university of arizona phd public policy

Public Administration and Policy, PhD

Phd program.

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The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Public Administration and Policy is a cohort-based program that prepares students to conduct theoretically informed research through the application of social science methods that build knowledge and inform public action. Most students in the PhD program are interested in academic careers, although some find work as researchers at think tanks, government agencies and nonprofit organizations. The PhD degree is designed for students who are committed to a four-year, full-time degree.

The PhD program supports all full-time students financially during the first three years of study – funding includes tuition, benefits and stipend. Students have many options to fund their final year of study through teaching, fellowships or research projects. Throughout their degree, students work directly with nationally distinguished faculty on research activity with the expectation that students contribute intellectually both to the PhD program and to the academic community through presentations at national conferences and publication of journal articles. 

Our goal is to provide a stimulating and collegial academic environment where students learn to formulate compelling research questions, develop analytical skills to rigorously address them and produce high-quality academic work that contributes to the field.  All students gain nationally recognized qualifications in core knowledge in public administration and policy as well as in an area of research specialization. In their fourth year, students also have opportunities to teach in the undergraduate programs, if desired. PhD graduates are able to compete nationally and internationally for coveted entry positions that require both teaching and research experience.

Applicants are admitted for the fall only and should generally have a Master’s degree before enrollment, though exceptional applicants with only a Bachelor’s degree may also be considered. 

Specializations include:

• Civil Society & Civic Engagement 
• Energy and Environment Policy & Management
• Governance & Urban Affairs
• Information Technology & Policy Informatics
• Public Finance, Budgeting, & Economics
• Public Management
• Science, Technology & Innovation
• Social & Education Policy

Application

The application deadline is January 6, 2025.

Applicants are admitted for fall only.   More on the application process .

View our PhD Promotional Video

View the phd new student guide.

Ph.D. Student Resources

This page details some useful resources as you navigate through the Ph.D. Government & Public Policy program. Please contact the program director if you have suggestions for additional materials to be included on this page.

Rules & Regulations

• The Graduate College has extensive details on University-wide  University-wid policies and procedures .
• For full details of SGPP rules and regulations, consult the latest version of our Ph.D. Program Handbook .
• Chris Blattman offers some  great advice on how to think about advising relationships .
• The UA Office of Instruction and Assessment (OIA) offers a graduate  Certificate in College Teaching .
• Here is an interesting paper on  "Ten simple rules for structuring papers."
• A discussion of the  debate on the benefits of publishing as PhD students . Note: We'd recommend you try to publish in your time here!
• This post contains some  tips on getting your first paper published . These tips are mostly about the R&R process.
• Chris Blattman's thoughts on  discussing papers .

The Job Market

• Sara Mitchell has gathered together some  interesting posts on the job market .
• Chris Blattman's  advice regarding the academic job market  and  negotiating a job offer .
• You can request funding support from SGPP  for conference travel.

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• Request Information

Doctor of Philosophy

Credit Requirements and Transfer Credit

Doctoral Minor Requirements

Continuous enrollment, time limitation, qualifying examination, major professor, plan of study, comprehensive examination for advancement to candidacy, comprehensive examination committee, dissertation prospectus/proposal, committee appointment form, dissertation, dissertation committee, final oral defense examination, submission of the dissertation, storage and publication of dissertation, completion of requirements, second doctoral degrees.

Graduate students are responsible for knowing the graduate requirements of both the Graduate College and their academic departments. The University of Arizona offers six doctoral degrees: the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), the Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.), the Doctor of Public Health (D.P.H.), the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and the Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.). The University of Arizona also offers a first professional degree, the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD). For information on the PharmD, please refer to the General Catalog . The UA General Catalog  also provides definitive information regarding Graduate Minors and doctoral Second Language Requirements, as well as the Academic Calendar.

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The equivalent of at least seven semesters of full-time graduate study is required for the Ph.D. A minimum of 36 units of coursework in the area of the major subject, a minimum of 9 units in the minor subject, and a minimum of 18 units of dissertation must be completed.  Most students will take more than the minimum number of units for a given degree.

All grades for Incompletes and current semester coursework must be received before the degree is considered completed. A student must have a cumulative GPA in all graduate coursework of at least 3.000 in order to graduate. 

All required units of credit counted toward the degree must be taken for graduate credit, including any courses transferred from another institution. With program approval, up to 12 graduate units taken for graduate credit only as an undergraduate may be applied towards doctoral requirements - however units used towards an accelerated masters cannot also be used towards a doctorate. With program approval, up to 12 units of professional coursework (Medicine, Law, Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine) may be applied to graduate degree requirements. Students in an approved dual degree with Medicine, Law, or Pharmacy may be able to apply more than 12 units from that career toward their graduate degree, depending on the dual agreement.  Students admitted to their graduate program prior to Fall 2014 may be able to apply up to 6 units of 400-level credit from the University of Arizona toward their minor if not used toward an undergraduate degree (these units will not receive graduate credit or be calculated in the graduate grade-point average.)  At least 22 units (i.e. half the required coursework) on the Doctoral Plan of Study must be in courses in which regular grades (A, B, C) have been earned. Courses for which the student has earned a  D grade cannot be counted toward a graduate degree. While a grade of D or E does not earn units for a grad student, they will still figure into the GPA.   A minimum of 12 units of regular grades taken at the University of Arizona are required to establish the Grade Point Average (GPA).

