Doctor of Philosophy in Public
Policy and Political Economy
http://epps.utdallas.edu/pppe/phd.html
Faculty
Professors:
Sheila Amin Gutiérrez De Piñeres, Brian J. L. Berry,
Ronald Briggs (emeritus), Marie I. Chevrier, Lloyd J.
Dumas, Euel W. Elliott, Donald A. Hicks, Irving J. Hoch (emeritus), Paul A. Jargowsky,
Murray J. Leaf, Lawrence J. Redlinger, Richard K.
Scotch
Associate Professors: Bobby C. Alexander, Simon M. Fass, Jennifer S. Holmes, Sheryl L. Skaggs
Clinical Assistant Professors: Rodolfo Hernandez Guerrero
Mission Statement
The mission of the Ph.D. program in Public
Policy and Political Economy is to prepare our students for professional
positions in research, teaching, and practice in fields related to public
policy and political economy, and in both academic and nonacademic settings. We
prepare students through instruction in social science and public policy
concepts, advanced methodological knowledge, applied social research
techniques, and professional communication skills. PPPE students and faculty
are encouraged to promote an inclusive and diverse environment that is
committed to continued scholarship and service.
Objectives
•
Students will demonstrate the
ability to apply social science and public policy theories and concepts.
•
Students will develop competency in
advanced methods of social science and public policy research and analysis.
•
Students will develop basic skills
in professional communication appropriate to the public policy and political economy
research and analysis.
Facilities
Students have access to the computing faculties in the
School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences and University’s Computing
Center. The School has two computing laboratories that have over 50 computers
that are network linked and equipped with major social science software
packages, including E-Views, R, Rats, SPSS and Stata.
A geographic information system, the Lexis Nexis database,
and Westlaw are also available for student use. The University’s Computing Center
provides personal computers and UNIX Workstations. Many important data and
reference materials are also available online via the library and the school’s
memberships in numerous organizations.
Admission
Requirements
The
PhD. in Public Policy and Political Economy seeks applications from students
with a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university or college. An
undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.2, and a combined verbal and
quantitative GRE score of 1200, or equivalent score on the GMAT, are desirable.
Students may also wish to consider submitting their score from the writing
component of the GRE test as additional evidence of their writing skills.
Standardized test scores are only one of the factors taken into account in
determining admission. Students should also submit all transcripts, three
letters of recommendation, and a one-page essay outlining the applicant’s
background, education, and professional objectives.
Prerequisites
While
there are no specific course prerequisites, entering students will benefit from exposure to undergraduate courses in economics, political science, sociology,
calculus, statistics, and research design.
Degree Requirements
The PhD in Public Policy
and Political Economy requires a minimum of 90 post-baccalaureate graduate
credit hours. Full-time students can complete the degree in an average of 5
years.
Students
must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA in their graduate courses in the degree
program, including core courses. If placed on probation, students will have one
semester to bring their cumulative grade point average to a 3.0 or greater. Any
student who receives two Cs will not be allowed to continue in the program.
Students must complete
the following:
•
33 hours of core courses
•
12 hours of field
courses (six hours in two fields of the student’s choice)
•
6 hours area of
specialization (in one of the fields of the student’s choice)
•
A qualifying examination
in Quantitative Empirical Methods and Research Design
•
Portfolio submitted and
approved by Portfolio Committee
•
Matriculation to the
dissertation phase
•
Participation in
Dissertation Seminar
•
Successful completion of
a dissertation
•
Successful completion of
90 credit hours including electives
The requirements are outlined in
further detail below:
I.
Core Requirements (33 hours)
Students complete a core sequence of courses as follows:
1. Six hours of coursework in Government and Public Policy:
POEC
6313 Public Policymaking and Institutions
POEC 7318 Ethics, Culture and Responsibility
2. Six hours of Theories of
Political Economy
POEC 7317 Economics for Public
Policy
POEC 6312 Social Economic Theories
3. Fifteen hours of Empirical
Methods
Methods
Core (Algebra-based or Calculus based)
Algebra-based series
EPPS 6313 Introduction to Quantitative Methods
EPPS 6316 Applied Regression
Calculus-based
series
EPPS 7313 Descriptive and Inferential Statistics
EPPS 7316 Regression and Multivariate Analysis
Students
are strongly encouraged to take the calculus-based sequence, which is better
preparation for the methods qualifying exam and more advanced methods
courses.
Students
will also take at least three additional courses from a set of courses approved
by the relevant graduate program committee. Students may obtain a list of those
courses from the program office.
