Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy and Political Economy

Our nationally recognized, interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Public Policy and Political Economy degree program offers training opportunities for doctoral students from internationally renowned faculty. The mission of the program is to prepare our students for professional positions in research, teaching, and practice in fields related to public policy and political economy, in both academic and nonacademic settings. We prepare students through instruction in social science and public policy concepts, advanced methodological knowledge, applied social research techniques, and professional communication skills. Public Policy and Political Economy students and faculty are encouraged to promote an inclusive and diverse environment that is committed to continued scholarship and service.

Objectives

• 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 public policy and political economy research and analysis.

While there are no specific course prerequisites, entering students will benefit from exposure to undergraduate courses in economics, political science, sociology, calculus, statistics, and research design.

Degree Requirements

The University's general degree requirements are discussed on the Graduate Policies and Procedures page. The Ph.D. in Public Policy and Political Economy requires a minimum of 75 post-baccalaureate graduate semester 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, and 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.

Students must complete the following:

• 33 semester credit hours of core courses
• 12 semester credit hours of field courses (six semester credit hours in two fields of the student's choice):
  • Development
  • International Conflict and Security
  • International Political Economy
  • Social and Health Policy
  • Business, Technology, and Innovation
• 6 semester credit 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 semester credit hours minimum including electives

The requirements are outlined in further detail below.

I. Major Core Requirements (33 semester credit hours)

Students complete a core sequence of courses as follows:

1. Six semester credit hours of coursework in Government and Public Policy:

• PPPE 6347 Proseminar in Political Institutions and American Politics
• PPPE 6329 Ethics, Culture, and Public Policy

2. Six semester credit hours of Theories of Political Economy

• PPPE 6301 Political-Economic Theories
• PPPE 6321 Economics for Public Policy

3. Fifteen semester credit hours of Analytical Methods

• Methods Core (Algebra-based or Calculus-based)
  • Algebra-based series
    • EPPS 6313 Introduction to Quantitative Methods
    • EPPS 6316 Applied Regression
  • or
  • Calculus-based series
    • EPPS 7313 Descriptive and Inferential Statistics
    • EPPS 7316 Regression and Multivariate Analysis

Students are strongly encouraged to take the calculus-based sequence, which is better preparation for the methods qualifying exam and more advanced methods courses.

Students will also take at least three additional methods from a set of courses approved by the program head or director of graduate studies. Students may obtain a list of those courses from the program office.

4. Six semester credit hours of Research Design

• PPPE 6310 Research Design I
• PPPE 6342 Research Design II

Students may request that alternative courses be substituted in the core with the approval of the Program Head or Director of Graduate Studies.

II. Field Courses (12 semester credit hours)

Students take six semester credit hours in two of the following five fields. The fields and required courses are as follows:

Development

• Choose two courses from the following:
• PPPE 6354 Theories and Issues of Development
• PPPE 6335 Institutions and Development
• PPPE 6343 Global Health Policy1
• PPPE 6352 World Political Economy1
• PPPE 6362 Political Development
• PPPE 6363 Conflict and Development1
• PPPE 6367 Environmental Economics and Policy
• PPPE 6370 Political Economy of Natural Resources1
• PPPE 6371 Urban Development
• PPPE 6372 Faith, Ideology, and Development
• PPPE 6392 Practice of International Development
• PPPE 6359 Political Economy of Economic Development
• PPPE 6358 Political Economy of South and Southeast Asia
• Other courses as approved by the Program Head or Director of Graduate Studies

International Conflict and Security

• Choose two courses from the following:
• PPPE 6361 Civil Conflict
• PPPE 6369 National and International Security Strategies and Policies
• PPPE 6363 Conflict and Development1
• PSCI 6321 Proseminar in Comparative Politics
• PSCI 6319 Proseminar in International Relations
• PSCI 6306 Human Rights and International Law
• PSCI 7318 Conflict Management
• PSCI 7330 International Conflict
• PSCI 7335 Theories of International Relations
• PPPE 7313 Counterterrorism and Counterinsurgency
• Other courses as approved by the Program Head or Director of Graduate Studies