Non-credit based requirements such as comprehensive exams, dissertations or thesis requirements, research requirements, and professionalization requirements may not be transferred from another institution.

Transfer Credit

Graduate credit earned at other approved institutions may be counted toward the requirements of a doctoral degree, but will not be included in the calculation of the University of Arizona GPA

Transferred units are subject to the following restrictions:

• The credits must be approved by the major or minor department and the Graduate College.
• The minimum grade for transferred credits must be an A or B or the equivalent at the institution where course was taken.
• Transferred units may not count toward more than one doctorate.
• No more than 12 units taken in Medicine, Law or Pharmacy Practice may be used toward a doctoral degree.
• A maximum of 30 units of transfer coursework may be used toward the Ph.D requirements.

Students who wish to transfer credit must submit a Transfer Credit form in GradPath before the end of their first year of study to have the courses evaluated for transfer eligibility.

Grades and the number of units for transfer credits may be adjusted so that they are consistent with the University of Arizona grading and credit system. Transfer credits used on a fully approved Plan of Study appear with a grade of “T” on the University of Arizona transcript and are not calculated in the University of Arizona GPA. The name of the transfer institution appears on the University of Arizona transcript with the number of transfer units from that institution that were brought in towards the graduate degree.

PhD students are required to complete a doctoral minor. A doctoral minor gives students an opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge in a cognate field of interest and to expand interdisciplinary knowledge necessary for solving complex problems and addressing grand challenges. 

Each doctoral minor program determines their own curriculum, academic requirements, and required credits. However, the minimum required credits for any doctoral minor is 9 graduate units. A comprehensive exam covering the minor is required to complete a minor. 

The credit earned toward a doctoral minor can only be counted toward the doctoral minor and not also counted toward the major (no double-dipping). Specifically, students may not apply minor course credit to both the minor and major area of study. 

The doctoral minor is a required part of the doctoral oral comprehensive exams. A written and oral comprehensive exam is required for the major degree portion of the exam; however, the minor department determines whether to require a written portion of the exam. The oral portion of the comprehensive examination must cover both the major and the minor disciplines during a single oral examination with the major and minor committee members participating.

A student considering multiple minors should talk to their faculty advisor in advance taking into consideration the additional cost, time to degree completion, and planning with regard to comprehensive exams. 

Students admitted to their graduate program prior to Fall 2014 may be able to apply up to 6 units of 400-level credit from the University of Arizona toward their minor if not used toward an undergraduate degree (these units will not receive graduate credit or be calculated in the graduate grade-point average).  

Courses Shared Between Degrees

There are limits on coursework that can be counted toward more than one degree earned by the student at the University of Arizona or elsewhere.

• If a student counts credits from a UA master's degree towards a UA Ph.D., then additional transfer credit may be limited to ensure that some UA coursework is taken while in the doctoral program.  Thesis credits used for a master's degree cannot count toward the Ph.D. course credit requirements.
• Up to 30 units of credit counted toward one or more master’s degrees earned at UA or elsewhere may be counted toward the Ph.D requirements.
• No course may be counted toward the requirements for more than two plans (at UA or elsewhere).
• A student earning two UA doctoral degrees may use up to 9 units of coursework toward both doctoral degrees (as long as courses were not used toward any other degree).

Graduate Non-Degree Coursework

Students who have completed graduate non-degree* coursework at UA may count no more than 12 units of non-degree credit toward the Ph.D requirements.

The graduate certificate is considered distinct from a graduate degree (masters or doctorate). Limits regarding the use of units applied towards a graduate certificate and a graduate degree are determined by the certificate program. Graduate certificates are exempt from the 12 unit non-degree policy above and are determined by the certificate and the degree program.

A student admitted to a doctoral program must register each fall and spring semester for a minimum of 1 graduate unit, from original matriculation until all course and dissertation requirements (including submission of the dissertation to the Graduate College) are met. A semester in which a student is enrolled for course credit will be counted toward continuous enrollment. Non-credit courses, audited courses or courses from which the student withdraws do not count toward the determination of continuous enrollment. 

Students receiving funding, such as assistantships, fellowships, loans, grants, scholarships or traineeships, may be required by their funding source to register for more than 1 unit to meet the full-time status requirement. Similarly, international students may have different requirements to maintain their visa status.  All students should check with their program advisor regarding such requirements to ensure that they remain qualified for funding and/or their visa.

Doctoral students who have maintained continuous enrollment and are taking only comprehensive exams during a summer or winter term do not have to register for graduate credit during that summer or winter session.

Doctoral students must enroll in at least 1 unit of dissertation (or Nursing DNP Project unit, or Doctoral Recital unit for students in relevant programs) in the Spring or Fall semester that they undertake their final oral defense. Doctoral students who have maintained continuous enrollment, fulfilled all their other degree requirements, as well as the 18 hours of dissertation, and were enrolled in the prior semester may defend and file for the degree in the summer or winter term without registration while they complete their dissertation. If, however, students need library privileges or plan to use other University facilities or need significant faculty time during the summer or winter session, enrollment is required. Enrollment in GRAD 922 to allow access to the Library during the summer or winter terms is available to eligible master's and doctoral students.

