Research and Career Opportunities
Graduates of the program will have the capacity to conduct high level policy research that provides useful information to decision makers. And they will advance the body of knowledge about important policy concerns.
Graduates are expected to assume academic positions, research positions in public policy "think tanks" and other policy research organizations, or serve as high-ranking officials in government agencies.
An impressive array of University of North Carolina institutes and centers also extend research opportunities. These institutes, many having achieved national and international distinction, are rich resources for doctoral students.
Carolina Institute for Child and Family Policy
Coordinates university-wide programs on national and international population research.
Center for Community Capitalism
Through research, evaluation and technical assistance, the new Center for Community Capitalism is devoted to growing the economies of distressed communities and bringing their residents into the economic mainstream, through creative partnerships between the private and public sectors.
Center for Competitiveness and Employment Growth
Researches demographic, economic and political forces underlying competitiveness, productivity and job creation dynamics for private and public sectors.
Center for International Trade and Investment Promotion
Establishes joint ventures and other cooperative mechanisms between U.S. businesses and Central European firms seeking to privatize their enterprises. Provides guidance on the development and management practices in specific sectors, market opportunities, organizational structures and technology transfer.
Center for Urban and Regional Studies
Multidisciplinary research on urban issues and the process of urbanization such as new community development, housing market dynamics and national homeownership policies, models of urban growth, residential preferences, coastal zone management and planning for natural hazards.
Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise
Fosters mutual understanding among people working in business, academia and government to encourage cooperative efforts to strengthen private enterprise systems in the United States and worldwide.
Frank Porter Graham Child Development Center
Pursues research to create new knowledge to enhance the lives of children and their families.
Highway Safety Research Center
Research on prevention of collisions and injuries for state and local highway safety agencies.
Research and Education Provides highway and transportation engineering research and technology transfer to local, state and federal government agencies.
International Private Enterprise Development Research Center
Studies the role of private enterprise in economic development worldwide. Conducts applied research on the global business environment and analyzes policies related to private enterprise development.
North Carolina Center for Public Policy
Gathers, analyzes and disseminates information concerning North Carolina's institutions of government and recommends changes in government policies and practices.
North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center
Conducts research in areas of business development, agriculture and natural resources, human resources and infrastructure to stimulate economic growth and job creation in rural areas.
Odum Institute for Research in Social Science
Oldest institute in the United States for the cooperative study of problems in the general field of social sciences; maintains extensive survey and census archives.
Office of Economic Development
OED's mission is to apply the resources at UNC-CH to the problems of economic development, primarily within the State of North Carolina. Activities include: the Entrepreneurial State Project, the Workforce Dynamics Project, the Graduate Student Registry and Technical Assistance Proram, and the Fourth International Conference on Regional Science and Technology Policy.
Conducts applied research for governmental agencies and companies in social science, statistical, chemical, physical and engineering sciences. One of the nation's largest independent research institutes, RTI is strong in applied statistics and policy analysis in health care, environment, human resources and international economic development.
Provides teaching, research and consultation to North Carolina state and local government officials.
Southern Growth Policies Board
Creates strategies for sustaining economic development within Southern states and Puerto Rico by building public/private partnerships and focusing on the role of state government policies in education, technology, infrastructure, and the environment.
Water Resources Research Institute
Formulates research programs responsive to state water resources problems. Provides local, state and federal agencies with research to make better decisions in managing water resources.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has a distinguished tradition in public policy analysis. Our nationally and internationally recognized faculty cross department, program and school lines in pursuit of their policy interests. Many combine scholarship with valuable governmental experience. A strong nucleus in public policy education is formed at the undergraduate level (BA in Public Policy), at the master's level in policy-related graduate programs offered by the departments of City and Regional Planning, Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Public Administration, Health Policy and Administration, and in the schools of Education, Journalism and Mass Communication, Law, Business Administration, Social Work and Medicine.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the program will have the capacity to conduct high level policy research that provides useful information to decision makers. And they will advance the body of knowledge about important policy concerns. Graduates are expected to assume academic positions, research positions in public policy "think tanks" and other policy research organizations, or serve as high-ranking officials in government agencies.
