PhD in Law and Policy at Northeastern University

Northeastern University

United States of America, Boston

University Rank:#384

Northeastern University offers the PhD of Law and Policy as a full-time degree delivered hybrid at its Boston and Seattle campuses in United States of America. Taught in English and completed over 2 years, the program equips students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills required for law and policy and related professional fields. The next available intake begins on January 1, 2027.

About PhD in Law and Policy

Northeastern's Doctor of Law and Policy Program empowers leaders working in government, for-profit, and nonprofit sectors to advance in their careers with a deeper understanding of public policy. Our Doctor of Law and Policy engages students in advanced coursework that develops legal reasoning, research, and policy analysis skills. By examining the intersection of three key themes—law, research, and policy—within their professional fields, the program prepares leaders to tackle practical challenges with a multidisciplinary approach.

Through the program, you will complete a doctoral thesis that examines a compelling policy change. Graduates establish themselves as an expert on a topic in an area they would like to make a shift or see a change, to help solve new and emerging issues or explore an area they are passionate about.

The Doctor of Law and Policy program offers two different learning formats based on professional experience and need for flexibility: the Doctor of Law and Policy–Executive Program format with residencies taking place every other month in Boston, and the more flexible Doctor of Law and Policy Program format with quarterly residencies in Seattle. In both programs, the majority of coursework takes place online.

Dr. Kim Larson has left the university as of 9/15/2021.

More Details

Unique Features

Complete your doctorate in as little as two years through our Executive DLP format with residencies in Boston. You can also enroll in our more flexible program format with residencies in Seattle to earn your degree in 3-6 years.
Advance your current career by learning the skills and knowledge needed to move into policy and management positions in government, nonprofit agencies, research organizations, consulting firms, and more.
Earn your doctorate online, with in-person residencies. Designed for working professionals, the DLP program combines the flexibility of online learning with immersive residences.
Network with your accomplished classmates, who are fellow driven individuals in a wide range of fields.
- Past students have come from all over the country and worked for a range of employers such as Amazon, the FDA, the Department of Justice, Harvard University and other higher education institutions, the U.S. State Department, and more.
Learn from faculty that are industry leaders. They are distinguished policymakers, foreign service officers, international consultants, international education consulting experts, and experts in development policy with considerable domestic and global experiences.
Cohort learning model allows students to cultivate a network of friends and colleagues from a multitude of industries, ages, and experiences.
Travel abroad with your cohort for an international intensive in London and domestically to Washington, D.C., to experience law and policy in a real-life, immersive experience.
- Past guest speakers have included Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Samuel Alito, and Clarence Thomas; Marty Baron, executive editor of the Washington Post; Mason Dunn, executive director of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition; Dr. Victor Dzau, president of the National Academy of Medicine, and more.

Program Objectives

Develop new leadership and strategic-thinking skills
Utilize law as a way to be a better policy maker and change agent
Interpret research and use it to further policy-related goals
Be able to negotiate with stakeholders in courts, legislatures, and agencies in the corporate and nonprofit environments

Graduates Share Their Story

View the video below to hear Doctor of Law and Policy graduates share why they chose the program, what they learned, and their area of focus.

What Program Format is Right for Me?

	Executive DLP	DLP
Location	Boston	Seattle
Length of program	2 years; 69 credits	3-6 years; 69 credits
Modality	Accelerated, cohort, hybrid model	More flexible, hybrid model
Classes per quarter	3 courses	1-2 courses
In-person intensive weekends	Meets every other month	Meets quarterly
Professional experience required	10 years	3 years (education accepted in lieu of professional experience)
Cost	$98,325	$67,482
Financial aid	Available	Available
Other differentiating factors	Includes registration, textbook purchase and distribution, and catering for all intensive weekends Intensive weekend in Washington, D.C. Intensive weekend in London, UK	N/A

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.

