Howard H. Baker Jr. School of Public Policy and Public Affairs

Marianne Wanamaker, Dean
John M. Scheb, Professor and Interim Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Matthew Murray, Research Professor and Interim Associate Dean for Research
Brewton Brownlow Couch, Assistant Dean of Finance, Operations, and Administration
Andrew Busch, Professor and Associate Director, Institute of American Civics
Katie Cahill, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives
Joshua Dunn, Professor and Executive Director, Institute of American Civics
Jonathan Ring, Director of Student Programs and Services
Xuhong Su, Associate Professor, Director of Graduate Studies
Charles Sims, TVA Distinguished Professor of Energy and Environmental Policy and Director, Center for Energy, Transportation, and Environmental Policy
Krista Wiegand, Professor and Director, Center for National Security and Foreign Affairs

Professors
Busch, A., PhD - Virginia
Dunn, J., PhD - Virginia
Jones, M., PhD – Oklahoma
Scheb, J., PhD – Florida
Wiegand, K., PhD – Duke

Associate Professors
Bryan, T., PhD – Virginia Tech
Cooper, K., PhD – Texas
Mewhirter, J., PhD – Florida State
Sims, C., PhD – Wyoming
Su, X., PhD – Georgia

Assistant Professors
Barron, T., PhD – Princeton
Leard, B., PhD – Cornell

Professor of Practice
Haslam, B., B.A. – Emory

Research Professor
Murray, M., PhD – Syracuse

Adjunct Professors
Hoagland, J., PhD – Washington State
Lyons, W., PhD – Oklahoma

Adjunct Assistant Professor
Cahill, K., PhD – Purdue

Lecturers
Ezzell, T., PhD – Tennessee
Ring, J., PhD – Iowa
Vllasi, E., PhD – Purdue
Welch, J., PhD – Tennessee

http://baker.utk.edu/

The Howard H. Baker Jr. School of Public Policy and Public Affairs (Baker School) is committed to the art and science of public problem-solving through education, student engagement, public outreach, and research in public policy, public administration, and public affairs. Substantive focus areas include American Civics; Energy, Transportation, and Environmental Policy; National Security and Foreign Affairs; and Economic and Community Development. 

Admissions 

Freshmen are admitted directly to the Baker School in the first year. Admission to the university is highly competitive.

Undergraduate students admitted into the Baker School must maintain a minimum 2.50 cumulative grade point average (GPA). All Baker School courses, including prerequisite and major courses, must be completed with a grade of “C” or better for all Baker School academic programs. Academic programs include majors, minors, and certificates.

Internal and External Transfer Admissions

Students who are not directly admitted to the Baker School, or those who are transferring from other educational institutions, can apply for admission at any point. Transfer students must meet the admission and academic requirements of the Baker School. 

Every attempt will be made to give maximum credit for courses taken elsewhere and transferred to the Baker School. After receiving the evaluation of transfer credits by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions Transfer Center, the Baker School’s Office of Student Services will conduct additional evaluations of transfer credits. 

Curriculum

Baker School’s academic programs consist of a major, minors, and certificates. 

The Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs (BSPAF) is a degree program designed to teach students the art and science of public problem-solving. The Public Affairs degree prepares students for careers in public service, civic-minded organizations, and various policy fields, including law, energy, environment, national security, nuclear policy, and economic and community development.

For the Bachelor of Science, Public Affairs Major, the curriculum is divided into five components: general education (Volunteer Core), prerequisites, major core courses, concentration courses, and professional development. The remaining credit hours to meet the University’s 120-credit-hour degree requirement can be satisfied through elective courses or the addition of dual majors, minors, or certificates. 

• General Education Courses (38 credit hours) that constitute the Volunteer Core focus on all aspects of human endeavor – written and oral communications; mathematics; social, behavioral, and natural sciences; humanities; global citizenship; ethics; and the arts. 
• Prerequisite Courses (18 credit hours) are intended to be taken during the student’s first and second year. These courses focus on foundational knowledge of the legal, economic, political, and historical foundations of American democracy and public policy. All courses must be completed with a C or better. 
• Major Core Courses (30 credit hours) focus on the communication, analytic, leadership, and negotiating skills needed to be effective public servants.  All courses must be completed with a C or better.  
• Concentration Courses (12 credit hours) provide an opportunity to explore areas of interest by opening pathways to the wealth of campus, stakeholder, and alumni expertise.  All courses must be completed with a C or better. 
• Professional Development Courses (3 credit hours minimum) provide an opportunity to put knowledge, skills, and experiences into practice in meaningful real-world settings.  All courses must be completed with a C or better. 

uTrack Requirements

Universal Tracking (uTrack) is an academic monitoring system designed to help students stay on track for timely graduation. To remain on track, students must complete the minimum requirements for each tracking semester, known as milestones. Milestones include successful completion of specified courses and/or attainment of a minimum GPA. uTrack requirements only affect full-time, degree-seeking students.

