The PhD in public policy and public administration is a 72-credit program offered through GW's Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration (TSPPPA), which is situated in the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences. The curriculum emphasizes interdisciplinary, applied research in public policy and public administration and related subfields as it prepares students for traditional faculty or public-policy and public administration research positions. The program is designed to develop a range of competencies needed to undertake sophisticated research in public policy and public administration. Core courses cover multiple academic disciplines, including politics, economics, and quantitative and qualitative methods in policy research.
Built upon the diversity and strengths of academic departments and faculty distributed throughout TSPPPA and the university community, the program offers an exceptional education across these disciplines. Program graduates pursue careers in teaching and research related to public policy and public administration and as policy researchers and analysts in government, the nonprofit sector, and the private sector. Some hold administrative positions in these sectors, and many are closely involved in the development and evaluation of public policies and programs.
Trachtenberg School classes are held on GW's Foggy Bottom Campus. Most classes are in the evenings, allowing full- and part-time students to pursue their degree while working.
Visit the program website for additional information.
| Article | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Admission deadlines: | Fall – January 5 (late applications may be considered on a case-by-case basis) |
| Standardized test scores: | GRE general test required (institutional code 5246). Waived for applicants who hold a JD, MD, or PhD. |
| The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the PTE Academic is required of all applicants except those who hold a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a college or university in the United States or from an institution located in a country in which English is the official language, provided English was the language of instruction. | |
| Minimum scores for the program are: | |
| Academic IELTS: an overall score of 7.0 with no individual band score below 6.0; | |
| OR | |
| TOEFL: 600 on the paper-based or 100 on the Internet-based. | |
| OR | |
| PTE Academic: 68 | |
| Recommendations required: | Three (3) recommendations |
| Prior academic records: | Transcripts are required from all colleges and universities attended, whether or not credit was earned, the program was completed, or the credit appears as transfer credit on another transcript. Unofficial transcripts from all colleges and universities attended must be uploaded to your online application. Official transcripts are required only of applicants who are offered admission. |
| If transcripts are in a language other than English, English language translations must be provided. The English translation alone should be uploaded into your application. | |
| Statement of purpose: | In an essay of no more than 750 words, state your purpose in undertaking graduate study the field. Indicate which of the concentrations you are applying for: |
| Education Policy, Program Evaluation, Public Administration and Management, Public Budgeting and Finance, Science and Technology Policy, Social Policy with Specialization in - Gender and Social Policy, Race Ethnicity and Social Policy, Urban Policy, Poverty and Inequality | |
| The essay should describe your specific research interests within that field and your career plans. You may also discuss your related qualifications, including academic, professional, and community activities, and any other substantial accomplishments not already mentioned on your application, or resumé/curriculum vita. | |
| International applicants only: | Please review International Applicant Information (https://columbian.gwu.edu/international-graduate-applicants) carefully for details on required documents, earlier deadlines for applicants requiring an I-20 or DS-2019 from GW, and English language requirements. |
Supporting documents not submitted online should be mailed to:
Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Office of Graduate Studies
The George Washington University
801 22nd Street NW, Phillips Hall 107
Washington DC 20052
For additional information about the admissions process visit the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences Frequently Asked Questions page.
Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday
The following requirements must be fulfilled:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| Core Courses | ||
| PPPA 6014 | Microeconomics for Public Policy II * | |
| PPPA 8100 | Seminar: Literature of Public Administration * | |
| PPPA 8101 | Research Methods * | |
| PPPA 8105 | Public Finance and Human Capital | |
| PPPA 8174 | Seminar: Public Management | |
| PPPA 8190 | Philosophical Foundations of Policy and Administrative Research | |
| PPPA 8191 | Dissertation Workshop | |
| PSC 8229 | Politics and Public Policy * | |
| One of the following to fulfill the intermediate quantitative course requirement: | ||
| DNSC 6274 | Statistical Modeling and Analysis | |
| ECON 8375 | Econometrics I | |
| ECON 8379 | Laboratory in Applied Econometrics | |
| PPPA 6013 | Regression Methods for Policy Research * | |
| PSC 8102 | Empirical Political Analysis | |
| One of the following to fulfill the advanced quantitative course requirement: | ||
| DNSC 6275 | Advanced Statistical Modeling and Analysis | |
| ECON 8376 | Econometrics II | |
| ECON 8377 | Econometrics III | |
| PPPA 8022 | Econometrics for Policy Research | |
| One of the following to fulfill the qualitative course requirement: | ||
| EDUC 8122 | Qualitative Research Methods | |
| EDUC 8131 | Case Study Research Methods | |
| HIST 6030 | History and Its Uses in International Affairs | |
| PPPA 8023 | Mixed Methods in Research Design | |
| PSC 8104 | Qualitative Research Methods | |
| PUBH 8417 | Qualitative Research Methods and Analysis | |
| SOC 6232 | Qualitative Methods | |
| Additional requirements | ||
| A written qualifying examination covering designated core courses. * | ||
| A minimum of 12 credits and satisfactory completion of a field examination in one of the following fields: Education policy; budgeting and public finance; program evaluation; science and technology policy; public and nonprofit management; and social policy. ** | ||
| Dissertation research | ||
| PPPA 8999 | Dissertation Research (taken for 6 to 12 credits) | |
*Course is covered by the core comprehensive examination.
**The social policy field has four subfields, each with specific requirements: gender and social policy, poverty and inequality, ethnicity and public policy, and urban policy.