However, requirements for graduation for students admitted to the joint program are only 30 hours in policy sciences courses and 75 hours in law school courses. Each student's schedule must be approved by the adviser for the joint program at the law school and by an adviser designated by the Policy Sciences graduate program. However, in order to pass the existing policy sciences examination process, it is unlikely more than 12 to 15 credits would actually transfer. The objective is to provide students with a broad understanding of the social, economic, and political forces that affect the policy-making process, and some basic analytical and administrative skills that can be applied to a wide variety of policy problems. The Ph.D. program serves a group of students who are carefully selected for their ability to pursue advanced studies in furtherance of careers in research or teaching, or in preparation for especially demanding positions in policy analysis, planning, and evaluation.
Most students are part-time and most courses are offered in the evening or on weekends.
The five graduate certificates are offered in theory and ethics of public policy, administrative practice, American public policy, health and public policy, and American education policy. Programs leading to both the J.D. and the Ph.D. degrees are offered by the University of Maryland Law School or the University of Baltimore Law School, and the Policy Sciences Graduate Program. Holders of both degrees may expect to find their training useful in positions that have relation to the policy-making process in federal, state, or local government, and in business and other nongovernmental organizations. D. program with the University of Baltimore. Program guides that describe the degree and certificate programs in detail are available from the Policy Sciences office.