Public Policy (Ph.D.)

Public Policy (Ph.D.)

Important: This degree plan is effective for those starting this degree program in fall 2024 through summer 2025. This degree plan will remain in effect for students who do not break enrollment or who do not change degree programs, concentrations, or cognates.

Core Courses
PLCY 700Foundations of Public Policy3
PLCY 701Natural Law, The State & The Gospel3
PLCY 702Founding Era and the Constitution3
PLCY 703Contemporary Challenges to Constitutional Order and the Role of the State3
PLCY 802Competing Visions of Statesmanship3
PLCY 804Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations3
Total Hours18
Research Methods & Tools Courses
PLCY 805Policy Analysis and Research Design3
PLCY 809Advanced Research Methods for Policymakers3
PLCY 810Quantitative Methods I 13
PLCY 811Quantitative Methods II 13
PLCY 812Qualitative Methods3
Total Hours15
1

PLCY 815 Advanced Quantitative Methods I (3 c.h.) and PLCY 816 Advanced Quantitative Methods II (3 c.h.) may be substituted for PLCY 810 Quantitative Methods I (3 c.h.) and PLCY 811 Quantitative Methods II (3 c.h.) by permission of the Department Chair

Elective Courses 1
Choose nine credit hours of the following:9
Introduction to Education Policy Studies
Introduction to Social Policy Studies
Introduction to Foreign Policy Studies
Introduction to Economic Policy Studies
Introduction to National Security Policy Studies
Total Hours9
1

Other courses will be considered on a case-by-case basis

Dissertation Courses 1
PLCY 885Research Concept3
PLCY 987Dissertation I5
PLCY 988Dissertation II5
PLCY 989Dissertation III 25
PLCY 990Dissertation IV - Dissertation Defense0
Total Hours18
1

Once the student enters the Dissertation phase, he/she must maintain continuous enrollment (Fall, Spring and Summer semesters) until all degree requirements are completed

2

Any student who is not ready for enrollment in PLCY 990 Dissertation IV - Dissertation Defense (0 c.h.) after completing PLCY 989 Dissertation III (5 c.h.) may be required, as determined by the student’s dissertation chair, to repeat PLCY 989 Dissertation III (5 c.h.) until deemed ready for enrollment in PLCY 990 Dissertation IV - Dissertation Defense (0 c.h.)

  All applicable prerequisites must be met

Graduation Requirements

  • Complete 60 hours
  • A maximum of 50% of a post-graduate and doctoral degree may be transferred if approved and allowable, including credit from an earned degree from Liberty University on the same academic level
  • 3.0 GPA
  • No grades lower than a B- may be applied to the degree
  • Successful completion of Research Concept
  • Successful defense of Dissertation
  • Degree must be completed within 7 years
  • Submission of Degree Completion Application must be completed within the last semester of a student’s anticipated graduation date

Program Offered in Online Format

Plan of Study Grid
First SemesterHours
PLCY 700 Foundations of Public Policy 3
PLCY 701 Natural Law, The State & The Gospel 3
PLCY 702 Founding Era and the Constitution 3
 Hours9
Second Semester
PLCY 703 Contemporary Challenges to Constitutional Order and the Role of the State 3
PLCY 802 Competing Visions of Statesmanship 3
Public Policy Elective 1 3
 Hours9
Third Semester
PLCY 804 Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations 3
PLCY 809 Data and Analysis for Policymakers 3
PLCY 810 Quantitative Methods I 2 3
 Hours9
Fourth Semester
PLCY 805 Policy Analysis and Research Design 3
PLCY 811 Quantitative Methods II 2 3
PLCY 812 Qualitative Methods 3
 Hours9
Fifth Semester
PLCY 885 Research Concept 3
Public Policy Elective 1 3
Public Policy Elective 1 3
 Hours9
Sixth Semester
PLCY 987 Dissertation I 3 5
 Hours5
Seventh Semester
PLCY 988 Dissertation II 5
 Hours5
Eighth Semester
PLCY 989 Dissertation III 4 5
 Hours5
Ninth Semester
PLCY 990 Dissertation IV - Dissertation Defense 0
 Hours0
 Total Hours60
1

Choose from the following: PLCY 840, PLCY 850, PLCY 860, PLCY 870, or PLCY 880; other courses will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

2

PLCY 815 and PLCY 816 may be substituted for PLCY 810 and PLCY 811 by permission of Department Chair.

3

Once the student enters the Dissertation phase, he/she must maintain continuous enrollment (Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters) until all degree requirements are completed.

4

Any student who is not ready for enrollment in PLCY 990 after completing PLCY 989 may be required, as determined by the student's dissertation chair, to repeat PLCY 989 until deemed ready for enrollment in PLCY 990.

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