Ph.D. in Public Policy (Joint Program with Georgia Tech)

Application Deadlines*

Fall Semester

Deadline – January 15

*Online applications must be submitted and all materials received by the deadline to be reviewed for admission.

Application Submission

All applicants must apply and submit all materials online.

Application Requirements

A completed application includes:

1. Two online applications (GA State and GA Tech): All online applications must be submitted by the deadline. Paper applications are not available.
2. Application fee: A nonrefundable fee of $50 is required for each application. This fee must be paid online by credit card.
3. Statement of Interest: Two to three page, typed statement of interest covering personal and professional goals as they relate to the Ph.D. in Public Policy, including desired area of specialization, research interests, and faculty with whom applicant would like to work. Statement should discuss your reasons for applying to the doctoral program, expectations for completion of the coursework and dissertation, and prospective employment. Include special circumstances, if any, or other information not covered in the application that you think would be helpful in evaluating your application.
4. Biographical Statement: Two page Biographical Statement that includes biographical information and defines how you have prepared yourself for doctoral study, uploaded within the “writing sample” section of the online application. It may include schools attended, areas of study and formative experiences (particularly those that are relevant to pursuing a Ph.D.). This statement is intended to help the committee better know the applicant and to see why pursuing a doctoral program is the next logical step.
5. Official GRE (Graduate Record Examination) scores: Official scores must be reported to institution code 5251. More information can be found at our Admissions FAQ page or, to schedule the test, at www.gre.org.
6. TOEFL or IELTS Academic scores (International applicants only): All international applicants are required to submit official TOEFL or IELTS Academic scores.
7. Three letters of recommendation: All letters should be submitted through the online application. If not submitted online, letters must be in sealed envelopes from recommender and sent to the Admissions Office address.
8. Copies of Official Transcripts from each post-secondary college/university attended:
   • Official transcripts are not required at this stage of application review.**
   • Transcripts should be uploaded to the Educational Information section of the online application and must be copies of university transcripts. This can either be an official electronic transcript, or a paper copy that you have scanned and uploaded.
   • Copy of transcript must have one or more of the following features: registrar’s seal, registrar signature, or watermark of the institution.
   • Documents such as self-printed academic histories, web-based academic evaluations, and anything hand-written are not acceptable for review process and should not be uploaded. Doing so will significantly delay the review of your application.
   • Submit one copy of transcript for each post-secondary institution attended, regardless of length of time you attended, your status, whether grades are listed, or where your final degree(s) were received. This would include community colleges, study abroad programs and AP credit. If you received college level credit, a transcript should be submitted for review.
     **Official transcripts will only be required if an applicant is admitted to the program.

If you issues with your online application, please email [email protected].

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 in public policy and administration need well-trained teachers and researchers.

The program is intended primarily for full-time students, and courses are offered primarily during daytime hours.  The Andrew Young School has been able to fund virtually all full-time students for at least three years.  Assistantships typically provide full tuition waivers and stipends of $18,000 per year. Three new doctoral students each year receive Andrew Young or AYSPS Dean’s Scholar Fellowships, which provide an additional $6,000 annually. Graduate research assistants work with individual faculty members or with one of the Andrew Young School’s policy research centers, including the Fiscal Research Center, the International Studies Program, the Georgia Health Policy Center, and theNonprofit Studies Program. Over the course of their studies, most students work on both academic and more practical policy-related research projects. Third- and fourth-year students typically have opportunities to teach undergraduate classes.

Through the joint PhD program with Georgia Tech, students may select one of the following areas of specialization:

• Environmental Policy – Environmental issues increasingly confront policymakers and affect economic development. This program of study is designed to prepare students to evaluate the impact of various environmental policies and acquire the necessary tools to develop new policies that address environmental issues and needs.
• Health Policy – The courses in this specialization link health-related research, policy, and programs by focusing on knowledge utilization, policy implementation, and outcome evaluation. Central issues are contributors to health, issues of equity, and understanding of social and economic contexts of health. Prerequisite: master’s level health economics course (HA 8250 or equivalent).
• Science and Technology Policy – Through this program of study, students examine the interaction between science, technology, and the policy process. Students will explore the range of policies used by the governments in promoting and regulating science, technology, and innovation across the globe. Coursework will cover the sources and stimuli for innovation, the roles of universities, industry-government agreements, joint R&D ventures, and technology transfer. Students will also examine science and technology as social institutions. Particular attention is given to understanding the production and diffusion of scientific and technological knowledge.
• Urban and Regional Economic Development Policy – At the heart of this program is an exploration of government policies designed to stimulate economic development. Particular emphasis is given to exploring the competitiveness of small business and the modernization of manufacturers. Students will also explore the physical urban infrastructure such as water, sewer, transportation, and waste disposal systems. They are also presented the policy tools for analyzing this class of public issue.

One specialization must be from the following list, but students also may design their second field from courses taught at either university.

Choosing Classes

• Student Planning Resources
• Course Syllabi

Careers

For help with your career direction, contact AYSPS Career Services. Attend our frequent workshops or work one-on-one with a career counselor to optimize your job search.

Talk to an Advisor:

Office of Academic Assistance
http://aysps.gsu.edu/oaa/
Telephone: 404-413-0021
[email protected]