Unless excused by an official graduate Leave of Absence (which except under exceptional circumstances, may not exceed one year throughout the student's degree program), all graduate students are subject to the Continuous Enrollment Policy. Students requiring significant faculty time (e.g. advising, reviewing, collaborating) must be enrolled rather than on Leave of Absence. If the student fails to obtain a Leave of Absence or maintain continuous enrollment, he or she will be required to apply for re-admission and to pay the Graduate College application fee. There is no guarantee of re-admission. Tuition or registration waivers cannot be applied retroactively.

Please note that "continuous enrollment" is not the same as "full time enrollment" for financial aid purposes. Please refer to the University policy on  Full-Time Status . 

Continuous Enrollment and Incompletes

Students who have maintained continuous enrollment, fulfilled all their other degree requirements and are only completing an incomplete in coursework (a class other than 900 level) are not required to enroll while they complete the incomplete. If, however, students need library privileges or plan to use other University facilities or need significant faculty time while they complete their incomplete, enrollment is required.

Students must meet all requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy within 5 years of passing the Comprehensive Exam or risk being dismissed from the program. Programs may have more stringent time to degree requirements.  Should a student not finish within that time, the program may petition the Graduate College for an extension to time to degree. If the extension is approved, the student may be required to re-take the Comprehensive Exam before proceeding to complete requirements, e.g., the dissertation. 

A qualifying examination or diagnostic evaluation may be required to demonstrate acceptability to pursue the doctorate as well as to determine areas of study where further course work is necessary. Please review the requirements of the program for more information.

The major professor serves as the student's faculty advisor and mentor. The DGS may designate a temporary major professor (faculty advisor) for incoming students. During the first year, students should select a major professor who must be approved by the DGS. Students may change major professors with departmental approval, but are required to have a major professor in order to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.

In conjunction with his/her major professor or faculty advisor, each student is responsible for developing a Plan of Study during their first year in residence, to be filed with the Graduate College no later than the student's third semester in residence. The Plan of Study identifies

• Courses the student intends to transfer from other institutions;
• Courses already completed at the University of Arizona which the student intends to apply toward the graduate degree; and
• Additional course work to be completed in order to fulfill degree requirements.

The Plan of Study must have the approval of the student's major professor and Director of Graduate Studies before it is submitted to the Graduate College.

Before admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree, the student must pass a written and an oral Doctoral Comprehensive Examination. This examination is intended to test the student's comprehensive knowledge of the major and minor subjects of study, both in breadth across the general field of study and in depth within the area of specialization. The examination, therefore, should not take place until the student has completed all, or almost all, of their coursework. The student must be in good academic standing to sit for the comprehensive exam. The Comprehensive Examination is considered a single examination, although it consists of written and oral parts. While the Graduate College sets general policies and guidelines for exams, it is expected that each program will have different ways of assessing a student's knowledge of the field and their preparation to begin the dissertation. Each program determines the format and administration of the written portion. The minor department controls the minor portion of the written examination and may waive it at their discretion.  A student will pass the written portion before sitting for the oral portion. Programs will have written policies regarding whether or not students may retake failed written exams as well as specific policies regarding second attempts of the oral. The time between the written and oral portion is determined by individual programs, but the oral portion should come early enough to allow the student to advance to candidacy in a timely fashion. Normally, the written and oral portions of the comprehensive examination should take place at least three months prior to the Final Oral Examination (defense of dissertation). The exact time and place of the oral comprehensive examination must be scheduled with the department and announced in GradPath using the Announcement of Doctoral Comprehensive Exam form before the exam can take place.

Upon successful completion of the written portion of the examination, the  Oral Comprehensive Examination  is conducted before the examining committee of the faculty. The oral portion of the examination must cover both the major and the minor. The Oral Comprehensive Examination should last for at least an hour but must not last more than 3 hours. Remote participation by one or more committee member by video or phone conference is permitted on the condition that the student and all committee members can effectively communicate.  All members must participate in the entire examination.  The oral examination is the occasion when faculty committee members have both the opportunity and obligation to require the student to display a broad knowledge of the chosen field of study and sufficient depth of understanding in areas of specialization.  Discussion of proposed dissertation research may be included.  The examining committee must attest that the student has demonstrated the professional level of knowledge expected of a junior academic colleague. The Graduate College allows no more than one re-take of the oral exam.

When the student has passed the written and oral portions of the Comprehensive Examination, and the Graduate Student Academic Services office has confirmed completion of the required courses on the approved doctoral Plan of Study, the student will advance to doctoral candidacy.  The student will be billed the graduate candidacy fees and will be notified by e-mail of the advancement and fees. The candidacy fees are one-time fees and the student will not be billed again if the reported graduation date is changed. Students required to do a terminal internship or clinical residency during their final semester (Clinical Psychology and School Psychology) may advance to doctoral candidacy while enrolled in this internship or clinical residency course. Please consult with your Graduate College Degree Counselor to confirm your eligibility.

The student is responsible for forming a comprehensive examination committee of faculty representing both the major and the minor programs. The examining committee must consist of a minimum of four members. The Major Advisor and two additional members must be members of the Graduate Faculty . The fourth member may be a member of the Graduate Faculty or an approved Special Member. Any members beyond the fourth can also be members of the Graduate Faculty, or approved Special Members.

