PPM Curriculum Overview

The Ph.D. program in Public Policy and Management requires the completion of 57-58 units of coursework. Students who do not have advanced standing will need to complete courses in a substantive field. The coursework is comprised of the following elements:

• master core in a substantive field – not required for students with advanced standing
• theoretical core (12 units)
• methodology (10-12 units)
• field courses (12 units)
• directed research (4 units)
• teaching seminar (2 units)
• research seminar (4 units)
• dissertation (4 units minimum)

Prerequisites

While a master’s degree is not required, students entering the doctoral program without a relevant masters degree will be required to complete 6-8 units of prerequisites relevant to their program.

For the Ph.D. in Public Policy and Management, possible courses include:

• PPD 503 – Economics for Public Policy – 4 units
• PPD 504 – Essential Statistics for Public Management – 2 units
• PPD 540 – Public Administration & Society – 4 units
• PPD 542 – Policy & Program Evaluation – 4 units
• PPD 555 – Public Policy Formulation & Implementation – 4 units

Theoretical Core Courses (11 – 12 units)

• PPD 711 – Theoretical Foundation of Public Management – 4 units
• PPD 712 – Seminar in Public Policy – 4 units
• PPD 715* – Political Economy and Institutional Analysis – 4 units

*Students may petition to substitute PPD 715 with a different theory course derived formal discipline. Examples include MOR 662, ECON 500 or ECON 503, etc.

Methodology Courses (20 units)

• PPD 558 – Multivariate Statistical Analysis – 4 units
• PPD 706 – Research Design – 4 units
• PPD 716* – Econometrics for Policy Planning and Management I – 4 units
• PPD 717* – Econometrics for Policy Planning and Management II- 4 units
• PPDE 668* – Applied Econometrics for Program Evaluation – 4 units

*Students may petition to substitute PPD 716, PPD717, and PPDE 668 with different methodology courses with the approval of the faculty advisor or qualifying exam chair, and the PhD directors. Students who have taken an equivalent course to PPD 558 may petition to substitute this course requirement with another methodology course.

Field Courses (12 units)

Students select 12 units of field courses which can be used to develop disciplinary expertise related to specialization interest, or additional methodological expertise. Fields are developed with qualifying exam committee approval, can include any combination of USC Price and outside courses, and are unique to each student.

Direct Research (4 units)

Students will take PPD 790 (2 units each, 4 total units)

Research Seminar (4 units)

Students will take PPD 710ab (2 units each, 4 total units), the USC Price research seminar course.

Teaching Seminar (2 units)

Students will take two semesters of the teaching seminar, PPD 700ab (1 unit each, 2 total units).

Doctoral Dissertation All students will produce a doctoral dissertation based on original research on an issue relevant to public policy, public management, or from an interdisciplinary perspective. The dissertation must adhere to the format prescribed by the Graduate School.