STUDY AT THE INTERSECTION OF THEORY AND PRACTICE
“Our problem is not the lack of knowing; it is the lack of doing.” Senator Mark O. Hatfield
Public and nonprofit leaders across the world are facing increasingly “wicked problems” that require sophisticated policy and management solutions that draw from a range of expertise. The Ph.D. in Public Affairs and Policy, housed in the Mark O. Hatfield School of Government at Portland State University, is uniquely situated to meet this challenge. Drawing on and integrating theory and practice (praxis), our students gain critical insights into the conceptual frameworks that define systems of democratic governance and the wicked problems that plague them as well as the analytic skills to devise and implement collaborative, evidence-based solutions. Our graduates are well positioned for high impact careers in academia, the public sector, and civil society.
OUR UNIQUE PROGRAM
The Ph.D. in Public Affairs and Policy program is unique in that it is not just a public administration program or just a political science program or just a public policy program. It is all of these things and more.
It is framed around the concept of governance. Governance is about more than just government. It involves understanding how we can engage in collective decision-making for the common good in settings where there are a plurality of actors and do so effectively and with legitimacy.
It is interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary. The program is offered primarily through a collaboration between the Departments of Political Science and Public Administration, but faculty expertise are drawn from across the College of Urban and Public Affairs including Economics, Criminology and Criminal Justice, Urban Studies and Planning, and International and Global Studies.
It is community engaged. Portland State University’s motto is “Let knowledge serve the city.” Students and faculty in the Public Affairs and Policy Ph.D. program are well positioned to meet that charge with a strong focus on community-engaged learning opportunities across the curriculum and through applied dissertation research.
THE HATFIELD LEGACY
The mission and vision of Senator Mark O. Hatfield is reflected through the work of the students, faculty and staff of the Hatfield School of Government and in the Public Affairs and Policy Ph.D. program. The School and the doctoral program are shaped by three overarching values: (1) the importance of public service, (2) the pursuit of social justice, and (3) the quest for effective innovation in service delivery.
The faculty at the Mark O. Hatfield School of Government are world leaders in public management, public policy, and domestic and international politics. Most students draw broadly from faculty within the School and often from faculty in partner units such as Economics and Urban Studies and Planning. Portland, Oregon is one of the most livable and vibrant cities in the U.S. and provides a welcoming environment for students. Those working part-time or with families and professional spouses find the city an ideal location for the successful pursuit of the degree.
The program is designed to prepare doctoral students who want to pursue careers in research, teaching, public service, and/or consulting in a variety of settings, including academia, government, non-profits, and the private sector. Our graduates have gone on to prominent careers in government, public management, politics, policy advocacy, academia, non-profits, and civil society.