Every student in a doctoral program needs to have an approved dissertation prospectus or proposal on file within their department.  As soon as the student has an approved prospectus/proposal on file within the department, the department's Graduate Coordinator will submit the prospectus/proposal confirmation form in GradPath on behalf of the student.

When the student has an approved doctoral Plan of Study on file, has satisfied all course work, language, and residence requirements, and passed the written and oral portions of the Comprehensive Examination, he or she must file a Committee Appointment form. Any changes to the committee should be reported to the Graduate Student Academic Services office.  Under normal circumstances, submission is expected at least six months before the Final Oral Examination (i.e., Defense).  Deadlines for the submission of paperwork pertaining to doctoral programs are available online at  Deadlines for Completion of Degree Requirements .

The Committee Appointment form reports the student’s planned dissertation committee, dissertation title (subject to change) and the expected graduation term. It requires approval from the dissertation director and the major and minor departments. The approval signature from the minor department on this form indicates both approval of the reported dissertation committee and confirmation that the student has satisfied all requirements for the minor.

All Ph.D. programs require the completion of a dissertation which meets required standards of scholarship and demonstrates the candidate's ability to conduct original research.

The structure of the dissertation varies depending upon the discipline and the program offering the degree. See the program's handbook for the details of how your program structures their dissertation requirement. A common measure of quality of the dissertation is whether it is "publishable" in disciplinarily-recognized publication venues. Note that the determination of whether a dissertation meets this criteria lies solely with scholars on the dissertation committee. Programs and committees may not require that the work actually be published. The committee cannot require that outside actors such as editors, publishers, editorial reviewer, accreditation boards, etc. make that determination for them. 

Research involving human subjects or vertebrate animals requires permission from the relevant University committee. Consult your research director and the  Office for the Responsible Conduct of Research  for details. Their telephone number is (520) 626-5515.

Research activities involving the use of human subjects require the review and approval of the  University Human Subjects Committee .

Any research involving vertebrate animals must be approved by the  Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee  (IACUC). The student must be listed on an approved IACUC protocol before they begin their animal research.

Instructions relating to the format of the dissertation and required abstracts are included in the  Dissertation Formatting Guide  (including those that include previously published papers, papers accepted for publication, and/or papers with multiple authors).

Students will form a dissertation committee by the time of advancement to candidacy. Some departments require earlier committee formulation. Individual faculty members may decline membership on committees for academic reasons. Candidates must be able to develop a proposal of sufficient academic merit and on a topic that satisfies their committee. Candidates may be discontinued from their program for failure to make academic progress if they do not have an approved dissertation chair and committee.

The Graduate College requires a minimum of three Graduate Faculty members on a dissertation committee. Fourth and subsequent members may be Graduate Faculty or Special Members. If a committee has only three members, all must approve the dissertation. In departments that require four or more members, there may be one dissenting vote. All dissertation committee members are expected to attend the entire final defense.

Upon the completion of the dissertation, the candidate must submit to a Final Oral Defense Examination. A student must be in good academic standing to schedule the defense. The examination focuses on the dissertation itself but can include general questioning related to the field(s) of study within the scope of the dissertation ( Final Oral Defense Instructions  and Final Oral Defense Instructions for doctor of Audiology ).

The date, time, and location of the final examination must be scheduled with the Graduate College in advance using the Announcement of Final Oral Defense form in GradPath. Candidates should indicate in the comments section of this form if the Final Oral Examination will be held remotely or in a hybrid format. This form should be submitted far enough in advance of the examination that all approvers can grant their approval in time for the form to reach the Graduate College one week prior to the exam.  The Graduate College will place an announcement on the UA master calendar to invite the public to attend the candidate's presentation of his or her work.  Final Oral Examinations should be scheduled during days when the university is in session and during normal business hours. Permission to hold examinations during University holiday closures or outside of normal university business hours may be granted by Graduate College.

The dissertation director presides over the examination. The initial seminar portion during which the student presents the dissertation and entertains questions is open to the public.  This is followed by a closed session with just the committee and the candidate. The committee's deliberation is closed to the public. 

There is no minimum time limit for the Final Oral Examination, but the entire proceedings may not exceed three hours. Members of the committee must be present for the entire examination. Should special circumstances require a member to attend remotely, prior permission from the Graduate College is necessary.

If the committee requires revisions, those must be done in a timely manner, not to exceed one year.  If the revisions are not completed by the dissertation submission deadline for the term when the student defends, the student will be required to register for the next semester and will graduate in the semester when the revisions are complete and approved.  If revisions are not done by the end of the time to degree period, the student will have to re-take comprehensive examinations to demonstrate currency of knowledge.

Upon successful completion of the Final Oral Defense examination, and having gained final approval from the dissertation committee after completing any revisions needed following the defense, the candidate submits the dissertation electronically via the submission website maintained by ProQuest/UMI.  This submission must be made by the submission deadline for the desired graduation term.  The Graduate College will check the formatting of the submitted dissertation and may request changes before accepting the submission.  When the dissertation has been accepted by the Graduate College, completion of requirements has been fulfilled, and all other final items are accounted for, the degree will be awarded provided the degree conferral date for the graduation term has been reached. Please refer to the Academic Calendar for the relevant semester for the conferral date.

ProQuest/UMI catalogs and stores the dissertation and sends catalog information to the Library of Congress for distribution for depository catalogs and libraries. The dissertation will also be archived in the University of Arizona Campus Repository , where it serves as the record of the student's research.

