The subfield of public policy explores relationships between political processes and policy outcomes, centering on the notion that procedures and institutions affect how policies are developed, implemented and consumed. Faculty research and coursework in the subfield investigates the processes by which policy agendas are set, actors form policy coalitions, and policies are implemented and evaluated, the influence of history, culture, institutions, organizations, and networks on policy outcomes, and recent efforts to democratize the policy process through participation, decentralization, and collaboration. Students also have the option of pursuing a sub-specialization in law and social policy. Recent or current PhDs have focused on topics like health services, international agenda-setting, national security policy, comparative environmental policy, school desegregation, rangeland management, gender violence, immigration and refugee policy, and social welfare policy.
The political science doctoral program typically requires two years of full-time study. Our students commonly participate in joint faculty-student research and interdepartmental research projects on a wide range of topics. PhD students within the Department of Political Science pursue their studies through advanced courses and seminars across the major fields of focus of political science, including comparative politics, formal theory and methodology, international relations, public policy, political theory, and US politics. Many faculty and graduate students work at the intersections of these fields, as well as other disciplines like anthropology, economics, ethnic studies, history, law, philosophy, or sociology. The political science doctoral program is designed to allow the well-prepared student to complete course requirements for the PhD in two years of full-time study. Students complete a research paper in their second year and take comprehensive examinations during their third year, followed by preparation of a dissertation. Additional PhD program requirements, along with a complete description of graduation requirementsand an explanation of themes and field requirementsare available on the department website.
