Ph.D. in Public Policy

Applications are now open! Apply by Dec. 1.

A flexible, interdisciplinary curriculum with strong faculty mentoring focused on rigorous analytical and professional training to bridge the gap between academic scholarship and real-world policy impact.

The LBJ School's Ph.D. program has been in place since 1992 and has approximately 35 doctoral students working at various stages of the degree program. Its flexible and interdisciplinary curriculum allows students to take advantage of The University of Texas’ wealth of graduate courses across campus to develop analytical expertise in students’ specific areas of research interest. 

All PhD students receive close, personalized mentoring from our expert faculty members from day one. Many of our students publish with those faculty and present papers at major conferences and meetings. This, along with unparalleled access to one of the top public research universities, allows students to enter their chosen arenas with a strong foundation of theory and practice

Our doctoral students have access to an extensive network of alumni and connections throughout the U.S. and abroad. Our Ph.D. graduates have developed successful careers in academia, think tanks, international organizations, nonprofits, private consulting, policy research institutions and state and federal government.

In addition to our excellent faculty members, all of whom are closely engaged in teaching and research, the LBJ School offers connections to several major research centers in the school with foci ranging from health and social policy, philanthropy and nonprofit management to international security and politics.