Graduate FAQ for PhD in Public Policy and Political Economy
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What are my responsibilities?
Your responsibilities include:
• Timely filing of all application materials
• Making time to periodically visit or e-mail your academic advisor
• Keeping track of each semester's progress on your degree plan
• Knowing and observing all prerequisite course requirements. (You can be dropped from a
course if you do not have the listed prerequisites.)
• Applying for graduation according to the deadlines published in the course schedule
• Meeting all degree requirements of your degree plan as well as the general requirements
outlined in the catalog of the year specified by your degree plan
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What is the process for admission into the PhD in PPPE?
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Submit the following application materials to the Enrollment Services Office in Hoblitzelle
Hall.
Complete the application on the UTD website.
Have official transcripts from all universities you have attended sent from those
universities to the Office of Admissions.
Complete the essay with an explanation of why you feel you would be successful in the
program.
Request three recommendation letters from professors, employers or those people who
would be knowledgeable about your abilities.
Official scores of the GRE and TOEFL, if applicable. All application materials are forwarded
to the School of EPPS by UTDallas’ Office of Enrollment Services and reviewed to guarantee
the selection of the most qualified applicants. Once all paperwork has been received and
processed, you will be notified of your admission status.
What are the application deadlines?
For domestic applicants:
• Fall: July 1
• Spring: November 1
• Summer : April 1
For international applicants:
• Fall: May 1
• Spring: September 1
• Summer : March 1
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What are the admissions requirements?
The PhD. in Public Policy and Political Economy seeks applications from students with a
baccalaureate degree from an accredited university or college. An undergraduate grade point
average of at least 3.2, and a combined verbal and quantitative GRE score of 1200, or equivalent
score on the GMAT, are desirable for direct admission. An analytical writing score of at least 4.5 in
the GRE is considered desirable. Students may also wish to consider submitting their score from
the writing component of the GRE test as additional evidence of their writing skills. Standardized
test scores are only one of the factors taken into account in determining admission. Decisions are
made by committee and are based on all information provided by the applicant. The online
application is available at www.utdallas.edu/apply.
If you wish to be considered for a Teaching or Research Assistantship and/or the Graduate
Student Scholarship (GSS) complete the applications (PLACE LINK HERE TO FORM) and submit
with a current resume. The Teaching Assistantship is a 20-hour a week position assisting the
professor or instructor with preparation for their classes or research. This is not need based but
part-time employment and is contingent on normal university employee requirements and
obligations. This is renewable for a maximum of 10 semesters and will be awarded based on
performance. The GSS covers basic tuition and fees for one or two semesters and can be renewed
annually by resubmitting a new application. GSS awards are made by committee and are based on
all information provided by the applicant.
In order to be considered for a Teaching Assistantship we must receive a complete
application with all required supplemental documents and test scores by March 1.
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Complete the application on the UTD website.
Have official transcripts from all universities you have attended sent from those
universities to the Office of Admissions.
Complete the essay with an explanation of why you feel you would be successful in the
program.
Request three recommendation letters from professors, employers or those people who
would be knowledgeable about your abilities.
Official scores of the GRE and TOEFL, if applicable.
Your completed application file will be forwarded to the Admissions Committee in the School of
Economic, Political and Policy Sciences by the Enrollment Services office at UTDallas. You will be
notified by email immediately of the decision by this office and receive an official letter from the
university.
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I am a new student: what should I do?
General recommendations:
• Read the UTDallas catalog. The catalog gives general university regulations and course
descriptions.
• Access the online class schedule. The class schedule lists the classes that are offered in the
current semester.
• Download and read a copy of the advising guide.
• Stop by or e-mail for specific program information or to resolve any questions.
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What are the degree requirements to complete a PhD in PPPE?
