Public and International Affairs, PhD

Return to: Graduate School of Public and International Affairs

Whether you want to teach, conduct research, or work in a policy environment, our Ph.D. program will equip you with the skills, tools, and knowledge to succeed in highly competitive environments such as leading universities, government agencies, and nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations around the world.

To apply to the PhD program, you must have a bachelor’s degree. Before undertaking doctoral study, it’s beneficial, but not mandatory, to have a master’s degree in public and international affairs or in one of the social sciences. Once you’re accepted, you must complete 67 hours of coursework and a six-credit dissertation. If you have earned a master’s degree, you may be able to transfer 30 credits.

• We’ve designed our doctoral studies program to ensure a high-quality education that also expedites your time to degree. To do so, we’ve implemented the following procedures:
• We limit the number of students we admit to ensure that virtually all admitted students will receive at least four years of financial support, contingent on their academic performance.
• We review student progress annually, offering constructive feedback to students about their progress and providing an appropriate strategy for completing the program.  
• We streamline and clarify the comprehensive exam format to expedite the completion of this requirement, so that students can move on to preparing their dissertation proposals.  
• We develop strong partnerships with other academic units in the University of Pittsburgh to collaborate in offering a wider range of doctoral courses.