Ph.D. Studies in Public Policy and Management
The doctoral program in Public Policy & Management at Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College prepares students to apply a rigorous scientific approach to social, organizational, economic, and management problems in an increasingly connected world.
At Heinz, we live and work at the critical nexus of information technology and public policy. Our Ph.D. in Public Policy & Management was created to train students to approach problems from multiple perspectives, to use advanced analytic and theoretical models, and to apply modern technological capabilities such as machine learning to the policy domain.
Heinz College Ph.D. students enjoy close partnerships with faculty as they explore the complex and exciting interconnectedness of information systems, public policy, and management. Upon graduating, our Ph.D.s receive desirable placements at academic institutions, government agencies, and consulting firms.
Key Research Areas
Doctoral students take on a broad range of topics and problems, but some key areas of strength at Heinz College include
Analyzing and designing practical crime and drug policies is highly challenging. Many of our faculty have been working with sophisticated statistical and policy tools to understand the impact of various state and federal policies on crime rates and the sale of drugs. The research then leads to recommendations on how policies should be designed and updated.
Our faculty is widely acclaimed for their work and influence in this domain and have won top academic honors. Key faculty members are: Al Blumstein, Jon Caulkins, Amelia Haviland, and Daniel Nagin.
The functioning of energy markets and the consequences of environmental regulations have been widely debated in many countries around the world. Our faculty has been actively working on issues related to innovation in the energy sector, impact of energy infrastructure and energy production on local development and pollution, effects of air and water pollution on health outcomes, and the costs and benefits of environmental regulations.
Key faculty members are: Lee Branstetter, Karen Clay and Akshaya Jha.
CMU's Scott Institute for Energy Innovation also has a number of faculty working on a broad array of topics related to energy and the environment.
The importance of health care policy cannot be overstated. Many faculty members are working on important role of competition, technology, and regulations that affect the cost and quality of health care delivery.
Our faculty is widely recognized for their academic excellence as well as influence on policy-making. Some key faculty are Amelia Haviland, Rema Padman, and Lowell Taylor.
We have a strong group of faculty in the Management Science domain who use optimization/operations research techniques to solve public policy problems.
In particular, faculty such as Jon Caulkins and Ramayya Krishnan use these techniques to address problems related to urban planning and transportation research, policy analysis, data mining, and more.
This group is focused on understanding the role of social networks within organizations, the role of teams, and evidence-based analysis. Our faculty includes experts on network-based analysis who examine how influence diffuses.
David Krackhardt uses his expertise in sociology, economics, and statistics to examine these issues.
Denise Rousseau is a leading expert on evidence-based management within organizations.
Ph.D. Curriculum
The pre-dissertation stage of the Ph.D. in Public Policy & Management is structured around two sets of requirements: coursework and preliminary papers.
Coursework is designed to build methodological skills, modeling competence, and substantive depth.
Preliminary papers illustrate your ability to produce effective research that exhibits your readiness to begin the dissertation.
- A three-semester Ph.D. Seminar Series focusing on the research process
- Two semesters of Advanced Electives offering depth in specialized fields
- Quantitative Methods Cluster of courses in statistics, econometrics, and machine learning
- Two semesters of coursework in Social and Policy Sciences
- Concentration Area Requirement, combining research and courses to support your research agenda and long-term professional objectives
Admission to candidacy means that all requirements of the Ph.D. program preliminary to the dissertation have been fulfilled. In addition to satisfying all coursework requirements, you must also meet the following research requirements:
- First- and second-year Research Papers meeting current Ph.D. requirements
- Dissertation focused on Public Policy topic as per judgment of Ph.D. committee
While fulfilling these requirements, you'll work closely with the faculty to develop individualized programs of study and research that meet your goals.