Prepare yourself for a research-oriented career involving the substantive and institutional aspects of public policy. The Ph.D. program at Harris Public Policy prepares students for careers in academia, industry, and government. It emphasizes a rigorous foundation in microeconomics, econometrics, and political economy, along with in-depth study of particular substantive areas associated with policy and policy-making. The program allows students to develop individualized and innovative courses of study in which they work closely with faculty members of the School and the University. Consistent with the highly quantitative and analytic nature of the Harris School's Ph.D. degree, Harris has categorized the degree under a code which is currently on the DHS STEM list. Students on F-1 visas who have earned a degree that has been designated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a STEM degree may be eligible to apply for a 24-month extension of their post-completion optional practical training (OPT) so long as they meet all eligibility criteria at the time of application. Ph.D. Program Requirements Get information about the curriculum and academic requirements for the Ph.D. in Public Policy Program. If you have questions about the Harris degree requirements, email the Harris Dean of Students Office at harrisdeanofstudents@uchicago.edu. Policies on the results of not meeting these requirements can be found on the Harris policies page. Ph.D. Candidates on the Job Market Meet the Ph.D. program’s current job market candidates. Ph.D. Placements See where our graduates go on to make an impact. Ph.D. Workshop Engage with our students' research. Political Economy Prospective students interested in political economy may also consider the Ph.D. program in political economy, which is joint between the Harris School and the Department of Political Science. Program Details Key Contacts Director of Graduate Studies Steven Durlauf, Professor (sdurlauf@uchicago.edu) Durlauf's research spans many topics in microeconomics and macroeconomics. His most important substantive contributions involve the areas of poverty, inequality and economic growth. Much of his research has attempted to integrate sociological ideas into economic analysis. Associate Directors Yana Gallen, Assistant Professor (yana@uchicago.edu) Eyal Frank, Assistant Professor (eyalfrank@uchicago.edu) Dean of Students Kate Shannon Biddle (kbiddle@uchicago.edu) Harris Admissions Prospective students should contact Harris Admissions (harrisadmissions@uchicago.edu) and can learn more in an upcoming information session. Alumni profile "Here the Client is Truth" For Nancy Staudt, a Harris PhD was the key to deeper understanding of the law - and a great career move. Start making a difference today. Request Info Recent News More news Alumni Profile: Daisuke Kageyama, MPP'23 Thu., June 26, 2025 Inside the Machinery of Misinformation: Konstantin Sonin Explores How Authoritarian Regimes Manipulate Minds Wed., June 25, 2025 Rohen Shah, PhD’25, Receives Horowitz Foundation Award for Education Research Tue., June 24, 2025 Upcoming Events More events Harris Alumni and Admitted Students Summer Send-off Brunch in Seoul Sat., June 28, 2025 | 11:30 AM AL NUOVO 83, Wausan-Ro 29GA-Gil Mapo-gu Seoul 04054 South Korea Harris Public Policy Coffee Chat in Seoul Sun., June 29, 2025 | 10:00 AM Starbucks Euljiro 4(sa)-ga Station 170 Eulji-ro Jung-gu Seoul 04548 South Korea Harris Summer Campus Visit Mon., June 30, 2025 | 10:00 AM Harris School of Public Policy 1307 E 60th St Chicago, IL 60637 United States