Publication of the dissertation by ProQuest and the Campus Repository does not preclude publication by other means, and successful candidates are urged to submit dissertation material for publication in a scholarly or professional journals. Suitable acknowledgment must indicate the publication was a dissertation, or portion of a dissertation, submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Arizona.

All grades for Incompletes and courses taken in the final term must be received before the degree is considered completed. For students in the School Psychology program, completing the SERP 693 internship course on or before June 1, will enable the degree to be awarded for Spring of that year. If the candidate completes the internship after June 1, the degree will be awarded for summer. 

A student must have a cumulative GPA in all graduate coursework of at least 3.000 in order to graduate.

For dates by which requirements must be met to graduate in a particular term, please refer to our Important Deadlines .

The diploma is ordered and mailed once the degree has been awarded. Changing the name on a student's record and diploma may require that an official name change be filed with the Registrar's Office. Any outstanding financial debts with the University will prevent the student from ordering official transcripts or receiving their diploma. Please contact the Bursar's office at 621-3232 for assistance with student accounts. 

Please take our exit survey so we can provide a great student experience to future students. We need and appreciate your feedback.

The Graduate College does not generally permit a person who holds a Ph.D. to pursue a second Ph.D. Persons holding a Ph.D. who wish to expand their training are encouraged to pursue post-doctoral training, a graduate certificate, or a professional degree (e.g. MD, JD, PharmD).  In the rare case a graduate program wishes to admit a student for a 2nd Ph.D., the case must be justified by the department in a petition subject to approval by the Graduate College. The department must explain why the 2nd Ph.D. would be qualitatively different from the first.  This rule applies to cases where the first degree is from the University of Arizona or from another domestic or international institution.  Admission to a second Ph.D. will be allowed only with strong rationale from the program.  If admitted for a second doctoral degree, students will be held to all the usual degree requirements and University regulations pertaining to fees, registrations, examinations, advancement to candidacy, residency, internships, etc. Not more than 9 credits from the prior degree may be applied toward the second degree.  Applicants who already have a doctoral degree may not be given special preference for admission or for financial support.

• No credit may be counted for more than two degrees. Thus UA credits could not be used for a master’s in UA major 1, a doctorate in UA major 1, and a master’s in UA major 2.
• A student may use no more than a total of 30 credits from all master’s degrees toward a doctorate. Thus, if a student earned a non-UA master’s, up to 30 credits could be used toward a UA doctorate. In that case, none of the transfer credit nor any additional coursework toward the UA doctorate could be used toward a UA master’s in a major that differs from the doctorate because the student would have exhausted the 30 credit limit of master’s coursework that can be shared with a doctorate.

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Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) in Public Health Policy and Management

Offered On Campus in Tucson

The DrPH is an advanced, professional degree program that focuses on developing future leaders in public health practice, who will advance the public's health through the integration and application of a broad range of knowledge and analytical skills in leadership, practice, policy analysis, research, program management and professional communication. Knowledge and skills are based on the DrPH competencies from the Association of Schools of Public Health.

The DrPH program in Public Health Policy and Management is offered by the Department of Community, Environment and Policy .  This degree program is designed to further develop the knowledge and skills of public health practitioners who are currently serving in the public or private sector.  Areas of emphasis include analyzing public health problems, managing the public health workforce, crafting evidence-based recommendations and translating those recommendations into public policy.  Because of the program's unique setting and activities, graduates will be prepared to work collaboratively with a broad range of organizations that serve the diverse communities and populations residing in the Southwest.

The program is designed for students who have been awarded a Master's degree, preferably a Master of Public Health degree, and at least two years of public health work related experience.   Students entering without a prior MPH degree will be required to complete the five core MPH courses offered through MEZCOPH, or their equivalent, in addition to the minimum DrPH credit hours of course work in the major.

DrPH in Public Health Policy and Management Concentration Competencies

Required Courses (14 units)

• PHPM 569 Fundamentals of Health Budgeting and Financial Management (3)
• HPS 544 Fundamentals of Evaluation (3) or an alternate evaluation course (3) §
• PHPM 608A Public Health Law and Ethics (3)
• HPS 609 Evaluating Public Health Literature (1 unit - 2 times )
• HPS 704 Public Health Leadership to Reduce Health Disparities (3)

§ Alternative courses addressing that content with the minimum or greater course units may be considered (e.g. with a major grant development component; advanced or typically second semester graduate statistics course; advanced evaluation methods).  Such a substitution requires approval of the Program Director and Faculty Advisor.

Required Public Health Policy and Management Courses (14 units)

• PHPM 617 Advanced Public Health Policy Analysis (3)
• PHP 641 Health Systems Delivery (3)
• PHPM 696 Public Health Policy and Management Field Course (2)
• Community and Cultural Sensitivity Course* (3)
• Higher Level Methods Course* (3)

* Approval from Faculty Advisor

Concentration Electives (minimum 9 units)

Dissertation (minimum 18 units).

The dissertation is expected to analyze and propose solutions to health management or policy issues by applying new theoretical or analytic advances to current problems in health care.

Minor (minimum 9 units)

The minor area of study can be in other academic doctoral programs in Public Health or in other doctoral programs throughout the University. The minor area of study specifies the number of required minor units (minimum 9 units).

Total Minimum Credit Requirements = 64 units

Application deadlines.

