PhD in Public Policy and Management
Prepare for university careers in teaching and research, and for senior-level research roles in government, consulting and nonprofit organizations.
The Glenn College’s selective, research-oriented doctoral program provides a foundation for careers in multidisciplinary research environments and advanced knowledge in fields specific to your interests.
Program Highlights
Our doctoral alumni hold positions in some of the top public affairs programs in the country. Recent placements include:
- Faculty positions at Arizona State University, Florida International University, Louisiana State University, University of Kansas and Virginia Tech
- Research positions at Washington University in St. Louis and Johns Hopkins University/NIST
- Government positions in the Department of Homeland Security and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Specialization and Research Areas
The Glenn College includes a core faculty, many with experience in government or private research organizations, who cover a wide range of academic disciplines, professional fields and public policy areas. Your research interests may align with one or more of our faculty members.
- Energy and environmental policy
- Education and workforce policy
- Food policy
- Housing policy
- Health policy
- Information technology policy
- Management science
- Nonprofit management
- Public sector economics
- Public finance
Take advantage of the breadth and depth of expertise at The Ohio State University. Our doctoral students have access to numerous research centers and initiatives to collaborate on funded research projects, access data and resources, attend seminars, and collaborate with faculty and students from other departments.
Application Requirements
Application Deadlines:
Domestic students: Dec. 1
International students: Nov. 1
The status will first become available two to three days after your application is received. Visit appstatus.osu.edu to check the status of your application during the admissions process.
Applicants previously enrolled in other graduate programs at Ohio State do not need to submit an online application. Contact GlennApply@osu.edu for more information.
Application Fee:
- $60 for domestic applicants
- $70 for international applicants
- This fee is nonrefundable
Application Fee Waivers (U.S. applicants only)
If you feel you qualify for an application fee waiver based on your participation in any of the diversity initiatives through the Graduate School Program or Ohio State’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion, or if you feel you qualify because of economic hardship, please select the appropriate box(es) under the application fee waiver section of the online application.
- You must submit proof in order to qualify for an application fee waiver.
- Qualifying criteria are listed at admissions.osu.edu/apps/pdfs/pfwf.pdf.
- You cannot submit your online application until your application fee waiver request is approved or your application fee is paid. You will be notified if your application fee waiver request is not approved, at which time you should return to the online application and submit the application fee.
Indicate your academic and career goals, your interest in the John Glenn College of Public Affairs, and how your education and work experience qualify you for admission. Most personal statements are two to five single-spaced pages.
*If you are an internal transfer student who started an Ohio State degree that you do not plan to complete before entering the Glenn College, please describe why you do not plan to complete your current degree (e.g., unable to pass qualifying exams, change in research interests), and why you think that the Glenn College is a better fit.
Resume or CV: Be sure to include work experience, volunteer activities, academics and professional honors, honorary societies, extracurricular activities, offices held, any publications and other significant activities.
Three letters of recommendation are required and should reflect the academic and, if relevant, job capability and experiences of the applicant. The letters should speak to the applicant’s ability to excel in an academic professional program.
Requirements:
- Letters must be submitted electronically using the online application (select “Public Policy and Management”).
- While completing your online application, please provide your recommender’s name and email address. The Office of Graduate & Professional Admissions will send an email to the recommenders instructing them to complete a short assessment and upload a PDF recommendation letter.
- Inform your letter writers that they will receive an email from Ohio State once you submit the online application. It is the responsibility of the applicant to make sure letters of recommendation are completed by posted deadlines.
- If recommenders experience difficulties accessing the link or using the online system, please contact the Office of Graduate & Professional Admissions directly at gpadmissions@osu.edu.
- Letters of recommendation sent directly to the Glenn College will not be accepted.
Upload transcripts from ALL of the universities and colleges you attended with your online application as an attachment.
- Transcripts are required, even if classes transferred to another institution, if you attended during high school or completed through a study abroad program.
- Transcripts are not required for coursework completed at Ohio State.
- Submit copies (front and back) of official transcripts. Please submit only scanned images of paper official transcripts issued by your institution’s registrar. Ohio State will not accept web reports, advising reports, self-reported scores or transfer credit on another school’s transcript.
Transcripts submitted with the online application are considered unofficial and, if admitted, you will be required to submit an official set of transcripts with statement of degree (if appropriate) prior to enrolling at Ohio State.
The GRE is optional for all PhD applications unless the applicant’s GPA for the last degree earned is less than 3.0.
GMAT and LSAT scores will be accepted on a case-by-case basis.
Official GRE and GMAT Codes:
- GRE Institution Code: 1592; Department Code: 2204
- GMAT Program Code: ZLJ-GT-29 Master in Public Policy
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
- A minimum score of 100 is preferred on the Internet Based TOEFL
- This requirement applies to applicants from a country where the first language is not English, unless a degree was earned from an English-speaking institution
- Additional TOEFL information and minimum university score requirements may be found online
All Glenn College doctoral students are fully funded (including tuition, stipend, and healthcare benefits) for at least four years. Stipends and healthcare benefits are competitive with those of other top schools of public affairs.
All applicants are considered for university fellowships that provide full funding (including tuition, stipend, and healthcare benefits) with no work requirements. These are typically awarded for students’ first year in the program, but some students receive them for multiple years.
The most common forms of financial aid are Graduate Associate (GA) positions. Students work as teaching or research assistants in return for full funding (including tuition, stipend, and healthcare benefits). These are also great opportunities to develop research and teaching skills.
We consider all students for fellowships and positions as teaching and research associates as part of the application review process. Applicants need not secure funding prior to submitting an application.
In addition to merit-based financial assistance through the Glenn College, students may also be eligible for loans, university‐wide scholarships and other forms of financial aid. For more information, please contact the Ohio State Financial Aid Office or call them at 614-292‐0300 regarding these matters.
Click here for financial aid and funding information provided by the Graduate School at Ohio State.