The PhD in Public Policy and Political Economy requires a minimum of 90 post-baccalaureate
graduate credit hours. Students must maintain a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 in order to
graduate. A student is required to complete:
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- 33 hours of core courses
- 12 hours of field courses
- 6 hours area of specialization
- Successful completion of the qualifying examination in Quantitative Empirical
Methods and Research Design
- Portfolio submitted and approved by Portfolio Committee
- Matriculation to the dissertation phase
- Participation in Dissertation Seminar
- Successful completion of a dissertation
The requirements are outlined in further detail below:
I. Core Requirements (33 hours)
Students complete a core sequence of courses as follows:
1. Six hours of coursework in Government and Public Policy
POEC 5303 Public Policymaking and Institutions
POEC 5308 Ethics, Culture and Responsibility
2. Six hours of Theories of Political Economy
POEC 5307 Economics for Public Policy
POEC 6312 Social Economic Theories
3. Fifteen hours of Empirical Methods
POEC 5313 Descriptive and Inferential Statistics
POEC 5316 Advanced Regression Analysis for the Economic, Political and Policy Sciences
Students will also take at least three additional courses from a set approved by the relevant
graduate program committee. Students may obtain a list of those courses from the program office.
4. Six hours of Research Design
POEC 5310 Research Design I
POEC 6342 Research Design II
II. Field Courses (12 hours)
Students take a two course introductory sequence in two of the following four fields:
Criminology
CRIM 6311 Crime and Justice Policy
CRIM 6305 Law and Social Control
Development
POEC 6354 Theories and Issues of Development (Required), and:
Select one of the following:
POEC 6364 Development Economics
POEC 6360 World Political Economy
POEC 6362 Political Development
POEC 6318 Population and Development
International Political Economy (Select two of the following):
POEC 6360 World Political Economy
PSCI 5301 Proseminar in Democratization, Globalization and International Relations
PSCI 6309 International Political Economy and Organization
Social Policy
SOC 6350 Social Stratification
POEC 7340 Domestic Social Policy
Students may request that alternative courses be substituted in a particular field with the
approval of the program director.
III. Area of Specialization
The student takes six to nine hours of additional coursework in one of the field areas as defined
above. The specific required courses are designated by the faculty associated with that area of
concentration and may be obtained from the program office. The student completes a dissertation
in one of the two fields (see above) and must successfully defend the dissertation before a duly
constituted dissertation committee, in accordance with the requirements of the University and the
UT System.
IV. Electives
Students take free electives in areas of interest to fulfill the 90-hour PhD requirement.
Ph.D. students should note that they are eligible to receive Master’s degrees offered by the School
of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences while they matriculate toward the doctorate. These
degrees include the Master of Public Affairs (MPA) degree, Masters in Public Policy, MS in Applied
Sociology, MS in Criminology, MS in Economics, MS in Geographic Information Sciences and the
MS in International Political Economy. Students interested in obtaining one of these degrees
should consult the catalog requirements or the graduate advisor.
V. Qualifying Exams and Matriculation to the Dissertation Phase
To advance to the dissertation stage of the program, students are evaluated by the Program
Committee based on (1) a Qualifying Examination in Methodology and (2) a portfolio consisting of
papers written in core and field courses:
1) A qualifying examination in methods:
This examination will evaluate the students’ methodological skills in areas covering probability,
statistics, regression analysis and research design. The exam will be graded by the Methods
Examination Committee as Unsatisfactory, Satisfactory or Excellent. The exam will be
administered at the end of a full time student’s second year, or the equivalent point in a part time
student’s career. A student receiving a grade of unsatisfactory may take the exam for a second
time prior to the start of the fall semester of the third year. A detailed discussion of the portfolio
requirements can be found in the PPPE Advising Guide. Students are urged to read and make sure
they understand what is expected of them. The Advising Guide is available online.
2) A portfolio consisting of papers written in core and field courses that include the following
elements:
a) Literature reviews written in the field survey courses;
b) Empirical and/or methodological papers written in the core methods courses; and
c) Research design projects
The program committee will review the portfolios annually, and advise students of any
deficiencies or potential problems. Upon completing the core courses and achieving a grade of
Satisfactory or Excellent on the Qualifying Examination, the program committee will make a final
evaluation of the student’s total portfolio. The committee will assess whether the candidate’s
portfolio demonstrates the student has the skills and knowledge necessary to attempt to write a
dissertation. If all of the items in the portfolio are satisfactory, the student is designated as
doctoral level. Alternatively, the committee could recommend remedial or additional work in a
specific area and specify a time frame for the completion of such work. A detailed discussion of the
portfolio requirements can be found in the PPPE Advising Guide. Students are urged to read and
make sure they understand what is expected of them. The Advising Guide is available online.