Probation, Dismissal, and Readmission

Any student admitted to the Baker School whose cumulative GPA drops below 2.50 or they do not meet their uTrack milestone requirements will be considered off-track. Off track students will be required to meet with a Baker School academic advisor and develop a plan to return to on-track status. 

Students who remain off-track for two consecutive terms will be at risk of being dismissed from the Baker School. Students may appeal a Baker School dismissal and request a review of their case from the Baker School’s Director of Undergraduate Studies. 

Students may be readmitted to the Baker School once they reach a 2.50 cumulative GPA. Students seeking readmission must meet with a Baker School academic advisor to discuss the appropriate course of action.

Students who have been dismissed from the University can be readmitted to the Baker School once they reach a 2.50 cumulative GPA and meet with a Baker School academic advisor.

Residency Requirement for Major Coursework

Students are required to take 75 percent of courses for the completion of Baker School academic programs at the University of Tennessee. For majors, this requirement includes the core, concentration, and professional development coursework amounting to 34 of the 45 credit hours.

Where to Begin: Student Services

The Baker School’s Office of Student Services maintains a full-time staff that answers students’ questions concerning majors, curriculum, and elective options. Student advising is achieved through professional advisors and faculty mentors when students are admitted to a major. While University policy requires students to have one mandatory academic planning session per year, students in the Baker School must be advised every semester before declaring a concentration. Following the major file review process (typically at the end of the fourth term), students will be advised only once per academic year. These advising appointments are required to lift advising holds.  All students at the University should carefully review the prescribed curricula of the respective degree-granting units and choose courses according to their college preference. The student, not the advisor, is responsible for educational planning, selecting courses, meeting course prerequisites, and adhering to policies and procedures.

In addition to advising, the Student Services Office provides individual and group educational program planning, student data and enrollment information management, recruitment and retention, administration of the undergraduate scholarship program, and career counseling.

Enrichment Opportunities

Scholarships

A limited number of scholarships are available for highly qualified students. General selection criteria for scholarships include academic merit, financial need, and public service activity. Students must be in good academic standing to be considered for a scholarship. Particular scholarships may have additional requirements to be eligible and competitive.

For entering freshmen, students must complete the Entering Freshman Academic Scholarship Application, which can be obtained from UT’s Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, Hodges Library Ground Floor or online at https://onestop.utk.edu/financial-aid/, and submit it by the date printed on the application, with the following items.

• A current high school transcript and a current college transcript, if the student is a transfer student.
• ACT or SAT scores.

International Programs and Study Abroad

Several opportunities for study abroad are available to Baker School students, such as group programs arranged and supervised by the School, as well as other University and non-university programs that operate on a full semester or summer term; direct enrollment, exchange, summer study, international internships; and individualized programs.  Students planning foreign study should meet with an advisor to discuss curricular issues.

Off-Campus Study

Recognizing that learning is not restricted to formal classroom situations, students may earn credit towards graduation for approved off-campus study. It may include certain types of work experiences or community involvement. Such study may be undertaken only with prior approval of the Baker School.

Student Engagement

The Baker School provides students with educational and service opportunities outside the classroom. Every week, Baker students receive an electronic newsletter outlining all the upcoming events and activities to help them engage and make the most of their college experience. For more information about student engagement programming, please visit https://baker.utk.edu/student-engagement/

Institute of American Civics

The School also houses the Institute of American Civics, funded by the Tennessee General Assembly, which is dedicated to delivering educational programming on the rights, roles, and responsibilities of citizenship; building foundational knowledge on the history of democratic thought and public service leadership; and empowering effective public problem-solving through instruction in thinking analytically, communicating clearly, and negotiating effectively. The Institute currently offers a minor and certificate in American Civics.

Research Centers

The Center for National Security and Foreign Affairs (NSFA) is a research center that provides critical insights on national and international security challenges and foreign policy solutions through policy-relevant research, education, and engagement with a global perspective.

The Center for Energy, Transportation, and Environmental Policy (CETEP) is an interdisciplinary network of scholars and partners that extends across the University of Tennessee, to every level of government, the nonprofit sector, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), and industry representatives.

CONTACT
Howard H. Baker Jr. School of Public Policy and Public Affairs
1640 Cumberland Ave
Knoxville, TN 37996-3340
Phone: 865-974-0931

Academic Programs

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