Public Affairs and Policy Ph.D.

The Ph.D. in public affairs and policy is an interdisciplinary program designed to prepare individuals to pursue research, teaching, advocacy, public service, and/or consulting in a variety of settings ranging from universities to policy research organizations, public agencies, and private consulting firms. The degree may be pursued on a full- or part-time basis.

The degree program is administered by the Hatfield School of Government, but draws on faculty from the entire College of Urban and Public Affairs. Faculty members are drawn from public administration, political science, economics, criminal justice, policy sciences, and urban studies.

The curriculum focus is governance, the integrated study of political, administrative, and policy processes. This curriculum is taught against the backdrop of globalizing economies and political systems seeking to recognize governance in a modern world characterized by both cooperation and conflict among the public, private, and non-profit organizations.

The doctoral program in public affairs and policy is designed to enable students to approach governance as an applied area of knowledge in which theory informs and is informed by real-world practice.

Admission requirements

Degree requirements

Program Rules

Research and Teaching Opportunities

Admission requirements

More information about the public affairs and policy Ph.D. program and all application forms are available at www.pdx.edu/hatfieldschool. For further assistance, contact the program administrator at papphd@pdx.edu or 503-725-3920. Application materials should be sent (not emailed) to: Public Affairs and Policy Ph.D. Program, Hatfield School of Government, Portland State University, P. O. Box 751, Portland, OR 97207-0751. Applications are accepted for fall admission only; the application deadline is 31 December.