Public Policy PhD in Social Policy Online Policy Pioneers: Innovate Social Solutions
60
Credit Hours
100% online, 8-week courses
Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
Help Create Positive Cultural Change with Liberty University’s PhD in Public Policy – Social Policy
Are you a public policy professional seeking career advancement? Do you have a passion for helping your community work through complex cultural issues to create positive social change? With Liberty University’s 100% online Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Public Policy – Social Policy, you can prepare to shape social policy at the local, state, and national levels.
Help communities break out of cycles of hardship by learning to develop smart, practical policies that promote the welfare of citizens. Whether you want to conduct social policy research or help train up the next generation of social policy professionals, Liberty’s online PhD in Public Policy can help you develop the skills you need to make a positive impact through your career.
We’re committed to helping you become a leader of integrity — someone who models a biblical understanding of statesmanship while using effective strategies to analyze, develop, and promote social policy. Throughout this program, you’ll explore essential research methods and practical applications that can help equip you to make a real, lasting difference in our nation.
Upon graduation from our social policy PhD program, you could pursue top roles in academia, advocacy, or research. Partner with us and see how far your doctorate in social policy can take you.
Why Choose Liberty’s Online PhD in Social Policy Degree?
Liberty has been a pioneer in distance education since 1985. A lot has changed since then, but our commitment to Training Champions for Christ has not. We seek to develop Christ-centered leaders who can advocate for better, healthier communities and effectively engage with the most challenging cultural issues of our time.
At Liberty, you won’t just earn a degree — you can develop the knowledge, values, and skills essential for impacting the world. Our PhD in social policy is designed to help you make a greater impact on the legislative side of policymaking. And, because we are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), you can pursue your degree with confidence.
Each course within our public policy doctoral program is taught from a biblical worldview, so you can explore ethics and moral decision-making as they relate to public policy development. Additionally, our online doctorate in social policy is offered 100% online, giving you the flexibility to complete your courses from the comfort of your home. You can earn your degree without putting your life on hold and stay invested in your family, job, and community while furthering your education.
Liberty’s PhD in Public Policy courses are taught by professors who have years of experience working in policy, government, and legislation. With their guidance, you can hone your expertise and explore both the theoretical and practical side of policymaking. Our faculty are firmly rooted in the Christian faith and committed to teaching you best practices for developing effective social policies.
What Will You Study in Our Online Social Policy PhD Program?
The core courses in this degree cover a wide range of topics, including the foundations of statesmanship, natural law, the Constitution, federalism, and policy analysis. You’ll receive advanced training that can help you succeed as a senior leader in public service.
Healthcare, taxation, immigration, and international relations are all issues that affect communities across the country — and they can also be the underlying causes of many social concerns. Our social policy area of study is designed to help you understand the nuances of current trends in social policy and apply ethical solutions to critical policy challenges. You can also gain the skills needed to help educate future public policy leaders, researchers, and scholars.
Additionally, you’ll learn about conducting research within the context of public policy decision-making. Our program seeks to blend theory, biblical principles, and practical application so you can form a well-rounded approach to social policy. By completing a dissertation, you can conduct valuable research and contribute to the base of knowledge in your field.
Potential Career Opportunities
- Director of research
- Professor of political science
- Public interest/advocacy group leader
- Public policy evaluator
- Senior public policy analyst
- Social research scientist
- Social scientist
Featured Courses
Degree Information
- This program falls under the Helms School of Government.
- View the Graduate Government Course Guides (login required).
Degree Completion Plan (PDF)
Not sure what to choose?
Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.
Tuition & Aid
Your success is our success, which is why we are committed to providing quality academics at an affordable tuition rate. While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have frozen tuition rates for the majority of our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for the past 9 years – and counting.
Doctoral Full Time | $595/Credit |
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Doctoral Part Time | $650/Credit |
Eligible current and former military service members and their spouses may qualify for a special rate of $300/credit hour (learn more).
Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
All Tuition & Fees
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Admission Information for Liberty’s Online PhD in Social Policy
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
Liberty University Online Admissions Verification
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515
Ready to Apply?
Submit your application online or over the phone.
Military
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 $300/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.
Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can you do with a social policy degree?
Liberty University’s public policy PhD is designed to help you reach the pinnacle of your career through advanced training in research, theory, and social policy issues. You can become equipped to make a bigger impact on your community and better the lives of those around you. For instance, you could help develop policies that are designed to promote the welfare of a particular population. You could also pursue roles as an advocate, manager, analyst, researcher, or professor in the areas of public service and social policy.
Social policy vs. public policy — what’s the difference?
Social policy is a specialized area that falls within the larger field of public policy. While public policy can refer to any policy or directive from the government, social policy is mainly concerned with policy that affects people’s welfare. Social policy can affect areas like education, housing, healthcare, social security, family policy, criminal justice, and child protection.
Are there any specializations within this degree?
Explore the other areas of study within our PhD in Public Policy program and select the specialization that best matches your interests and career goals.
What are the scheduling options like?
Our PhD in social policy distance learning program is designed to help you fit your coursework into your busy schedule.
Will I have the opportunity to network with other students and professionals while pursuing this degree?
You’ll have the opportunity to network with leaders and experts in the field of social policy while pursuing your degree.
What resources will be available to me in this program?
As an online Liberty student, you can access a wealth of resources through our top-notch research portal.
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