Online PhD in Public Policy Programs
An online PhD in public policy can prepare you to make complex policy choices in government, higher learning, or private organizations. As we become more aware of the multi-dimensional impact that public policy has on the world around us, there is increasing demand for policy experts. Depending on your specialization, an online PhD in social science with a specialization in public policy could provide you with concentrated knowledge in areas of homeland security policy and implementation, criminal justice, or nonprofit management. And this degree can place you at the top of your field, where your expertise may be in high demand.
An online PhD program in public policy might cover topics such as:
- Public finance and budgeting
- Policy and program evaluation
- Microeconomic analysis
- Advanced quantitative methods
- Environmental, urban, or health policy
Your work may also include significant participation in online discussions, research papers for publication in scholarly journals, and a doctoral dissertation.
Individuals with a doctoral degree in public policy fill a variety of high-ranking positions in the public and private sector. You might work as the executive director of a non-profit, the head of a government agency, or a professor for a major university. Although no degree can guarantee a specific job or salary, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in the federal government, social scientists with a PhD can earn a starting salary of $45,239 (that’s nearly $10,000 more than those with a master’s degree alone).