Disciplinary Concentration

[ Economics | Political Science | Sociology ]

Although the Public Policy PhD Program is truly interdisciplinary, it is designed to ensure that students have strength in a particular disciplinary tradition. Students designate a disciplinary concentration when applying to the program. They may opt to concentrate in economics, political science or sociology.

A minimum of five courses in a discipline is required.  Students take basic research methods courses (a minimum of two courses) in their disciplinary department.  Students also take courses satisfying requirements in one designated sub-field in their discipline, and they are expected to meet appropriate qualifying or preliminary standards in that sub-field as would be required of a disciplinary PhD candidate.

Although we require a disciplinary concentration, we also expect Public Policy PhD students to gain knowledge in the other core disciplines. Thus, we require every student to take at least one course in each of the core disciplines:  economics, political science and sociology.