Doctoral Programs
at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies

At the doctoral level the Andrew Young School maintains a commitment to the highest level of research and thinking in terms of Public Policy and Economics. Our programs are fortunate to have faculty and students from a variety of backgrounds and origins that come together to make a unique academic environment, producing progressive and challenging ideas along with trail-blazing research that impact public and private sector issues nationally and internationally. Represented in our programs are students from the U.S., Jamaica, China, Ethiopia, Bolivia, Serbia, Ukraine, India, the Philippines and Pakistan to name a few.

Newly Admitted Doctoral Students

Twenty new students were admitted to our already diverse doctoral student body in 2006. Our admitted students were very nearly evenly split with 9 female and 11 male students accepted to our programs. Students came to us from a variety of academic and professional backgrounds ranging from students coming straight out of their undergraduate degrees to working professionals returning with a breadth of life experience and knowledge in their areas of interest. Some examples of professions represented in our incoming class include several professors in various disciplines, Special Assistant to the University System of Georgia Board of Regents, Health and Welfare actuary and employee benefits consultant, licensed attorney and statistical analyst. Our new students range in age from 21 to 46 years of age with a median age of 31. Within this broad variety of incoming students each student has expressed the desire to pursue influential and forward thinking research in Economics or Public Policy. 

The following excerpts taken from students’ written statements during the application process demonstrate the high expectations and ambitions of our newly admitted doctoral students.

“My research interests are the primary reason for applying to this program. I see the possibility of using my academic background in sociology and my practical work experience in expenditure management with the Government of India to study aspects of Public Finance in the delivery of social services in developing countries.”

“Especially of interest to me is the prospect of being able to train civil servants of third-world countries, including my own, in aspects of public expenditure management that maximizes efficiency in the provision of public social services.”

“My primary research interest focuses on public finance issues that are concentrated in developing and transitional economies. I intend to study topics associated with the fiscal decentralization of both the generation and expenditure of government revenue and the impact of this process on the provision of public services. I am particularly interested in sub-national authority to tax the extraction of natural resources and retain at that government level the funds generated from this revenue source. I also would like to study capital market access for local level governments and the effect that its provision has on regional fiscal autonomy.”

“By attending the AYSPS, I hope to increase my understanding of and involvement in local public policy issues, particularly those that affect communities of color in the Atlanta area.”

“…it has to be admitted that there are still a lot of great challenges facing China to develop and implement a competitive and mature public policy system, which accordingly generates an increasing demand for professional and high-quality experts who understand and are able to practice their skills and concepts of management and policy-making.”

“My professional goals are related to international relations and international Economics. In the future, I expect to gain qualification for a government position, to work at establishing closer economic liaison between the U.S. and Ukraine, and to design comprehensible economic strategies to achieve this goal. As an economic advisor or a diplomatic servant, I plan to contribute to the cooperative economic efforts between the U.S. and Ukraine. Receiving Ph.D. degree in Economics from Georgia State University will give me a concrete chance to achieve this goal.”

“My purpose in attending the graduate program in economics at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies is to serve others… I want to attend Georgia State University to learn the technical and statistical methods in order to gain an understanding of economics and resource allocation, and then use the knowledge to promote effective policy, conduct needed research, and educate the next generation of citizens.”

“The AYSPS is uniquely situated in a dynamic, sprawling urban environment that can serve as a rich source of research topics. Many of the effects of urbanization are certainly evident in a place the size of Atlanta… In addition, the vast resources of the school will also ensure that I am not only taking the valuable courses needed for the Ph.D., but I will be given opportunities to actively engage in and produce quality, meaningful research.”

“I intend to develop the foundational knowledge necessary to better understand the health sector of the economy, both operationally and from a public policy perspective… I intend to refine my research skills so that I will be better able to produce and publish innovative, high-quality results. Ultimately, my long-term goal is to create for myself an opportunity to contribute to the body of knowledge of modern economics.”

“Upon the completion of all undergraduate and post-graduate work, the real world awaits. Whether I decide to become a professional economist, work for the U.S. Department of Labor, or become a consultant, my career objectives remain unchanged. No matter the title, I would like to analyze issues facing minorities, minority women in particular, and in doing so discover new avenues for advancement of these populations. When faced with a problem, I would like to be able to analyze it using fundamental economic tools, brainstorm for possible solutions, and be in a position to enact these solutions. In understanding why certain events occur and being able to provide reasonable and viable solutions, I feel I will be able to give back to my community.”

In an exceptional year, 19 of our doctoral students graduated. We celebrated with our students and their families as they received their degree and began the next phase of their professional lives. Congratulations went out to:

Ph.D.—Public Policy (joint doctoral program with The Georgia Institute of Technology)
Zhenhua Hu
John Matthews
Hyun Park

Ph.D.—Economics
Artidiatun Adji
Steven Buigut
Ki-Whan Choi
Asmaa El-Ganainy
Eunice Heredia
Paul Kagundu
Christine Moloi
Olga Pavlova
Raul Ponce
Jose Rendon-Garza
Eric Sarpong
Edward Sennoga
Mamadou Sow
Guevera Yao
Mohammad Yunus
Xinye Zheng

These doctoral graduates have accepted positions in business and academia all over the world. They will incorporate the training and developing expertise in their disciplines provided by the AYS on a global scale, and we are pleased to have assisted in their growth and development by focusing their research and scholastic pursuits as they progressed through our rigorous, demanding doctoral programs.