Doctor of Public Policy | Foreign Policy

Credit Hours

100% online, 8-week courses

Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total

Next Start Dates: January 19, 2026 | February 16, 2026 | March 23, 2026

Become Equipped for Global Impact with Liberty University’s Online Doctorate in Public Policy – Foreign Policy

You may be a public policy professional looking to hone your expertise, or maybe you are aiming to transition into a new role in the field. Either way, Liberty’s Doctor of Public Policy (D.P.P.) – Foreign Policy is designed to help equip you with practical skills and advanced knowledge to navigate international policy in the public and private sectors.

We want to prioritize your goals, so our D.P.P. program maintains a flexible format while retaining high academic standards. Liberty’s D.P.P. in Foreign Policy is fully online, so you can pursue your doctorate while remaining active in other areas of your life. Additionally, our accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and our experienced, devoted faculty can help give you confidence that earning your degree at Liberty counts.

If you are interested in public policy in international settings and want to challenge, develop, and apply your knowledge, Liberty’s online public policy doctorate with an emphasis in foreign policy could be a valuable path toward pursuing your goals.

Your officially confirmed degree name will be Doctor of Public Policy (D.P.P.) – Foreign Policy.

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No Standardized Testing for Admission
Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree

Top 10 Reasons to Choose Liberty

Why Choose Liberty’s D.P.P. in Foreign Policy?

Our Doctor of Public Policy (D.P.P.) with a focus in foreign policy offers you the flexibility of a fully online program with no set login times. You can access coursework from anywhere with an internet connection, making our program a great choice if you’re a busy professional looking to advance your career while remaining present in your current responsibilities.

This degree focuses on applied knowledge, emphasizing real-world problem-solving over theoretical research. You will have the opportunity to develop practical skills that could be implemented across many positions in foreign public policy. Our experienced faculty bring both academic and professional expertise, offering guidance throughout your courses and your final capstone project to support your growth.

As part of a Christian university, our D.P.P. program takes a values-driven approach, integrating ethical perspectives that consider the moral and social implications of policy decisions. With a focus on practical application and ethical leadership, Liberty’s public policy doctorate with a focus in foreign policy can help you become equipped to make a meaningful impact on the international scene.

What Will You Study in Our Doctorate of Public Policy – Foreign Policy Online Degree?

Liberty’s D.P.P. in Foreign Policy can help you build a comprehensive foundation in public policy theory, principles, and application. You can explore governance and leadership, the founding era of the U.S. Constitution, contemporary challenges in constitutional order, and competing visions of statesmanship.

Courses on political actors, federalism, and intergovernmental relations can help you develop knowledge to navigate complex issues in public policy internationally. You will study foundational concepts of foreign policy, the intersection of foreign and domestic policymaking, and research methods in the field of foreign policy.

Because our program focuses on equipping you for research-based decision-making, courses in our D.P.P. in Foreign Policy online cover policy analysis, quantitative and qualitative research methods, and program evaluation. Within the final capstone courses, you will work under the mentorship of a faculty member to develop and propose real-world solutions to an issue in the field of foreign affairs and public policy.

Potential Career Opportunities

Diplomat
Foreign affairs analyst
Global development program director (non-governmental organization)
International policy advisor
International trade specialist
Lobbyist for international affairs
Multilateral organization policy consultant
Nonprofit advocacy director (international relations)
Public affairs specialist (embassy)
Think tank research director (foreign policy)

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Tuition & Aid

At Liberty University, a private Christian education is less expensive than you think. Over the last 10 years, Liberty University’s Online Program has only raised its standard tuition costs by less than 5% – and most of our online tuition rates rank in the top 35% for affordability for 2025 when compared to our leading online competitors.

Doctoral Full Time	$610/Credit
Doctoral Part Time	$675/Credit

Eligible current and former military service members and their spouses may qualify for a special rate of $375/credit hour (learn more).

These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

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Admission Information for Our Doctorate in Public Policy – Foreign Policy Online

Admission Requirements

Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9596.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A regionally or nationally accredited master’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA is required for admission in good standing.
Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.

Preliminary Acceptance

If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:

Be in your final term and planning to start your doctoral degree after the last day of class for your master’s degree.
Complete a Master’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
Submit an official transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show that you are within 6 credit hours of completion for a 30-48 credit hour master’s degree or within 9 credit hours of completion for a 49+ credit hour master’s degree.
Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new doctoral degree.

Transcript Policies

Official College Transcript Policy

An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.

