Ph.D. in Public Policy & Management
The Evans School Ph.D. in Public Policy and Management can prepare you for teaching at the university level or for conducting research at public and nonprofit institutions.
We aim for our Ph.D. program to be one of the top public policy and administration doctoral programs regionally, nationally, and globally.
We offer our students:
- An integrated program focusing on both public policy analysis and management
- Access to the Evans School’s research centers
- The ability to enhance a chosen research specialization through courses in other departments at the University of Washington, which ranks number one in the nation among public universities in attracting federal research dollars
- Award winning faculty with specializations in education, social issues, the environment, international development, nonprofit management, urban planning, and more
- Exposure to the broad array of domestic and international perspectives on public policy accessible in the Seattle metropolitan area
- Tuition assistance through fellowships and research assistantships at the Evans School and in other University of Washington departments
We accept three to five Ph.D. students each year with the expectation that it will take four years to complete the degree.
Find out more about our Ph.D. degree requirements, current Ph.D. students, or how to apply.
For more information, contact the Evans School Student Services office at evansphd@u.washington.edu or 206.543.4900.
Ph.D. Program Degree Requirements
The first year of coursework prepares you for independent research in public policy and management. Prior coursework in differential calculus, intermediate microeconomics, and multivariate statistics is required before matriculation. The first-year curriculum is full-time, earning 30+ credits, and includes:
- Research Design
- Institutional Perspectives on Management and Leadership
- Public Policy Processes
- Advanced Microeconomics for Policy Analysis
- Policy Analysis and Evaluation
- Quantitative Methods
- Quarterly seminars on policy management and research
- Qualifying exam (must be passed to enter second year)
The second year of coursework enhances your research skills while focusing on a chosen field of research specialization in public or nonprofit management or a related policy field (e.g. education, environment, land use, international development). Your second year curriculum is full-time, 30+ credits, chosen in consultation with your faculty advisor, and includes:
- Data Analysis Practicum
- Two restricted electives in qualitative and quantitative methods
- Three or more courses in your chosen field of research specialization
- A teaching seminar and three-quarter assistantship at the Evans School or elsewhere on the UW campus (some portions of this requirement can be waived depending on your teaching experience)
- Quarterly seminars on policy management and research
- Second-year assessment exam (includes two tests that must be passed before submitting your written dissertation proposal)
- General Exam
The third and fourth years of study can be completed full- or part-time (27+credits) and are focused on writing and completing your dissertation.
View application instructions for our Ph.D. program.
For more information, contact the Evans School Student Services office at evansphd@u.washington.edu or 206.543.4900.
Ph.D. Students
This list includes some of our Ph.D. in Public Policy and Management students.
Anne Buffardi, Ph.D. Student, Master of Social Work, University of Washington, 2003: Global Governance; International Development; and Foreign Aid Policy
Colleen Chrisinger, Ph.D. Student, Master of Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2006 (economics); Masters of Social Research Methods, London School of Economics, 2003 (social policy): Low-Wage Labor Market; Income Support Policy; Poverty and Inequality
Lily Hsueh, Ph.D. Student, Master of Science, University College London, 2001 (economics): Environmental Policy, International Development, Global Governance
Travis William Reynolds, Ph.D. Student, Master of Science, University of Vermont, 2007 (community development and applied economics): International Development: Agro-Forestry; Carbon Sequestration
Find out more about our Ph.D. in Public Policy & Management program by contacting our Student Services office at evansphd@u.washington.edu or 206.543.4900.
Anne Buffardi
Anne Buffardi
Master of Social Work, University of Washington, 2003
Contact Information:
Parrington Hall, Room 405
buffardi@u.washington.edu
Areas of specialization:
Global Governance; International Development; and Foreign Aid Policy
Anne Buffardi started the Evans School Ph.D. in Public Policy and Management program in 2007. Her research interests include issues of global governance, international development, and foreign aid policy.
Prior to starting her doctoral studies at the Evans School, Buffardi worked on HIV/STI prevention research projects in Latin America and Africa, and with NGOs in the United States in the areas of fair trade, living wage policy, relationships violence, and homelessness.
Buffardi holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Washington, Graduate Certificate in International Development and Policy Management from the Evans School at the University of Washington, and BA in psychology with minors in international studies and sociology from Wake Forest University.
Publications & Links
“Moving Upstream: Ecosocial and Psychosocial Correlates of Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Young Adults in the United States” with Thomas KK, Holmes KK, and Manhart LE for the American Journal of Public Health; In Press
“Sentinel Surveillance of Sexually Transmitted Infections/HIV and Risk Behaviors in Vulnerable Populations in 5 Central American Countries” with Soto RJ, Ghee AE, Nunez CA, Mayorga R, Tapia KA, Astete SG, Hughes JP, Holte SE, Holmes KK, and the Estudio Multicentrico Study Team for the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes; 1;46(1):101-11; September 2007
"Utility of the Determine Syphilis TP Rapid Test in Commercial Sex Venues in Peru" with Campos PE, Chiappe M, Buendía C, Garcia PJ, Carcamo CP, Garnett G, White P, Holmes KK for Sexually Transmitted Infections; Suppl 5:v22-5; December 2006
Colleen Chrisinger
Colleen Chrisinger
Master of Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2006
Master of Social Research Methods, London School of Economics and Political Science, 2003
Contact Information:
Parrington Hall, Room 405
ckc24@u.washington.edu
Areas of specialization:
Low-Wage Labor Market; Income Support Policy; Poverty and Inequality
Colleen K. Chrisinger started the Evans School Ph.D. in Public Policy and Management program in 2006. Her research interests include issues of the low-wage labor market, income support policy, and poverty and inequality.