VI. Dissertation Seminar
Students must register for POEC 8398 Dissertation Seminar for a minimum of one semester. The
aim of the Dissertation Seminar is to assist students in the formulation of a dissertation topic, and
prepare a dissertation topic for submission to a Dissertation Committee and defense of the
proposal before the committee.
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What is a degree plan?
A degree plan is an official document that lists all the courses required for your chosen degree and
shows how the courses that you have completed are applied toward the degree. You can find a
degree plan online PLACE LINK HERE TO DEGREE PLAN
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When should I get a degree plan?
You should come to your first advising session with the PPPE program head with a degree plan,
completed to the best of your ability.
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What if a course on my degree plan is not available to take?
Contact the Program Head via e-mail to initiate the procedure to approve possible course
substitutions. Any deviation from the degree plan must be approved prior to enrollment in the
course.
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What does a sample schedule look like?
Sample schedule
Below is a sample schedule for full-time students. It is meant to be purely advisory. Students should
consult the program head prior to registering for courses. Part-time students’ schedules should
follow the ordering of this schedule as closely as possible to avoid delaying graduation. Part-time
students, in particular, should consult with the program head prior to registering for coursework.
Fall Year One
POEC 5303
POEC 5310
POEC 5313
Public Policymaking and Institutions
Research Design I
Descriptive and Inferential Statistics
Spring Year One
POEC 5316
POEC 6342
POEC 5307
Advanced Regression
Research Design II
Economics of Public Policy
Methods Qualifying Examination
Summer Year One (not required/optional)
Field Courses and/or Methodology Electives
Fall Year Two
Submit Portfolio [or submit in Spring]
POEC 5308
POEC xxxx
POEC xxxx
Ethics, Culture and Public Responsibility
POEC 6312 Social Economic Theories
Field course or Methodology Electives
Spring Year Two
POEC xxxx
POEC xxxx
POEC xxxx
Field course or Specialization elective
Field course or Specialization elective
Methodology Elective
Summer Year Two (not required/optional)
Field Courses and/or Specialization/Methodology Electives
Year Three and Four
Field Courses and/or Specialization/Methodology Electives
Electives
Dissertation Seminar
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How do I register, add and drop classes?
All these procedures are explained in the class schedule. During regular registration, you may
register in the basement of the library, the advising office or by internet.
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How many hours can be transferred into the program?
[From the 2008-2010 catalog] Acceptance of transfer hours will not occur until after the student
has completed 9 semester credit hours at U.T. Dallas with a grade point average of at least 3.0. No
more than 15 semester credit hours taken as a non-degree student at U.T. D can be subsequently
applied to a degree program at UT Dallas. Exceptions to these transfer policies may be granted
only on petition to the Program Advisor and the Dean of Graduate Studies. Transfer of master’s
level credit into a doctoral program is limited to a maximum of 36 hours.
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Are there any other limitations on transferring work from other institutions?
Transfer credits may be granted for equivalent graduate course work taken at other universities
with a grade of B or better within the past six years. Consult the UTD Graduate Catalog for further
details. Applications for transfers may be obtained in and submitted to the Program Assistant.
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What if I want to change to a different graduate program within the School of EPPS?
Students may change their intended masters degrees (transfer between PhD programs requires
approval from both programs and new application) within the School of EPPS as long as they are
in good standing (3.0 GPA) and meet the current admission requirements of the new degree
program. A change of major form (available in the Advising Office) must be completed and
submitted to the Program Assistant.
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How long do I have to complete my doctoral degree?
All requirements for the doctoral degree must be completed with one ten-year period. Students
whose master’s degrees are accepted for full credit toward a Ph.D. must complete all requirements
for the doctoral degree within one eight-year period.
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I was originally admitted on a conditional basis. Now that I am degree seeking, how do I transfer the
courses I took as a conditionally admitted student into my degree plan?
Applicable courses you took at UT Dallas as a conditionally admitted student will be automatically
transferred toward your degree program once you have been admitted to full degree-seeking
status.
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Are employment services available?
Employment services are available for undergraduate and graduate students seeking employment
or career information through the Career Center in the basement of the McDermott Library.
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Where can I get financial aid information?
See the Financial Aid web site.
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How do I apply for a teaching or research assistantship and scholarship?
See the Graduate Financial Support webpage for PPPE for more information and relevant forms.