Admissions Office Contact Information

Submit your application online or over the phone.

Start Online Application

Apply by phone: (800) 424-9595

Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.

Who May Qualify?

Active Duty
Reserve/National Guard
Veterans/Retirees
Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees

Military Tuition Discount

We want to help you find the doctoral degree you want – at a price you’ve earned. As a thank-you for your military service, Liberty University offers eligible current and former service members like you or your spouse multiple pathways to earn a doctoral degree for only $375/credit hour. Find out how you can take advantage of this unique opportunity as you work toward your goal of reaching the pinnacle of your profession – for less.

These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

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Frequently Asked Questions for Our Online Foreign Policy D.P.P. Degree

What is the difference between a D.P.P. and a PhD in Public Policy – Foreign Policy?

A Doctor of Public Policy (D.P.P.) and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Public Policy differ in the focus each assigns to research. Liberty’s D.P.P. is an applied public policy degree, so its purpose is to equip you with practical skills to make decisions in real-world situations in the sphere of public policy. Research skills are a part of this process, but the final goal is to equip public policy professionals to navigate and engage in real-world decision-making processes in public policy.

In contrast, Liberty’s online PhD in Public Policy – Foreign Policy degree is designed to help equip you to understand and propose theories in public policy. This degree is aimed at developing theoretical knowledge and exploration, helping you become a contributor to the research conversations that inform and support decisions of policymakers and those influencing policy decisions.

While the PhD in Public Policy is aimed at initiating you into conducting ethical, valuable research to push the field of public policy forward, the D.P.P. helps you practically prepare to enter positions and make decisions in public policy spheres.

What is the unique value of the foreign policy focus?

Among a variety of tracks you can choose from for the D.P.P., Liberty University provides a focus in foreign policy in order to equip future leaders with knowledge in international relations and skills in navigating foreign policy.

We understand that international factors heavily impact public policy in both private and public sectors. Whether you want to pursue a career in government agencies or international organizations, international knowledge and expertise are relevant skills for today’s increasingly globalized world.

Is an online doctorate in public policy – foreign policy credible?

At Liberty University, we apply the same criteria for high-quality academics to both our online and residential programs. That’s why when you earn a diploma from an online program at Liberty University, your degree doesn’t say “online.”

Our brick-and-mortar campus and our online platform hold the same accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). This means you can be assured your credentials with Liberty meet recognized, high-quality standards.

Liberty has been a pioneer in distance education since 1985. We have ample practice in offering a flexible, online format that provides excellence in instruction, mentoring, and application. Elements like extensive research instruction and a sequence of capstone courses where you can apply your studies to real-world issues are building blocks of our doctorate program in public policy and foreign policy.

What is the difference between studying foreign policy and international relations?

The terms “foreign policy” and “international relations” are sometimes used interchangeably, but our D.P.P. program specifically offers a focus in foreign policy to help equip you to navigate the arena of policy within international relations.

A doctorate in international relations online might take an approach to instruction that more broadly considers the relations and interactions between countries. In contrast, a doctorate in foreign policy aims to develop a foundational knowledge of public policy while building on that knowledge to specialize your understanding in foreign policy.

Government agencies and organizations need professionals who can help them navigate the many factors that influence and create public policy. Our D.P.P. in Foreign Policy is designed to help equip you for these kinds of positions.

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*Some restrictions may occur for this promotion to apply. This promotion also excludes active faculty and staff, military, non-degree-seeking, DGIA, Continuing Education, WSB, and certificate students.

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Doctor of Public Policy Online – Foreign Policy Navigate Global Challenges with Practical Insight

Become Equipped for Global Impact with Liberty University’s Online Doctorate in Public Policy – Foreign Policy

What Sets Us Apart?

Why Choose Liberty’s D.P.P. in Foreign Policy?

What Will You Study in Our Doctorate of Public Policy – Foreign Policy Online Degree?

Potential Career Opportunities

Featured Courses

Degree Information

Not sure what to choose?

Tuition & Aid

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Admission Information for Our Doctorate in Public Policy – Foreign Policy Online

Admission Requirements

Preliminary Acceptance

Transcript Policies

Admissions Office Contact Information

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Frequently Asked Questions for Our Online Foreign Policy D.P.P. Degree

What is the difference between a D.P.P. and a PhD in Public Policy – Foreign Policy?

What is the unique value of the foreign policy focus?

Is an online doctorate in public policy – foreign policy credible?

What is the difference between studying foreign policy and international relations?

Are you ready to change your future?

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