Fall Application Deadlines

Priority:  December 1 Secondary: April 1

Students who apply by the priority deadline will be given the highest priority for admissions and consideration for scholarships and assistantships.

Admissions Criteria

• The program is designed for students who have a previously awarded Master's degree, preferably a Master of Public Health, and at least two years of public health experience
• GPA of 3.2 or higher
• Three letters of recommendation
• Resume or CV
• Statement of purpose and objectives
• Research Statement
• Writing Sample
• Mission and values statement
• Official GRE scores (Due to issues related to the COVID-19 outbreak, the GRE requirement is waived for Fall 2021 admissions.)​
• TOEFL or IELTS scores are required for international applicants
• Relevant work/volunteer experience strengthens all applications
• Detailed admissions criteria

Apply online through  SOPHAS , the centralized application service for all of the accredited schools and programs of public health.

View more details on the steps to our application process .

Additional Information

Admissions Events > Join us for an upcoming admissions event.

Meet Our Students > Get to know our students.

International Students > Find admissions information specific to international students.

Typical time to completion: 3-5 years (2-3 years for coursework, 1-2 years for dissertation work) for full-time students. 5-8 years for part-time students.

Average time to completion: 5.08

Program Steps to Completion (Full-time student timeline):

• Attend mandatory new student orientation
• Students are expected to serve as a Teaching Assistantship at least once during their time in the program
• First year is devoted to course work (Students entering without an MPH must complete the MPH core courses in addition to degree requirements)
• Work with Faculty Advisor to form an initial, tentative Plan of Study
• Each Spring, complete an Annual Progress Report with Faculty Advisor
• Second year is devoted to course work and forming Comprehensive Exam Committee
• Formalize Plan of Study by end of second year
• Second/third year formalize Committee Chair and Comprehensive Exam Committee
• Take and pass Comprehensive Exams (written and oral)
• Form and formalize Dissertation Committee
• Develop a Dissertation Research Proposal
• Defend and gain approval for Proposal before Dissertation Committee
• If necessary, begin process for human subjects approval for dissertation
• Third/fourth year, research, develop and write dissertation
• Fourth/fifth year, successfully defend dissertation and finalize revisions

Joe Gerald, MD, PhD Program Director

Academic Programs

• Maternal & Child Health

Academic Curriculum Guide

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Doctoral Degrees

Educational policy studies & practice, educational leadership & policy ph.d..

The Educational Leadership & Policy Ph.D. program is designed to expand the boundaries of the educational leadership and policy field with an explicit foci on inclusivity, social justice, and anti-racism. The program prepares leaders to achieve results in the nation's schools by translating theory and knowledge into practice, applying skills in interpersonal relations and political diplomacy, applying research and data-based, decision-making skills, and following ethical principles. This doctoral program is designed for practicing and aspiring administrators who wish to expand their skills as researchers.

Emphasis is placed on the practical application of theory and knowledge to school and district leadership at the elementary and secondary levels. Instruction recognizes and incorporates the principles of adult learning with courses, seminars, and other educational experiences featuring reflection, group, discussion, simulations, problem solving, quantitative and qualitative research methods, and theory from a variety of disciplines (e.g. anthropology, sociology) as well as leadership and policy studies.

Study and address complex issues of social justice for the educational equity and opportunities of all students

Gain experience analyzing and conducting rigorous research on educational policy

Learn about educational leadership concentrations in policy, critical theory, and community relations

Sample courses.

EDL 606: Policy Analysis EDL 621: Organizational, Operational and Resource Leadership EDL 625: Leadership in Diverse Communities EDL 626: Leadership for Social Justice

See Coursework  for more details.

The program prepares students for administrative positions in educational institutions, policymaking positions at the district, state, and national levels, and faculty positions in higher education settings.

For more information about the program, contact Associate Professor  Melanie Bertrand .

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• Prospective Graduate
• Prospective Undergraduate

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Dual Degree Program: M.S. in Water, Society & Policy and Master of Public Policy

Couple a strong foundation in public policy with the rigor of a program focused on water science and water policy.

About this Dual Degree Program

This dual degree program provides a unique niche for graduate students to enhance their opportunities in industry, non-governmental organizations, and government by providing space to explore and gain expertise in water science and resource management, policy analysis, economics, and the application of technology to address key water-related challenges facing society.

It prepares you for a career path as a policy analyst, consultant, management consultant, government affairs director, business development director, or policy advisor.

This program gives you the opportunity to earn a Master of Public Policy from the School of Government and Public Policy and a Master of Science in Water, Society and Policy from the School of Natural Resources and the Environment within three years.

Request information about this dual degree program.  

Dual Degree Requirements

• View requirements for this dual degree program 

Health Law and Policy Certificates

The University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law's fully online graduate certificates in Health Law & Policy, are the result of an innovative collaboration between expert faculty across law, and the health science colleges with international industry leaders. 

All of the certificate credits can be applied to the Master of Legal Studies , upon acceptance into the program.

months or less to complete

online & asynchronous courses*

colleges represented

Health Law & Policy courses are developed in collaboration with faculty across the University of Arizona in Law, Business, Engineering, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health, and Science as well as with global companies. The courses include expertise from leaders in the field at the Critical Path Institute, Dignity Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Roche Tissue Diagnostics, and many others.

View the certificate course offerings here .

