Doctoral Program: Public and Urban Policy
Program Director: David Howell
A Tradition of Critical Inquiry
Today’s public policy issues are complex and require a greater level of analysis and insight then in the past. This program seeks to train individuals at a doctoral level to work in the highest levels of government, nonprofit, and think-tanks with the ability to discern and develop broad public policy solutions. The PhD Program in Public and Urban Policy is committed to providing students with a deep theoretical and institutional understanding of contemporary urban problems and the technical skills necessary to not only carry out scholarly research but also to design and manage public policy. Reflecting The New School’s tradition of critical inquiry, the doctoral program emphasizes the social, political, and normative dimensions of policy analysis. Socially responsible and equitable outcomes are essential to good public policy decision-making.
In a distinctive, multi-disciplinary approach, the doctoral program is organized around a public policy core offered within Milano and a broad range of electives offered by Milano, throughout the university, as well as other universities in the region. Particular attention is given to:
- Health care
- Education
- Economic development
- Employment and training
- The nonprofit sector
- Immigration, and housing
- Leadership
- Social policy
- Community development
The curriculum provides students with both the foundation critical to the successful pursuit of scholarly research and the depth and breadth of courses needed to attain an appropriate level of knowledge in the student’s field of scholarship. Doctoral dissertations must focus on a relevant policy issue and substantially advance knowledge in the field.
Curriculum
The PhD program in Public and Urban Policy is organized around a public policy core offered within Milano and a broad range of electives offered by both Milano The New School for Urban Management and Policy and The New School for Social Research. The curriculum provides students with both the foundation critical to the successful pursuit of scholarly research and the depth and breadth of courses needed to attain an appropriate level of knowledge in the student’s chosen field of scholarship. The PhD Program has three main components—60 credits of coursework; qualifying examinations; and a dissertation. Students may transfer a maximum of 24 credits from previous relevant graduate work. A minimum of 36 coursework credits must be earned at The New School while the student is enrolled in the PhD Program.
Each student must complete all course-work with a B+ average or better, with no core course grades below B+, in order to take Qualifying Examinations.
Upon completion of coursework, and successful completion of a policy and analytical paper, the student is eligible to take the Qualifying Examination. Once the examination is passed, the student can then proceed to produce and defend a Dissertation Proposal. Upon acceptance of the Dissertation Proposal by the student’s Dissertation Committee, the student may commence work on the dissertation. Upon completion of an acceptable draft, the dissertation must be defended orally before the student’s Dissertation Committee. The PhD is granted upon approval of the defense and the dissertation.
Core Curriculum
The PhD program’s Core Curriculum consists of the following required courses:
Qualifying Examinations
The Qualifying Examination has three components: (1) a take-home examination focused on core knowledge in policy analysis and the policy process, (2) an policy and analytical paper that focuses on the conceptual framing of a substantive policy issue, and (3) the oral defense of these two products. All examinations and papers will be read and evaluated by a three person faculty committee which will also conduct the oral defense.
Dissertation Proposal
The Dissertation Proposal consists of a clear statement of the goals and objectives of the proposed dissertation, a literature review, a research plan, and a proposed schedule. It will be written in consultation with the Chair of the Dissertation Committee, which will also evaluate the proposal at the time of the student’s oral defense. The Dissertation Committee must include at least one faculty member from outside Milano.
Dissertation
The Doctoral Committee expects the dissertation to be of high academic quality. The dissertation must be theoretically framed and methodologically sophisticated, consisting of original research and focused on a relevant policy issue. It must also be well written and appropriately organized. Students will be encouraged to write on a contemporary urban issue and to adopt a critical perspective. An acceptable dissertation must advance knowledge in the field. When the dissertation is substantially complete, the student’s Dissertation Committee will decide whether to allow the student to proceed to the oral defense.
For further information, contact:
David Howell, PhD
Director, PhD Program in Public and Urban Policy
Milano The New School for Management and Urban Policy
72 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10011
212.229.5400 x1503
MilanoPhD@newschool.edu