Complete your doctorate in as little as two years through our Executive DLP format with residencies in Boston. You can also enroll in our more flexible program format with residencies in Seattle to earn your degree in 3-6 years.
Advance your current career by learning the skills and knowledge needed to move into policy and management positions in government, nonprofit agencies, research organizations, consulting firms, and more.
Earn your doctorate online, with in-person residencies. Designed for working professionals, the DLP program combines the flexibility of online learning with immersive residences.
Network with your accomplished classmates, who are fellow driven individuals in a wide range of fields.
- Past students have come from all over the country and worked for a range of employers such as Amazon, the FDA, the Department of Justice, Harvard University and other higher education institutions, the U.S. State Department, and more.
Learn from faculty that are industry leaders. They are distinguished policymakers, foreign service officers, international consultants, international education consulting experts, and experts in development policy with considerable domestic and global experiences.
Cohort learning model allows students to cultivate a network of friends and colleagues from a multitude of industries, ages, and experiences.
Travel abroad with your cohort for an international intensive in London and domestically to Washington, D.C., to experience law and policy in a real-life, immersive experience.
- Past guest speakers have included Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Samuel Alito, and Clarence Thomas; Marty Baron, executive editor of the Washington Post; Mason Dunn, executive director of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition; Dr. Victor Dzau, president of the National Academy of Medicine, and more.

Requirements and Admission Criteria for PhD in Law and Policy at Northeastern University

Entry Requirements

Online application
Academic transcripts: Official undergraduate and graduate degree documentation
Professional resumé: Current resumé that displays job responsibilities, relevant experience, and education history
Academic recommendation: This letter should come from a former professor or mentor who can speak to your ability to succeed in an academic environment. The recommender should address your capacity to conduct research and write at the doctoral level. If you have been out of school for a long time or are no longer acquainted with your professors, you may ask someone who has evaluated you during a professional training seminar or workshop to compose this recommendation.
Two Professional Recommendations: One must be from your current supervisor; recommendations should not come from individuals who report to you. Recommenders are encouraged to identify specific examples that highlight your skills and abilities.
Admission Statement: Respond to both questions separately and stay within the prescribed word limits. The ability to demonstrate clear, succinct, well-reasoned writing is essential.
1. Discuss your career trajectory and your professional goals. How will earning this degree help you achieve those goals? (500 words)
2. Identify an important problem or issue related to your profession. Why do you want to explore and understand this problem or issue? Be sure to articulate how this problem or issue relates to law and policy. (500 words)
Interview: Applicants may be requested to participate in an interview as part of the admissions process. If this is determined, we will reach out to you directly.
Proof of English language proficiency: ONLY for students for whom English is not their primary language: English language proficiency guidelines
DLP Transfer Credit – Due to the cohort model of the Doctor of Law and Policy program, transfer credits from other institutions are not accepted.

English Requirements

PTEMin 76
IELTSMin 8
TOEFLMin 108

English Program Requirements

Northeastern students will be exposed to not only a rigorous academic environment but also a fast-paced experiential one. In order to be successful in both, all first-year and transfer applicants, regardless of citizenship, must demonstrate proficiency in English to be considered for admission to Northeastern.

Once your application is submitted, received, and processed, you will be able to access your Application Status Check. If you are required to provide further information regarding your proficiency in English, you will be able to complete the requirement in several ways, depending on your familiarity with English, and the frequency with which you use English each and every day:

Non-native English-speaking applicants will be required to submit official and valid results from one of the following English Language Tests:
- C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency (Cambridge English)
- Duolingo English Test (DET)
- IELTS Academic
- PTE Academic
- TOEFL Internt-based Test (CEEB Code: 3667) Northeastern will accept either the in-person version completed in a test center, or the TOEFL iBT Home Edition
However, based on your academic environment and the primary instructional language in either your high school or university, you may be eligible for a waiver. All waivers must be submitted through your Application Status Check. For additional information and to determine whether or not you are eligible for a waiver, please read the section below on waiving the English proficiency requirement.

Please note: Northeastern’s Admissions Committee reserves the right to request proof of English language proficiency from any applicant, regardless of citizenship or first language, at any time during the evaluation process.

Fee Information

Application Fee 75

How to Apply

1.Create your application
Submit your application through The Common Application or the Coalition Application (both are accepted). Once you have created your application, please select Northeastern University to directly submit your application to us. Application fee of $75 or need-based fee waiver* *Northeastern accepts need-based fee waivers from the Common Application, the Coalition Application, as well as organizations such as the College Board and ACT, or in a written request from a school official.
2.Submit all required materials
Double check to make sure that you have submitted all required materials. Even if your application has been submitted, we cannot begin reviewing your file until all of your required materials have been received. For applicants applying for the 2022-2023 academic year, Northeastern University is test-optional and does not require standardized testing to complete an application for admission.
3.Check your application status
Within seven days of applying, you should receive a confirmation email containing your Northeastern University ID number and instructions for setting up your Application Status Check account. To ensure all of the necessary documents have been submitted, and for updates or information about your application, visit your application status check.

PhD in Law and Policy at Northeastern University

Northeastern University

United States of America, Boston