Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy - Urban and Regional Policy

Northeastern University

The PhD in Public Policy is an interdisciplinary program that combines social science and legal theoretical perspectives with quantitative and qualitative research methodologies. The faculty in the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs support students’ research and dissertations in three broad areas of inquiry-urban and regional policy, sustainability and resilience, and health management and policy. Students work with faculty advisors to formulate a plan of study within their field of concentration by choosing from graduate programs offered in the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs, the College of Social Sciences and Humanities, and in other colleges and schools at Northeastern University. Students study a common body of knowledge in core courses in policy theory, research methods, and statistics, followed by courses in each student’s respective concentration. The school’s research centers and faculty research projects provide opportunities for students to develop insight, experience, and synergies to help with their own research goals. The college and school offer a high level of support allowing all students to be devoted full time to their studies and research. The program is full time and in residence only. The Urban and Regional Policy concentration of the PhD in Public Policy prepares doctoral students for careers as academics in policy schools, consultants for industry and municipal groups, or research analysts working in the public and non-profit sectors. To prepare students, the curriculum draws primarily from the major contributions of social, political, economic, and planning theory including foundations of social organization across cities and regions, state and local political economy, metropolitan economic growth, and urban spatial change. The coursework applies these theories to policy issues such as growing city and regional social movements for collective action changing governmental structures and functions improving efficiency of labor, housing and transportation markets addressing segregation, gentrification, and inequality responding to globalization and neoliberalization and ensuring representation in urban policy and planning across race, gender, and socioeconomic status. After their first year of coursework, students have the opportunity to apply their knowledge firsthand to a real-world policy problem through their residency experience conducting research for a government, policy, or nonprofit organization. This unique blend of coursework and practical experience equips graduates with both an interdisciplinary perspective and set of methodological tools to address a wide range of policy issues tailored to their interests.