International Political Economy

• Choose two courses from the following:
• PSCI 6309 International Political Economy
• PPPE 6319 Political Economy of MNCs
• PPPE 6352 World Political Economy1
• PPPE 6368 Political Economy of Finance1
• PPPE 6370 Political Economy of Natural Resources1
• PSCI 6316 International Organizations
• Other courses as approved by the Program Head or Director of Graduate Studies

Social and Health Policy

• Choose two courses from the following:
• PPPE 6313 Human Organizations and Social Theory
• PPPE 6340 Domestic Social Policy
• PPPE 6341 Health Policy
• PPPE 6343 Global Health Policy1
• PPPE 6350 Social Stratification
• PPPE 6356 Health and Illness
• Other courses as approved by the Program Head or Director of Graduate Studies

Business, Technology, and Innovation

• Choose two courses from the following:
• PPPE 6359 Political Economy of Economic Development
• PPPE 6365 The Innovation Economy
• PPPE 6353 Industry, Technology, and Science Policy
• PPPE 6368 Political Economy of Finance1
• PPPE 6373 Issues in Science, Technology, and Society
• Other courses as approved by the Program Head or Director of Graduate Studies

Students may request that alternative courses be substituted in a particular field with the approval of the Program Head or Director of Graduate Studies. Moreover, students may, in consultation with the Program Head or Director of Graduate Studies, define a new field provided that appropriate coursework is available and that coherent research literature is identified.

III. Area of Specialization (6 semester credit hours)

The student takes at least six semester credit hours of additional coursework related to their dissertation topic. Classes will be approved by the Program Head or the Director of Graduate Studies.

IV. Methods Qualifying Exam and Matriculation to the Dissertation Phase

To advance to the dissertation stage of the program, students are evaluated based on a Methods Qualifying Examination.

The Methods Qualifying Examination will cover course material from (EPPS 6313 Introduction to Quantitative Methods and EPPS 6316 Applied Regression) and/or (EPPS 7313 Descriptive and Inferential Statistics and EPPS 7316 Regression and Multivariate Analysis), PPPE 6310 Research Design I and PPPE 6342 Research Design II. It is required that full-time (and 6 semester credit hours-a-semester part-time) students take EPPS 6313 or EPPS 7313 and PPPE 6310 the fall semester of the first year and EPPS 6316 or EPPS 7316 and PPPE 6342 in spring. The Methods Qualifying Examination is administered once a year in late April or May. Student performance will be evaluated as unsatisfactory, satisfactory, or excellent. Those failing the exam will be given a second opportunity to pass at the end of the summer. Those failing the Methods Qualifying Examination for the second time will not be allowed to continue in the program. Part-time students should seek to complete the required methods sequence by spring of their second year; courses noted above should be taken in the same basic sequence.

V. Dissertation Seminar

Students must register for PPPE 8398 Dissertation Seminar for a minimum of one semester after passing the Methods Qualifying Examination. 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 defence the proposal before the committee. With the approval of the Program Head, the Dissertation Seminar can also be taken as an independent study course under the supervision of the student's likely dissertation supervisor. Students seeking advising concerning a suitable dissertation topic or appropriate supervisor are encouraged to consult with the Program Head or Director of Graduate Studies.

VI. Electives

Students take free electives in areas of interest to fulfil the 75-semester credit hour Ph.D. requirement. No more than 6 semester credit hours of independent study (PPPE 8V01) may be taken, unless approved by the Director of Graduate Studies or Program Head. Students may enrol in dissertation hours (PPPE 8V99 Dissertation) in addition to additional coursework after a successful proposal defence.

Ph.D. students should note that they are eligible to receive master's degrees offered by the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences (EPPS) 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 catalogue requirements or the graduate advisor.

VII. Dissertation

The student completes a dissertation and must successfully defend the dissertation before a duly constituted dissertation committee, in accordance with the requirements of the University and the UT System.

Graduates of the program seek positions such as academics and researcher, policy analysts, government officials, consultants in development policy, foreign and security policy, public administration, and public policy.