Public Policy, Ph.D.

The Ph.D. Program in Public Policy, located in the Nelson Mandela School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs, was established in 1996. The doctorate is research oriented, emphasizing the use of interdisciplinary research paradigms in analyzing public policies. This doctoral program is rigorously grounded in scientific theory and methodologies. Emphasizing service and employability, the program's aim is to produce graduates who can pursue productive careers in academe, government, or in the private and nonprofit sectors. The program especially seeks to enroll students of all races in connection with federal and state policies and agreements to further desegregate public universities.

Graduates will have developed an understanding of the context in which public policies are proposed, adopted, implemented and evaluated. Basic and advanced analytical techniques are especially appropriate in this context, and are indispensable for systematic inquiry into the relevant disciplines.