Law and Policy, DLP

Public servants, executives, and managers operate in an increasingly complex global environment. A doctoral education seeks to provide the policy, analytic, and research skills necessary to advance one’s career.

Developed jointly by the College of Professional Studies and Northeastern’s Public Policy program, the Doctor of Law and Policy program (DLP) is designed for experienced professionals who are interested in the origins, development, implementation, and analysis of legal and public policy decisions in government and related institutions. The program prepares students to advance their careers within a variety of fields while focusing their thesis research on a precise law and policy topic.

Students undertake the DLP in order to understand the ways in which public and related institutions formulate and execute policy. Students have the opportunity to develop the ability to interpret and assess the research of others, to acquire skills as researchers, and to communicate their knowledge to a wide range of audiences. Those who successfully complete the degree are equipped to bring their skills and knowledge to senior policy and management positions in government, nonprofit agencies, research organizations, consulting firms, and corporations.

The DLP program is structured so course work and the doctoral thesis can be completed in two years. Classes meet one weekend per month in Boston, and the learning continues online throughout the rest of the month.

Northeastern University also offers a traditional PhD in Public Policy. To learn more, visit the Public Policy program website. 

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• Concentrations and course offerings may vary by campus and/or by program modality.  Please consult with your advisor or admissions coach for the course availability each term at your campus or within your program modality. 
• Certain options within the program may be required at certain campuses or for certain program modalities.  Please consult with your advisor or admissions coach for requirements at your campus or for your program modality. 

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Complete all courses and requirements listed below unless otherwise indicated.

Required Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
LWP 6118	Historical Foundations of American Law	3
LWP 6119	Current Law and Policy Debates: Our Nation’s Capital and Beyond	3
LWP 6120	Law and Legal Reasoning 1: Legal Reasoning, Methods, and Research	3
LWP 6401	The Policymaking Process	3
LWP 6424	Research Methods	3
LWP 6121	Law and Legal Reasoning 2	3
LWP 6402	Law and Policy Concepts 2: Strategizing for Public Policy	3
LWP 6423	Qualitative Methods	3
LWP 6122	Law and Legal Reasoning 3	3
LWP 6403	Law and Policy Concepts 3: Policy Case Studies	3
LWP 6420	Quantitative Methods	3
LWP 6123	Law and Legal Reasoning 4	3
LWP 6410	Economics for Policy Analysis	3
LWP 6404	Evaluation Research	3
LWP 6431	Political and Moral Ethics and Dilemmas	3
LWP 6500	Doctoral Research Design 1	3
LWP 6450	Public Policy Theory and Practice 1	3
LWP 6501	Doctoral Research Design 2	3
LWP 6451	Public Policy Theory and Practice 2	3
LWP 6502	Doctoral Research Design 3	3
LWP 6452	Public Policy Theory and Practice 3	3
LWP 6503	Doctoral Research Design 4	6

Program Credit/GPA Requirements

69 total quarter hours required
Minimum 3.000 GPA required