Health Law for Health Professionals

Acquire a fundamental understanding of the laws, regulations, and ethics surrounding the health care industry.

Regulatory Science

Receive specialized training in how to accelerate the development of medical products through greater understanding of the ethics, policies, and regulations governing regulatory science in the United States and abroad.  

Aging Law and Policy

Improve your understanding of the legal and ethical issues that intersect with caring for an older population and supporting healthy aging.

Health Information, Privacy, Compliance, and Data Security

Provides students with a strong foundation in the governing laws, cybersecurity measures, data analysis and use, and management issues associated with health information privacy.

Undergraduate Certificate

This Certificate provides specialized knowledge of the laws, regulations, and policies governing healthcare. From federal and state legislation to agency regulations, delve deep into evolving and emerging areas of health law, such as health data privacy, risk management and compliance, drug and device approval pathways, and legal rights for older adults. This multifaceted Undergraduate Certificate is open to University of Arizona undergraduate and non-degree seeking students from any major or discipline.

Health Law Students & Alumni

Our students and alumni represent a strong and diverse range of backgrounds, as most students have five or more years of experience as administrators, executives, clinicians, research scientists and entrepreneurs. They practice at a range of organizations from academic medical centers, health systems, consulting agencies, biotech companies, insurance companies to long-term care facilities from across the country and around the world. 

In addition, many graduate students at the University of Arizona pursue a Health Law Certificate in combination with another degree.

Check out what our alumni say about the program.

"This program is beneficial for a wide range of students and working professionals wanting to further their regulatory knowledge. In particular, pharmacy students who are interested in both regulatory science and the pharmaceutical industry should consider this program"

Michael Abrahamson, PharmD, RPh

Alumnus, Graduate Certificate in Regulatory Science

"This program was perfect for me as a non-lawyer who encounters legal issues almost daily in the healthcare setting."

Rebeca Lopez, MBA

Alumnus, Graduate Certificate in Health Law for Health Professionals

Transforming legal education to meet the needs of the future health workforce

PPOLMPP - Public Policy

Program description.

Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy

Working for a world in which governance at all levels is rooted in meaningful knowledge and analysis..

Environmental Policy Programs

Indigenous Policy Programs (Native Nations Institute)

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Upcoming events at the Udall Center

America’s health: a documentary featuring healthcare disrupters, addressing flood injustice with satellite data in the borderlands and across the us, native know-how seminar.

North Carolina university committee swiftly passes policy change that could cut diversity staff

Diversity, equity and inclusion staff members' jobs in North Carolina's public university system could be at risk

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The future of diversity, equity and inclusion staff jobs in North Carolina's public university system could be at stake after a five-person committee swiftly voted to repeal a key policy Wednesday.

The Committee on University Governance, within the University of North Carolina Board of Governors that oversees 17 schools, voted in less than four minutes to reverse and replace a policy related to DEI. The full board of 24 members is to vote on the matter again next month, and if approved, the repeal would take effect immediately.

If the policy is fully repealed, the UNC system could join other major universities in dismantling their diversity offices. Among the most notable, the University of Florida in Gainesville announced in a memo last month that it was scrapping its office and shifting its funding for faculty recruitment instead.

In Texas, universities saw major cuts in their diversity and inclusion staff in 2024 in compliance with a state ban signed into law last year. The state higher education board in Kansas was also to address a ban on diversity initiatives in hiring staff and accepting students Wednesday.

At least 20 states have seen Republican bill proposals seeking to limit diversity and inclusion programs in several public institutions such as universities.

Diversity, equity and inclusion is defined by the American Psychological Association as a framework to guide “fair treatment and full participation of all people,” especially those belonging to minority groups. It has become a recurring point of contention for conservatives who argue DEI programs are discriminatory.

The proposed policy change, first reported by The News & Observer of Raleigh, would impact a diversity, equity and inclusion regulation adopted in 2019. It defines the roles of various DEI positions — such as a system office diversity and inclusion liaison and diversity officers across the university system — and the establishment of a diversity and inclusion council made up of members representing each university, according to the policy.

Under the policy, the officers’ responsibilities include assisting the chancellor with diversity policy and programming, in addition to facilitating training for students and staff.

But Andrew Tripp, senior vice president for the UNC System Office’s legal affairs team, said the change would reaffirm “the university's commitment to non-discrimination and institutional neutrality.”

The policy that could replace the existing regulation does not include the outlined responsibilities of DEI officers and liaisons, suggesting they may be eliminated. Other inclusion efforts such as tracking the university's diversity metrics and giving reports to university boards will continue, the replacement policy said.

UNC-Chapel Hill — the system's flagship campus and whose website says has an office for diversity and inclusion with a 12-person staff — will review the policy change and work with the university system if implemented, spokesperson Kevin Best said in an emailed statement.

“As the Board of Governors noted, equality of opportunity in education and employment is a long-standing commitment of the University of North Carolina as a core value in service to our vibrant and growing state,” Best said. “As part of that mission, UNC-Chapel Hill will continue to welcome people from all walks of life with a variety of experiences and perspectives who come here to learn, work and live.”

Immediately after the vote to repeal the diversity policy with no questions or discussion, the governance committee went into closed session, according to the agenda. Closed sessions are not subject to public record, according to state statutes.

