Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy
at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies and the Georgia Tech School of Public Policy

Gregory Lewis, Faculty Advisor

At the head of the class

The joint doctoral program in public policy combines the strengths of Georgia State University’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies and the Georgia Institute of Technology’s School of Public Policy. The Andrew Young School ranked 26th overall among graduate programs in public affairs in a recent US News ranking, as well as 5th in public finance and budgeting, 12th in city management and urban policy, 16th in public administration and management, and 21st in public policy analysis. Our faculty was the 5th most prolific in public administration journals over the past decade. US News also ranked Georgia Tech’s School of Public Policy 8th in information and technology management and 11th in environmental policy and management.

The value of a doctorate in public policy

The Georgia State/Georgia Tech program prepares experts in policy analysis, design, evaluation, and implementation. The need for such expertise is growing rapidly. At all levels of government, public needs and limited resources require policy choices that are economically efficient, socially and technically effective, and politically responsive. Policymakers confront critical issues on social welfare, education, the environment, science and technology, economic development, and public finance. Universities increasingly provide technical assistance and applied research for public, nonprofit, and private organizations. A growing number of public policy graduates are employed by private consulting firms and nonprofit interest groups as well as state and federal agencies. Graduates will fill responsible positions in universities, research centers, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies. Graduate programs public policy and administration need well-trained teachers and researchers.

Program requirements

To earn the joint Ph.D. in Public Policy at Georgia State University, a student must satisfactorily complete:

• Nine master’s level foundation courses in public policy
• Seven courses in the doctoral core
• Seven courses in two areas of specialization
• Full-time enrollment for one academic year
• Two doctoral qualifying examinations
• Defense of a dissertation

The master’s foundation courses include courses in the public policy process, policy analysis, statistics, organizational analysis, ethics and philosophical inquiry, economics, and public finance. Students may satisfy this requirement with courses from their master’s program or classes at Georgia State or Georgia Tech after they join the doctoral program. Students must also have completed a college-level calculus course. The doctoral core covers the scope and theory of public policy, the philosophy of science, two courses in advanced quantitative methods, microeconomic analysis, and advanced topics in policy analysis and evaluation. In the core research seminar, students produce research papers suitable for submission to scholarly journals. A grade of “B” or better is required in all core courses.

Students take four courses in their major specialization and three courses in their minor. One specialization must be from the following list, but students also may design their second field from courses taught at either university.

• public finance and budgeting
• science and technology policy
• policy implementation and administration
• policy and program evaluation
• environmental policy
• information and telecommunication policy
• urban and regional economic development
• urban policy
• health policy

Read more detailed information on program requirements.

Admission requirements

We are looking for outstanding students who want to pursue research-oriented careers in public policy, especially in fields related to one of the program’s specializations. We are also committed to building a student body that is diverse in gender, race, and ethnicity.

The admissions committee considers quality of previous academic work, letters of recommendation, scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and TOEFL (for non-native English speakers), and the fit between the student’s educational objectives and the specializations we offer. The committee welcomes additional evidence of strong analytical and verbal skills, creativity, and commitment to the field of study.

Research and teaching assistantships

Most full-time students receive graduate research or teaching assistantships for at least their first three years in the program. Assistantships typically provide full tuition waivers and stipends of $15,000 per year. Three new doctoral students each year receive Andrew Young or AYSPS Dean’s Scholar Fellowships, which provide an additional $7,000 or $5,000 annually.

Research assistants work closely with faculty, performing policy-relevant research that may inform city, county, state, national, and international policymakers. Many students do research for one of the several nationally-recognized research centers at both universities. These include the Fiscal Research Center, the State Data and Research Center, the Georgia Health Policy Center, the International Studies Program, the Air Quality Laboratory, the Environmental Policy Program, and the Technology Policy and Assessment Center. Governments and the private sector turn regularly to these centers for advice and counsel.

Advanced doctoral students have opportunities to teach undergraduate classes.

Living in Atlanta

Both the Georgia Tech and Georgia State campuses are centrally located near the State Capitol, state and federal offices, CNN headquarters, and the convention hotel district. Also nearby are the Georgia Aquarium, High Museum of Art, the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, and the Carter Presidential Center. Consistently rated among the “most livable cities” by Rand McNally and known as a desirable location for business, Atlanta combines an attractive climate with a full variety of cultural and athletic activities.

Questions?

For more information, contact the Office of Academic Assistance at Georgia State:

Office of Academic Assistance
Andrew Young School of Policy Studies
14 Marietta Street, Suite G52
Atlanta, GA 30303

Phone: 404-413-0021
E-mail: ayspsacademicassist@gsu.edu

Online application and instructions

Students are admitted only for fall semester. Applications will be reviewed beginning February 1. Admissions and assistantship decisions are typically made by March 15.

Photo above: Greg Lewis congratulates policy doctoral student Spencer Brien at Honors Day.