PhD

The Doctoral Program prepares students for impactful careers in academia and beyond. With versatile training and a record of graduate success, our PhD students are well positioned to excel wherever their professional journey leads.

Public Policy doctoral programs have proliferated and prospered over the last half century. Why? Answers would vary, of course, but here’s one that’s usefully understood in dissertation context. In more traditional disciplines, especially in the social sciences, doctoral students choose methods and then look for ways to demonstrate mastery of those methods. In Public Policy, ideally, doctoral students choose problems and then master the methods needed to solve those problems. Choosing a problem takes a while. So does composing a research question leading to a problem-solving answer.

Course Requirements

The program requires 24 course credits plus 12 dissertation credits.

Core Courses (12 credits): Of the 24 required course credits, the following four core courses are required:

Foundations of Public Policy

• PLCY698E Readings in Public Policy: Normative Perspectives and Public Policy
• PLCY798V Readings in Public Policy: Policy Process Research and Theory

Research Methods and Public Policy

• PLCY798R Readings in Public Policy: Quantitative Research Methods and Public Policy
• PLCY 798Z Readings in Public Policy: Qualitative Research Methods and Public Policy

Electives (12 credits): Students complete four additional graduate-level electives, selected in consultation with their advisor to support their field of study and dissertation research.

Additional Requirements

For foundational training in economics, students must demonstrate prior graduate-level preparation (e.g., microeconomics or a suitable substitute). Students without this preparation, in consultation with their advisor, must take an approved graduate-level economics course most relevant to their field of policy studies; this course does not count toward the 24 required credits.

The program requires a master’s degree in a related field for admission, with exceptions granted only in rare cases where applicants demonstrate equivalent expertise through research or professional experience.

Qualifying Examinations and Dissertation Prospectus

Students must complete two qualifying examinations after the four core seminars, normally by the start of the third year for full-time students (fourth year for part-time students).

Research Paper Examination: An original, solo-authored research paper demonstrating readiness for dissertation research.

Field Examination: A written examination demonstrating broad and deep knowledge in a defined area of public policy.

Dissertation Prospectus: Following successful completion of the qualifying examinations, students must prepare and publicly defend a dissertation prospectus before advancing to candidacy.