Public Policy (D.P.P.)
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.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| PLCY 700 | Foundations of Public Policy | 3 |
| PLCY 701 | Natural Law, The State & The Gospel | 3 |
| PLCY 702 | Founding Era and the Constitution | 3 |
| PLCY 703 | Contemporary Challenges to Constitutional Order and the Role of the State | 3 |
| PLCY 802 | Competing Visions of Statesmanship | 3 |
| PLCY 804 | Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations | 3 |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Research Methods & Tools Courses | ||
| PLCY 805 | Policy Analysis and Research Design | 3 |
| PLCY 809 | Advanced Research Methods for Policymakers | 3 |
| PLCY 810 | Quantitative Methods I 1 | 3 |
| PLCY 811 | Quantitative Methods II 1 | 3 |
| PLCY 812 | Qualitative Methods | 3 |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
- 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
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Hours | 9 | |
- 1
Other courses will be considered on a case-by-case basis
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Dissertation Courses 1 | ||
| PLCY 885 | Research Concept | 3 |
| PLCY 987 | Dissertation I | 5 |
| PLCY 988 | Dissertation II | 5 |
| PLCY 989 | Dissertation III 2 | 5 |
| PLCY 990 | Dissertation IV - Dissertation Defense | 0 |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
- 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
| First Semester | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| PLCY 700 | Foundations of Public Policy | 3 |
| PLCY 702 | Founding Era and the Constitution | 3 |
| PLCY 703 | Contemporary Challenges to Constitutional Order and the Role of the State | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| PLCY 705 | Political Actors and Institutions | 3 |
| PLCY 802 | Competing Visions of Statesmanship | 3 |
| PLCY 804 | Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| PLCY 807 or PLCY 808 |
Program Evaluation 1 or Game Theory and Formal Modeling |
3 |
| PLCY 809 | Data and Analysis for Policymakers | 3 |
| Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| PLCY 810 | Quantitative Methods I 1 | 3 |
| Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Fifth Semester | ||
| PLCY 805 | Policy Analysis and Research Design | 3 |
| PLCY 812 | Qualitative Methods 1 | 3 |
| PLCY 885 | Research Concept | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Sixth Semester | ||
| PLCY 887 | Capstone I | 5 |
| Hours | 5 | |
| Seventh Semester | ||
| PLCY 888 | Capstone II 3 | 5 |
| Hours | 5 | |
| Eighth Semester | ||
| PLCY 889 | Capstone III 2 | 5 |
| Hours | 5 | |
| Ninth Semester | ||
| PLCY 890 | Capstone IV 2 | 0 |
| Hours | 0 | |
| Total Hours | 60 | |
- 1
Students may request to substitute other research methods courses offered in the Helms School of Government, including PLCY 811, PLCY 815, and PLCY 816.
- 2
Choose any 700-800 level PLCY course. PLCY 887, PLCY 888, PLCY 889, and PLCY 890 will not satisfy this requirement.
- 3
Any student who has not completed the milestones for this course, as described in the Helms School of Government Capstone Handbook, may be required to repeat this course.