Doctor of Philosophy in the Field of Public Policy and Public Administration

The PhD in public policy and public administration is a 72-credit program offered through GW's Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration (TSPPPA), which is situated in the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences. The curriculum emphasizes interdisciplinary, applied research in public policy and public administration and related subfields as it prepares students for traditional faculty or public-policy and public administration research positions. The program is designed to develop a range of competencies needed to undertake sophisticated research in public policy and public administration. Core courses cover multiple academic disciplines, including politics, economics, and quantitative and qualitative methods in policy research.

Built upon the diversity and strengths of academic departments and faculty distributed throughout TSPPPA and the university community, the program offers an exceptional education across these disciplines. Program graduates pursue careers in teaching and research related to public policy and public administration and as policy researchers and analysts in government, the nonprofit sector, and the private sector. Some hold administrative positions in these sectors, and many are closely involved in the development and evaluation of public policies and programs.

Trachtenberg School classes are held on GW's Foggy Bottom Campus. Most classes are in the evenings, allowing full- and part-time students to pursue their degree while working.

Visit the program website for additional information.

Adminssion Requirements

Article	Requirement
Admission deadlines:	Fall – January 5 (late applications may be considered on a case-by-case basis)
Standardized test scores:	GRE general test required (institutional code 5246). Waived for applicants who hold a JD, MD, or PhD.
	The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the PTE Academic is required of all applicants except those who hold a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a college or university in the United States or from an institution located in a country in which English is the official language, provided English was the language of instruction.
	Minimum scores for the program are:
	Academic IELTS: an overall score of 7.0 with no individual band score below 6.0;
	OR
	TOEFL: 600 on the paper-based or 100 on the Internet-based.
	OR
	PTE Academic: 68
Recommendations required:	Three (3) recommendations
Prior academic records:	Transcripts are required from all colleges and universities attended, whether or not credit was earned, the program was completed, or the credit appears as transfer credit on another transcript. Unofficial transcripts from all colleges and universities attended must be uploaded to your online application. Official transcripts are required only of applicants who are offered admission.
	If transcripts are in a language other than English, English language translations must be provided. The English translation alone should be uploaded into your application.
Statement of purpose:	In an essay of no more than 750 words, state your purpose in undertaking graduate study the field. Indicate which of the concentrations you are applying for:
	Education Policy, Program Evaluation, Public Administration and Management, Public Budgeting and Finance, Science and Technology Policy, Social Policy with Specialization in - Gender and Social Policy, Race Ethnicity and Social Policy, Urban Policy, Poverty and Inequality
	The essay should describe your specific research interests within that field and your career plans. You may also discuss your related qualifications, including academic, professional, and community activities, and any other substantial accomplishments not already mentioned on your application, or resumé/curriculum vita.
International applicants only:	Please review International Applicant Information (https://columbian.gwu.edu/international-graduate-applicants) carefully for details on required documents, earlier deadlines for applicants requiring an I-20 or DS-2019 from GW, and English language requirements.

Supporting documents not submitted online should be mailed to:

Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Office of Graduate Studies
The George Washington University
801 22nd Street NW, Phillips Hall 107
Washington DC 20052

For additional information about the admissions process visit the Columbian College  of Arts and Sciences Frequently Asked Questions page.

Contact:

askccas@gwu.edu
202-994-6210 (phone)

Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday

 The following requirements must be fulfilled:

The general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Graduate Programs.

The requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Program.

Students must maintain a minimum grade-point average of 3.3 to remain in the program.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Required
Core Courses
PPPA 6014	Microeconomics for Public Policy II *
PPPA 8100	Seminar: Literature of Public Administration *
PPPA 8101	Research Methods *
PPPA 8105	Public Finance and Human Capital
PPPA 8174	Seminar: Public Management
PPPA 8190	Philosophical Foundations of Policy and Administrative Research
PPPA 8191	Dissertation Workshop
PSC 8229	Politics and Public Policy *
One of the following to fulfill the intermediate quantitative course requirement:
DNSC 6274	Statistical Modeling and Analysis
ECON 8375	Econometrics I
ECON 8379	Laboratory in Applied Econometrics
PPPA 6013	Regression Methods for Policy Research *
PSC 8102	Empirical Political Analysis
One of the following to fulfill the advanced quantitative course requirement:
DNSC 6275	Advanced Statistical Modeling and Analysis
ECON 8376	Econometrics II
ECON 8377	Econometrics III
PPPA 8022	Econometrics for Policy Research
One of the following to fulfill the qualitative course requirement:
EDUC 8122	Qualitative Research Methods
EDUC 8131	Case Study Research Methods
HIST 6030	History and Its Uses in International Affairs
PPPA 8023	Mixed Methods in Research Design
PSC 8104	Qualitative Research Methods
PUBH 8417	Qualitative Research Methods and Analysis
SOC 6232	Qualitative Methods
Additional requirements
A written qualifying examination covering designated core courses. *
A minimum of 12 credits and satisfactory completion of a field examination in one of the following fields: Education policy; budgeting and public finance; program evaluation; science and technology policy; public and nonprofit management; and social policy.
Dissertation research
PPPA 8999	Dissertation Research (taken for 6 to 12 credits)

 *Course is covered by the core comprehensive examination.

**The social policy field has four subfields, each with specific requirements: gender and social policy, poverty and inequality, ethnicity and public policy, and urban policy.