The Doctor of Policy, Planning, and Development (DPPD) connects interdisciplinary scholarship to professional expertise. The program encourages reflection on policy and practice in Los Angeles, a living laboratory of social, political, and policy issues. Students apply research skills to solve a contemporary problem of practice, resulting in a professional dissertation.
For admissions information, please email [email protected].
For program information, please email Anna Parks [email protected].
This program brings together established leaders in industry, government, and nonprofit sectors to design frameworks and strategies for sophisticated problem-solving. Students learn from their peers as well as from the Price School’s expert faculty, who address some of the most complex and challenging governance problems of our time.
Students pursue doctoral studies while simultaneously advancing careers in a diverse range of fields. Examples include public policy, health, real estate, law, civil engineering, philanthropy, and social work. The program’s participatory learning approach leverages students’ professional expertise to deepen critical engagement with theories, models, and emerging data. Courses produce rich debate and analysis as students apply contrasting perspectives to complex problems.
Each cohort enters a dynamic learning community where shared growth, comraderie, and intellectual influence extend far beyond the classroom. Through a rigorous course sequence, interdisciplinary peer engagement, and mentored research, students become scholar practitioners, ready to lead innovation in their fields.
The DPPD supports students in developing a deeper understanding of their professional practice, supporting the development of networks, and refining skills through a cohort-based model. Learning objectives include: