. “It is important for engineers to understand those interactions, but also for policy people to understand a little bit of the technical and science side.”

With a joint appointment in both areas, Bielicki is the perfect candidate to pull both sides together to help create this comprehensive minor, which is structured to fit into Buckeye engineers’ robust academic schedules.

The 12-credit hour minor includes two general overview public affairs and engineering courses and two thematic courses in a students’ desired theme of interest. Available themes of study include land-use policy, food and agriculture policy, engineering and environmental policy, health policy and science/engineering and society. 

Another new minor will provide students from a variety of majors the opportunity to add a specialization in real estate, creating an interdisciplinary classroom experience, while preparing them for the various employment opportunities in the field. Not just about selling houses, real estate also involves investments and financing, management, development/construction, brokerage/appraisal and consulting. 

Offered by the Fisher College of Business in conjunction with the Knowlton School of Architecture and Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, the 15-credit hour minor includes two required business courses and three electives from the fields of business, city and urban planning and construction systems management. The minor will be offered beginning spring 2016.