The Senior Program

Public policy majors have three options for the senior project. They may take a one-semester seminar in the Government Department; they may research and write a thesis on a public policy topic, using traditional sources; or they may write a "public contract" thesis, in which they evaluate a policy or issue chosen by a state or local government in the Hamilton area.

In recent years, students' public contract projects have helped shape policy for New York State's Division of Youth, Department of Education, Office for the Aging, Division of Management and Budget, and Department of Transportation. More locally, students have worked with Oneida County's Department of Social Services, Department of Mental Health and EDGE program, as well as the towns of New Hartford and Paris and the village of Clinton's Chamber of Commerce. 

Recent projects in public policy include:

• Examining Competitive Balance Across America’s Big Four Sports
• The Effect of Policy on Immigrant Settlement: Immigrant Segregation in New York City and Toronto
• A Proposed Evaluation for the Produce Project, a Job Readiness Program in Troy, NY
• Drafting Wide Receivers into the NFL: An analysis on wide receiver performance metrics
• Why Do States Provide Tax Incentives to Businesses?
• How a Pot of Gold Can Become an Economic Shock
• The Excelsior Scholarship After One Year: Effects on Enrollments and Student Demographics
• Can Cars be Green and Safe: Vehicle Weight, Safety, and Efficiency in the Context of New NHTSA Standards
• Taxpayers are Being Forced Support Their Local NFL Teams Despite Not Being Fans: An Equity Analysis of NFL Stadium Subsidies
• Explaining Advanced Course Offerings and Academic Tracks in New York Public High Schools
• Paying to Play: The Determinants of Government Funding for Sports Stadiums
• Pretzel Logic: The Curious Psychological Principles Behind Extended Warranties
• Building the Glass Ceiling: The Surprising Effect of Education and Work Hours on Pay Equity for Women
• High-Deductible Health Plans and Health Savings Accounts: The Future of Health Care in America
• Segregated Schooling and Adult Criminal Activity: The Case of Minority Americans