Efforts to dissolve university diversity efforts are a “disservice” to students and create “controversy and volatility," former UNC System President Tom Ross said in a joint statement with Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper after the vote. Instead, Ross, who served as president from 2011 to 2016, said universities should celebrate diversity.

"Republican legislative and university leaders who attack diversity at our public universities are failing in their duty to protect students while threatening our ability to recruit top scientists, researchers and innovators who power our economy,” Cooper said.

However, conservative-leaning advocacy group Carolina Partnership for Reform said in a statement the new policy would “go a long way toward rooting out DEI bureaucracies."

The full UNC Board of Governors is scheduled to meet May 22-23 in Raleigh. Members of the board are elected to four-year terms by the state Senate and House of Representatives, which Republicans have controlled since 2011.

Republican House Speaker Tim Moore said fellow Republicans have expressed interest in taking up anti-DEI legislation in the session opening next Wednesday. He recently told reporters the legislature may allow the university boards to review their diversity policies first before introducing any bills.

“It's still at the conversation stage,” Moore said.

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Police Advisory

Tucson AZ- (April 13, 2024) -  The University of Arizona Police Department is sharing the following information as a Police Advisory to the campus community. 

UAPD arrested Non-UA affiliated Michael  Starr   Todd  for public sexual indecency, per ARS 13-1403A1.  Todd  has been issued an exclusionary order prohibiting him from being on any UA property where he has been arrested several times for being found exposed in his 2000 White Chevrolet Astro Van bearing AZ Plate Y3A 3XS. The attached images are of Todd and his Astro Van. If you see  Todd  on any campus property, please call 9-1-1 or 621-UAPD (8273). Visit uapd.arizona.edu and safety.arizona.edu for a list of safety tips and resources. 

Christopher Olson Chief of Police April 13, 2024

For more information about this Police Advisory please contact: 

Sergeant Andrew Valenzuela Public Information Officer 520-626-8007 [email protected]

School of Planning and Public Affairs

Certificate in Transportation Planning

The field of transportation planning has become much broader in the past several decades, expanding from its focus on relieving traffic congestion to questions related to social equity, accessibility, climate impacts, and the benefits of physically active travel. This change has underscored the need to attract people from diverse disciplinary and social/ethnic backgrounds to the field. The next generation of transportation professional cannot simply be one in a team of specialists. They need to have a range of knowledge that allows them to see and solve problems without disciplinary boundaries.  

The Certificate in Transportation Planning at the UI School of Planning & Public Affairs prepares professionals who can address this challenge.

• Students study and work with different disciplines and learn to develop sustainable, equitable and safe transportation systems.
• Certificate is advantageous for employment, professional development or advancement.
• The Transportation Planning Certificate is credentialed and will appear on the student's UI transcript.
• Certificate courses may be applied to a master's degree in Urban Planning at the University of Iowa if the student pursues a graduate degree after the certificate is completed.

Completion of the certificate provides students a robust background in transportation, methods and techniques for transportation analysis, and real-world project experience to improve their expertise and employability in a variety of professional transportation roles.

Fields of employment for students with the Transportation Certificate include: •    transportation planning •    transit or freight management •    bike/pedestrian policy advocacy •    public health through active mobility •    sustainability •    climate mitigation

Who should apply?

•    Those with a bachelor’s degree in urban studies, planning, engineering and other fields who want to increase      their employment options in transportation planning.

•    Planners interested in further professional development.

•    Graduate students at the University of Iowa.

Required Curriculum

Courses are taught primarily online with both real-time interaction and recorded lectures. Some elective courses are offered in-person to accommodate student preferences. However, the certificate can be completed entirely online by selecting courses available in that format. Courses are taught by faculty in the School of Planning and Public Affairs and College of Public Health. See the   most recent catalog of planning courses for course descriptions .

The first semester of the certificate program introduces students to the fundamentals of transportation planning history and practice, and to the relationships between transportation systems, urban form, equity, and sustainability.

The second semester deepens knowledge through specialization in public policy, travel behavior analysis, infrastructure finance, and traffic safety. Finally, in the summer studio course, students undertake a real-world transportation project for a community partner through the Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities (IISC).

The certificate can be completed in one calendar year including a summer studio capstone. It may also be completed over two or more years for part-time students who complete fewer courses per semester. The two-year option accommodates students currently enrolled in two-year masters degrees at the University of Iowa.

Apply to Certificate Program

Current university of iowa students.

•    All UI students in good standing enrolled in any graduate program are eligible to complete the certificate. •    Admission for the certificate is considered on a rolling basis. •    Application deadline: Must be admitted to certificate program before completing all certificate courses. Requires that the student either have one course left to complete the certificate or is currently enrolled in final course necessary for the certificate.

To Apply Current UI graduate students should contact Abbi Castle in the School of Planning and Public Affairs.

Completion deadline During the semester of the student's final certificate course, the certificate completion form must be submitted before the established deadline for the Degree Application set by the Graduate College (approximately 10 weeks before graduation).

Non-University of Iowa Students

We are currently not admitting students who aren't University of Iowa graduate students into an online program.

For more information about the certificate program, please contact the Transportation Planning Certificate Coordinator: Steve Spears Associate Professor of Instruction School of Planning and Public Affairs [email protected]

For questions about the application process, please contact: Abbi Castle School of Planning and Public Affairs [email protected]

*Tuition rate for non-degree seeking students