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Academic Catalog 2023-2024

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Law and Policy, DLP

2023-2024 Edition

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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. 

Complete all courses and requirements listed below unless otherwise indicated.

Required Courses

Course List
Code Title Hours
LWP 6118Historical Foundations of American Law3
LWP 6119Current Law and Policy Debates: Our Nation’s Capital and Beyond3
LWP 6120Law and Legal Reasoning 13
LWP 6401Law and Policy Concepts 1: The Policymaking Process3
LWP 6424Research Methods3
LWP 6121Law and Legal Reasoning 23
LWP 6402Law and Policy Concepts 2: Strategizing for Public Policy3
LWP 6423Qualitative Methods3
LWP 6122Law and Legal Reasoning 33
LWP 6403Law and Policy Concepts 3: Policy Case Studies3
LWP 6420Quantitative Methods3
LWP 6123Law and Legal Reasoning 43
LWP 6410Economics for Policy Analysis3
LWP 6404Evaluation Research3
LWP 6431Political and Moral Ethics and Dilemmas3
LWP 6500Doctoral Research Design 13
LWP 6450Public Policy Theory and Practice 13
LWP 6501Doctoral Research Design 23
LWP 6451Public Policy Theory and Practice 23
LWP 6502Doctoral Research Design 33
LWP 6452Public Policy Theory and Practice 33
LWP 6503Doctoral Research Design 46

Program Credit/GPA Requirements

69 total quarter hours required
Minimum 3.000 GPA required

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