PhD in Public Policy

Learning to Build an Equitable Society

We offer financial aid to ALL full-time students.

The UMass Boston PhD Program in Public Policy emphasizes:

Solid grounding in political economy
Appropriate attention to theory, applied principles, and technical skills
Interdisciplinary study
Multi-cultural approaches to public policy
Personal and intellectual growth of our students

Commitment to Social Change

Our commitment to social change is anchored in our applied policy curriculum which addresses inequities for underserved groups and vulnerable populations. This commitment stands out in the two-semester, practicum class in which doctoral students gain experience in professional-quality, applied research for a real-world client, leading to actionable policy recommendations and journal-quality publications.

This commitment is clearly evident in our faculty and student research interests. Among others, these policy fields include children, youth and family; immigration policies; education reform; labor policy; environmental policy; homelessness and housing; health policy; human rights; minority issues; poverty reduction; welfare policies and women's issues.

Full or Part-time Study

Our doctoral program is a full-time day program for the first two years of study. Students can typically complete their coursework and dissertation research in five to eight years.

Following on the success of our part-time program for state employees, for the next two years, on a trial basis, we are expanding our part-time study option.

Boston- the Ultimate College Town

The journal Inside Higher Ed calls Boston “the quintessential college town”. Opportunities for internships, collaborative projects with policy leaders from other area schools and organizations, and the wide range of academic conferences and lectures throughout the city extend learning beyond our campus borders. UMass Boston alumni often stay in the area and contribute to the creativity, innovation and academic reputation that make Boston so appealing. Also, as a large metropolitan city, Boston boasts a broad range of cultural amenities from museums and theatre to several championship sports teams.

Come join the excitement – schedule a campus visit today!