Ph.D Program Courses

The Ph.D. program consists of four tracks: public administration and policy; politics and public policy; community health and policy; and criminology and criminal justice. These tracks provide (1) full training in a social science discipline; (2) multidisciplinary training in the political, economic, and institutional frameworks within which polices are implemented, administered, and evaluated; and, (3) training in a wide range of methods used to analyze policy outcomes and effects. In addition, students specialize in a substantive policy area

Specialization fields (Tracks 1-3)

Students must choose ONE of the following three fields as their primary field of study

Track 1

1.a. Public Administration and Policy (24 credit hours)

In selecting courses to satisfy credit hour requirements of the following fields, the doctoral program committee can recommend classes offered in the three divisions of the Hatfield School of Government, the School of Community Health, the School of Urban Studies, and other courses from PSU's colleges. In addition, credit can be given to graduate courses completed at other universities.

electives*

1.b. Dissertation Field Specialization (24 credit hours, all electives)*

Electives determined in agreement with field examining committee.

Subtotal Credit Hours 48

Track 2

2.a. Politics and Public Policy (25 Credit hours)

A key goal of this program is to facilitate multidisciplinary training and research for careers in academic and applied fields. Required microeconomics and evaluation/benefit-cost courses provide training in economic analysis. The domestic and international policy courses provide political science perspectives on the policy process.

2.b. Dissertation Field Specialization - (23 credit hours, 5-7 courses depending on the credit hours of each course, all electives)*

Electives determined in agreement with field examining committee.

In selecting courses to satisfy credit hour requirements of the following fields, student's doctoral program committee can recommend classes offered in the three divisions of the Hatfield School of Government, the School of Community Health, the School of Urban Studies, and other courses from PSU's colleges. In addition, credit can be given to graduate courses completed at other universities:

Subtotal - 48 credit hours

Track 3

3.a. Community Health and Social Change (23 credit hours, 7 courses)

The focus of the Community Health track will be on the social structural factors that influence health. The main themes are socioeconomic factors, culture, politics, and social change.

3.b. Dissertation Field Specializations (27 credit hours all electives)* Electives determined in agreement with field examining committee.

Students with an MPH degree will be given advanced standing. The 15 credit hours that make up the core course of the MPH will reduce the hours required in their specialization field to 12 hours. Students who enter the program without an MPH will be, required to take the MPH core courses:

PA 574 Health Systems
PHE 512 Health Behavior
PHE 535 Epidemiology
PHE 510 Biornetry
PHE 580 Environmental Health
Research Methods - 24 credits
PS 593 Philosophy of Social Science (4) or Sociology 591
USP 630 Research Design (4)
USP 634 Data Analysis (4)

Beyond these three core courses, students will be expected to work closely with their committees to develop the methodological competencies necessary for their professional and research goals. It is expected that students will develop familiarity with basic quantitative and qualitative approaches to social scientific research and facility with the specific research tools that will be required for their dissertation work.

Dissertation Research - 27 credits

TOTAL credit hours 117 for Tracks 1&2 and 119 credit hours for Track 3.

*Potential Dissertation Fields
Advocacy & Political Organizing
American Foreign Policy
Communication and Health
Criminal Justice
Environmental & Natural Resource Policy & Administration
Environmental Health
Gerontology
Health Behaviors
Health Services Administration and Policy
Human Resource Management
International Political Economy
International Public Policy
International Security Policy
Labor Relations
Nonprofit Management
Organizations & Organizational Development
Policy Consensus & Dispute Resolution
Public Participation & Civic Capacity
Social Justice and Public Policy
Tribal Governance

Track 4

4.a. Criminology and Criminal Justice (23 credits, 6 courses)

The focus of the criminology and criminal justice track is to provide students with a broad-based understanding of the criminal justice system and society's response to crime. Students will be prepared to pursue careers in academic, research, or community settings.

AJ 615 Theories of Crime (4 credits)
AJ 620 Analysis of Crime and Justice Data (4 credits)
AJ 625 Criminal Justice Theory (4 credits)
AJ 630 Criminal Justice Research (4 credits
AJ 635 Criminal Justice Policy (4 credits)
PAP 616/USP 660 Policy Process (3 credits)

4.b. Dissertation Field Specializations (23 credits, all electives)

Electives determined in agreement with field examining committee.

Credit subtotal: 47

Research Methods (24 credits)

PS 593 Philosophy of Social Science (4 credits) or Sociology 591 (4 credits)
USP 630 Research Design (4 credits)
USP 634 Data Analysis (4 credits)

Beyond these three core courses, students work closely with their committees to develop the methodological competencies necessary for their professional and research goals. Students will develop familiarity with basic quantitative and qualitative approaches to social scientific research and facility with the specific research tools that are required for their dissertation work.

Application materials