Prior to starting her doctoral studies at the Evans School, Chrisinger worked as a Caseload Forecast Analyst with the Oregon Department of Human Services from 2001-02.
Chrisinger holds a Master of Science in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a Master of Social Research Methods in Social Policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a BS in mathematics from Willamette University.
Publications & Links
Lily Hsueh
Lily Hsueh
Master of Science, University College London, 2001
Contact Information:
Parrington Hall, Room 405
lhsueh@u.washington.edu
206.616.5204
Areas of specialization:
Environmental Policy, International Development, Global Governance
Lily Hsueh started the Evans School Ph.D. in Public Policy and Management program in 2007. Her research interests include using mixed methods to understand diverse processes of environmental and development policymaking and governance.
In addition to her doctoral studies, Hsueh serves as a predoctoral research associate for the Evans School and as a graduate student affiliate at The Water Center. Prior to her doctoral studies, Hsueh served as a senior analyst for the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. She also served as a research associate for both the U.S. Department of Justice and the Congressional Budget Office. Outside of her professional experiences, Hsueh has served as a founding member, board member, and campaign coordinator for international environmental NGOs.
Hsueh decided to pursue a Ph.D. because she believed it was necessary to further her training in interdisciplinary social sciences at the doctoral level for reaching her goal of contributing to research and policy analysis at the intersection of economics, politics, and the environment. Her career goals include either working in academia or at a research institution in the public sector.
On why she chose the Evans School, she said, “The Evans School at the University of Washington is an excellent place to develop and hone my analytical and research skills as well as gain substantive knowledge in a wide array of policy areas. The Evans School faculty is interested in tackling complex problems with both academic rigor and consideration for real world relevance.”
Hsueh is the recipient of a Graduate Fellowship from the Evans School of Public Affairs and the California Alumni Scholarship from the University of California, Berkeley.
Hsueh holds a Master of Science in Economics from the University College London, and a BA in economics and environmental economics and policy from the University of California, Berkeley.
Publications
“Trends in Bay Area IT Employment” for the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco’s FRBSF Economic Letter, Number 2007-23, August 3, 2007
“Recession in the West: Not a Rerun of 1990-1991” with Mary Daly for the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco’s FRBSF Economic Letter, Number 2002-06, March 8, 2002
Travis William Reynolds
Travis William Reynolds
Master of Science, University of Vermont, 2007
Contact Information:
Parrington Hall, Room 405
twreynol@u.washington.edu
802.363.3074
Areas of specialization:
International Development: Agro-Forestry; Carbon Sequestration
Travis William Reynolds started the Evans School Ph.D. in Public Policy and Management program in 2007. His research interests include international development, agro-forestry, and carbon sequestration.
Prior to starting his doctoral studies at the Evans School, Reynolds worked as a research and teaching assistant from 2005-06 at the University of Vermont. He also served as an agro-forestry volunteer in 2004 for the U.S. Peace Corps in Gurel Ablay Diaw, Senegal, and assistant logistics coordinator in 2000 for TimorAid in Dili, East Timor.
Reynolds decided to pursue a Ph.D. so he can work in management positions of prominent international development agencies such as the United Nations Development Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, or the World Bank. He hopes to coordinate or otherwise participate in small-scale, community-driven reforestation efforts in sub-Saharan Africa that are at least partially funded through international payments for carbon sequestration.
On why Reynolds chose the Evans School, he said, “The program houses an extraordinary faculty, with interests in international development and natural resources management that is very compatible with my own education and career goals. The program is also small enough that you can actually get the faculty’s attention; they are here to help you succeed, not drum you out. Funding opportunities were also an important consideration. Plus Seattle’s not a bad place to live.”
Reynolds is the recipient of several university awards and fellowships, which include: the 2007 North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching, a 2005-07 U.S. Peace Corps Fellowship, and 2005 University Fellowship from the University of Vermont. He was also inducted into Phi Beta Kappa at Brown University in 2001.
Reynolds holds a Master of Science in Community Development and Applied Economics from the University of Vermont, and a BA in international relations and French civilization from Brown University.
Curriculum Vitae (125 KB PDF)
Publications
“Energy Efficiency in Small Island States: Overcoming the ‘Island Factor’ in Saint Lucia” with B Murray, T DeSisto, and J Kolodinsky for the International Journal of Consumer Studies; 31(5):460-467; 2007
“Investing in Human and Natural Capital: An Alternative Paradigm for Sustainable Development in Awassa, Ethiopia” with Candice Huber and Joshua Farley of the University of Vermont for Ecological Economics; accepted with minor revisions - March 2008
Investing in Human and Natural Capital: An Alternative Paradigm for Sustainable Development for the 4th Biennial Conference of the United States Society for Ecological Economics at Pace University, New York, July 2007
Insights into the Equitable Financing of Watershed Projects with C Kerchner and presented by Dr. Joshua Farley to the US Environmental Protection Association, Washington, DC, March 2006
“Knowledge of Current Dietary Guidelines and Food Choice of College Students: Better Eaters Have Higher Knowledge of Dietary Guidance” with J Kolodinsky, JR Harvey-Berino, L Berlin, and R Johnson for the Journal of the American Dietetic Association; 107(8):1409-1413; 2007
“Gender and Cultural Differences in the Acceptance of Functional Foods: A Comparison of American, Canadian and French College Students” with J Kolodinsky, J Labrecque, M Doyon, F Oble, F Bellavance, and M Marquis for the Journal of American College Health, February 2007