Program Overview

Introduction to the Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy and Political Economy

The Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy and Political Economy is a 75-hour minimum program beyond the baccalaureate degree. The faculty includes Professors Brian J. L. Berry, Lloyd J. Dumas, Euel W. Elliott, Donald A. Hicks, Murray J. Leaf, and Richard K. Scotch, as well as Associate Professors Patrick T. Brandt, Simon M. Fass, Jennifer S. Holmes, Linda Camp Keith, Dohyeong Kim, Clint W. Peinhardt, and Sheryl L. Skaggs, and Assistant Professors Jonas Bunte and Brandon J. Kinne.

Mission and Objectives

The mission of the PhD program in Public Policy and Political Economy is to prepare students for professional positions in research, teaching, and practice in fields related to public policy and political economy, in both academic and nonacademic settings. The program aims to prepare students through instruction in social science and public policy concepts, advanced methodological knowledge, applied social research techniques, and professional communication skills. The objectives of the program are:

• Students will demonstrate the ability to apply social science and public policy theories and concepts.
• Students will develop competency in advanced methods of social science and public policy research and analysis.
• Students will develop basic skills in professional communication appropriate to the public policy and political economy research and analysis.

Facilities

Students have access to the computing facilities in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences and the University's Computer Labs. The School has two computing laboratories with over 30 computers that are network-linked and equipped with major social science software packages, including EViews, R, RATS, SPSS, and Stata. A geographic information system, the LexisNexis database, and Westlaw are also available for student use.

Admission Requirements

The PhD in Public Policy and Political Economy seeks applications from students with a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university or college. The desirable admission requirements include:

• An undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.2
• A score of 160 Verbal and a score of 148 Quantitative on the GRE, or equivalent score on the GMAT
• Students may also wish to consider submitting their score from the writing component of the GRE test as additional evidence of their writing skills
• Standardized test scores are only one of the factors taken into account in determining admission
• Students should also submit all transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and a one-page essay outlining the applicant's background, education, and professional objectives

Prerequisites

While there are no specific course prerequisites, entering students will benefit from exposure to undergraduate courses in:

• Economics
• Political science
• Sociology
• Calculus
• Statistics
• Research design

Degree Requirements

The PhD in Public Policy and Political Economy requires a minimum of 75 post-baccalaureate graduate credit hours. Full-time students can complete the degree in an average of 5 years. Students must:

• Maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA in their graduate courses in the degree program
• Earn a grade of at least 3.0 (B) for all core courses
• If placed on probation, students will have one semester to bring their cumulative grade point average to a 3.0 or greater
• Any student who receives two Cs will not be allowed to continue in the program
• Complete the following:
  • 33 hours of core courses
  • 12 hours of field courses (six hours in two fields of the student's choice)
  • Development
  • International Conflict and Security
  • International Political Economy
  • Social Policy
  • 6 hours area of specialization (in one of the fields of the student's choice)
  • A Methods Qualifying Examination in Quantitative Methods and Research Design
  • Matriculation to the dissertation phase
  • Successful completion of a dissertation
  • Successful completion of 75 credit hours including electives

Major Core Requirements (33 hours)

Students complete a core sequence of courses as follows:

1. Six hours of coursework in Government and Public Policy:
   • POEC 6347 Proseminar in Political Institutions and American Politics
   • POEC 6329 Ethics, Culture, and Public Policy
2. Six hours of Theories of Political Economy:
   • POEC 6312 Social-Economic Theories or POEC 6301 Political-Economic Theories
   • POEC 6321 Economics for Public Policy or POEC 7327 Innovation Dynamics and Economic Change
3. Fifteen hours of Analytical Methods:
   • Methods Core (Algebra-based or Calculus-based)
   • Algebra-based series:
     • EPPS 6313 Introduction to Quantitative Methods
     • EPPS 6316 Applied Regression
   • Calculus-based series:
     • EPPS 7313 Descriptive and Inferential Statistics
     • EPPS 7316 Regression and Multivariate Analysis
4. Six hours of Research Design:
   • EPPS 6310 Research Design I
   • EPPS 6342 Research Design II

Field Courses (12 hours)

Students take a two-course introductory sequence in two of the following five fields:

• Development:
  • POEC 6354 Theories and Issues of Development (Required)
  • Select one of the following:
    • POEC 6335 Institutions and Development
    • POEC 6360 World Political Economy
    • POEC 6362 Political Development
    • POEC 6364 Development Economics
    • POEC 6368 Population and Development
    • POEC 6392 Practice of International Development
• International Conflict and Security:
  • Select two of the following:
    • POEC 6361 Political Violence and Terrorism
    • POEC 6369 National and International Security Strategies and Policies
    • PSCI 6300 Proseminar in Comparative Politics and International Relations
• International Political Economy:
  • Select two of the following:
    • PSCI 6300 Proseminar in Comparative Politics and International Relations
    • PSCI 6309 International Political Economy
    • PSCI 6316 International Organizations
    • POEC 6360 World Political Economy
• Social Policy:
  • Select two of the following:
    • POEC 6351 Domestic Social Policy
    • POEC 7341 Health Policy
    • SOC 6350 Social Stratification

Area of Specialization (6 hours)

The student takes at least six hours of additional coursework in one of the field areas as defined above.

Methods Qualifying Exam and Matriculation to the Dissertation Phase

To advance to the dissertation stage of the program, students are evaluated by the Program Committee based on a Methods Qualifying Examination (MQE). The MQE will cover course material from EPPS 6313/EPPS 6316 and/or EPPS 7313/EPPS 7316, EPPS 6310 Research Design I, and EPPS 6342 Research Design II.

Dissertation Seminar

Students must register for POEC 8398 Dissertation Seminar for a minimum of one semester after passing the MQE and workshop paper requirements. The aim of the Dissertation Seminar is to assist students in the formulation of a dissertation topic and prepare a dissertation topic for submission to a dissertation Committee and defense of the proposal before the committee.

Electives

Students take free electives in areas of interest to fulfill the 75-hour PhD requirement. PhD students should note that they are eligible to receive Master's degrees offered by the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences while they matriculate toward the doctorate. These degrees include the Master of Public Policy and the MS in International Political Economy. Other EPPS master's degrees can be earned as well. Students interested in obtaining one of these degrees should consult the catalog requirements or the graduate advisor.