Public Policy (D.P.P.)

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.

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 702 Founding Era and the Constitution 3
PLCY 703 Contemporary Challenges to Constitutional Order and the Role of the State 3
 Hours9
Second Semester
PLCY 705  
PLCY 802 Competing Visions of Statesmanship 3
PLCY 804 Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations 3
 Hours6
Third Semester
PLCY 807
or PLCY 808
1
or
 
PLCY 809 Data and Analysis for Policymakers 3
Elective 2 3
 Hours6
Fourth Semester
PLCY 810 Quantitative Methods I 1 3
Elective 2 3
Elective 2 3
 Hours9
Fifth Semester
PLCY 805 Policy Analysis and Research Design 3
PLCY 812 Qualitative Methods 1 3
PLCY 885 Research Concept 3
 Hours9
Sixth Semester
PLCY 887  
 Hours0
Seventh Semester
PLCY 888 3  
 Hours0
Eighth Semester
PLCY 889 2  
 Hours0
Ninth Semester
PLCY 890 2  
 Hours0
 Total Hours39
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.

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