Requirements
Full-time students will complete two years of core course work followed by full, or part-time study consisting of electives and dissertation research and writing. Part-time students will complete core courses in three years.
Course & Credit Requirements
Students are required to complete 76 credits, distributed as follows:
- Core requirements 42 credits (14 courses)
- Elective courses 24 credits (8 courses)
- Dissertation 10 credits
Additional Degree Requirements
Admission to Candidacy
In addition to course and dissertation credits, students must pass two competency exams to reach doctoral candidacy. Each exam is given at the end of the first and second years of the program, respectively.
MS in Public Policy
Though we do not offer a MS degree study option, our students are awarded an en route MS in Public Policy, after successful completion of all of the core courses and electives, and the successful completion of both competency exams.
Research and Dissertation
For completion of the PhD program, students must work with a faculty member to complete a dissertation consisting of rigorous academic research on a topic of the student's choosing. The dissertation must culminate into a written piece of publishable content, and must be successfully defended.
