Students must be accepted into a graduate degree program in public policy at a college or university to earn a PhD in public policy. Candidates for the public policy PhD must complete a variety of core courses, qualifying examinations, policy field courses, and a comprehensive examination on topics related to the specific field of study after being accepted. In most cases, students must also write and defend a dissertation. Most universities allow candidates to complete their doctorate or PhD in public policy in five to ten years.
A public policy PhD, like most graduate degree programs, necessitates some foresight. Before a candidate is admitted to a PhD program, for example, there are guidelines that must be followed. Candidates for most programs must have a master’s degree in a field related to public policy. Furthermore, candidates are typically expected to have a high grade point average as well as good GRE (Graduate Record Examination) scores. In most cases, letters of recommendation are also required for admission.
Although each university has its own set of requirements for obtaining a doctorate in public policy, many universities share some commonalities. Most universities, for example, have a set of core courses that must be completed first. The core classes cover a wide range of topics, from economics to analytical methods. Candidates must pass a series of examinations covering the topics covered in the core courses after completing the core courses.
Following that, most universities require candidates to take a series of policy field courses in order to advance in their pursuit of a public policy PhD. Typically, policy field courses are divided into tracks or sections based on specific policy areas. Candidates could concentrate on urban development policy, social policy, environmental policy, or health policy, for example. Candidates may be able to create their own unique track with the help of faculty members in some cases. Candidates are typically required to pass an examination that focuses specifically on topics covered in their field of study after completing the field courses.
In most cases, the dissertation is the final step toward earning a PhD in public policy. A dissertation proposal is typically written each candidate and presented to a dissertation committee. If the dissertation topic is approved the committee, the candidate will write her own dissertation based on original research. The candidate will defend her dissertation in front of the committee and others at the university after it has been completed. A PhD in public policy will be awarded if the dissertation is successfully defended.