4. Six hours of Research Design
EPPS 6310 Research Design I
EPPS 6342 Research Design II
II. Field Courses (12 hours)
Students
take a two course introductory sequence in two of the following five
fields. The fields and required courses are as follows:
Criminology:
CRIM 6311 Crime and Justice Policy
CRIM 6305 Law and Social Control
Development:
POEC 6354 Theories and Issues of
Development (Required), and:
Select one of the following:
POEC 6364 Development Economics
POEC 6360 World Political Economy
POEC 6362 Political Development
POEC 6318 Population and Development
International
Conflict and Security (Select two of the following):
PA 6351 Introduction to Homeland
Security
POEC 6361 Political Violence and Terrorism
POEC 6367 Topical Issues and Conflict Resolution
POEC 6369 National and International Security Strategies and Policies
POEC 6360 World Political Economy
PSCI 6300 Proseminar in Democratization, Globalization and International
Relations
PSCI 6309 International Political Economy and Organization
Social Policy
SOC 6350 Social Stratification
SOC 6340 Domestic Social Policy
Students
may request that alternative courses be substituted in a particular field with
the approval of the program director. Moreover, students may, in consultation
with the Program Director, define a new field provided that appropriate
coursework is available in a coherent research literature is identified. *Note:
(1) Students may only count POEC 6360 World Political Economy as a field course
for either Development or International Political Economy, not for
both.
III. Area of Specialization
The
student takes at least six hours of additional coursework in one of the field
areas as defined above. The specific required courses are designated by the
faculty associated with that area of concentration and may be obtained from the
program office. The student completes a dissertation in one of the two fields
(see above) and must successfully defend the dissertation before a duly
constituted dissertation committee, in accordance with the requirements of the
University and the UT System.
IV. Qualifying Exams and
Matriculation to the Dissertation Phase
To
advance to the dissertation stage of the program, students are evaluated by the
Program Committee based on (1) a Qualifying Examination in Methodology and (2)
a portfolio paper:
1) A qualifying examination in
methods:
This
examination will evaluate the students’ methodological skills in areas covering
probability, statistics, regression analysis, and research design. The exam will be graded by
the Methods Examination Committee as Unsatisfactory, Satisfactory or Excellent.
The exam will be administered at the end of a full time student’s first year,
or the equivalent point in a part time student’s career. A student receiving a
grade of unsatisfactory may take the exam for a second time at the start of the
fall semester of the second year. All students are required to take the methods
qualifying exam by the end of their second year to be allowed to continue in
the doctoral program.
2) A portfolio paper of up to 30
pages that includes the following elements: a statement of the question, a
literature review, a research design to address the question, and an empirical
analysis.
The
portfolio committee will review the portfolio papers, and advise students of
any deficiencies or potential problems. Upon completing the core courses and
achieving a grade of Satisfactory or Excellent on the Qualifying Examination,
the program committee will make a final evaluation of the student’s total
portfolio. The committee will assess whether the candidate’s portfolio
demonstrates the student has the skills and knowledge necessary to attempt to
write a dissertation. If all of the items in the portfolio are satisfactory,
the student is designated as doctoral level. Alternatively, the committee could
recommend remedial or additional work in a specific area and specify a time frame
for the completion of such work. A detailed discussion of the
portfolio requirement can be found in the PPPE Advising Guide. Students
are urged to read and make sure they understand what is expected of them. The
Advising Guide is available through the Public Policy and Political Economy
program office and on the program’s webpage.
If,
in the judgment of the committee, the student is not prepared to write a
dissertation, the student will either be asked to complete remedial work
or will be designated as Masters level. Receipt of a Masters level designation means the student
is not allowed to proceed to the doctoral stage. The student may continue
taking courses and may pursue one of the school’s Master’sprograms by completing the
appropriate degree requirements.
IV.
Dissertation Seminar
Students must register for POEC 8398 Dissertation Seminar
for a minimum of one semester after passing the MQE and portfolio paper
requirements. The aim of the Dissertation Seminar is to assist students in the
formulation of a dissertation topic, and prepare a dissertation topic for
submission to a dissertation Committee and defense of the proposal before the
committee.
VI. Electives
Students take free electives in
areas of interest to fulfill the 90-hour PhD requirement.
Ph.D.
students should note that they are eligible to receive Master’s degrees offered
by the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences while they matriculate
toward the doctorate. These degrees include the Master of Public Affairs , Master of Public Policy, M.S. in Applied
Sociology, M.S. in Criminology, M.S. in Economics, M.S. in Geographic
Information Sciences and the M.S. in International Political Economy. Students
interested in obtaining one of these degrees should consult the catalog
requirements or the graduate advisor.