About PRGS

PRGS is unique in American higher education. It was founded in 1970 as one of the original eight graduate programs in public policy analysis.

PRGS was the only program specializing in the Ph.D. It is also the only one based at a public policy research institute—the Santa Monica, California-based RAND Corporation—which invented many of the analytical tools of public policy analysis.

PRGS doctoral students take advanced courses in such fields as economics, statistics, political science, and the social sciences. They also work part-time as members of RAND's interdisciplinary research teams, which is how they earn their fellowships.

This combination of advanced course work and on-the-job training is unique. It's curriculum plus vitae. Students obtain the best research training in our classrooms, and they get to apply it to real problems with RAND mentors and real clients.

Facts about PRGS

• 300 Ph.D. graduates since establishment in 1970
• Ca 25 students enroll each year
• Ph.D. students are employees at RAND
• Students do not pay tuition for their Ph.D. (I think this is important to stress it (if it is really the case), because in Europe its different and many people have to look for a scholarship to fund Ph.D. research). 80% of first year students receive scholarships.
• MA is not a must. 30% of admitted students at PRGS do not have an advanced degree.
• Time to degree: 3-5 years
• 35% of student body is international
• 100% of employment of 2009-2012 grads in their field of choice (include list of organizations from the pres)
• Faculty to student ratio: 2:1
• PRGS at a glance: http://www.prgs.edu/about/at-a-glance.html

At PRGS students are engaged in research with interdisciplinary and analytic approach in all policy relevant areas:

• Economic Development
• Environment
• Energy
• Labor & Population
• Transportation
• Infrastructure
• Foreign Policy
• Water
• Education
• Health and Healthcare
• National Security
• Human Capital
• Management

PRGS graduates are sought-after by employers that value their quality of mind, intellectual ability, project experience, and unique ability to apply analytic tools and methodologies across a wide range of policy problems. Graduates pursue careers in academic and research institution settings, public service, and private industry.

100% employment of 2009-2012 grads in the field of their choice

• The World Bank
• The United Nations
• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Central Intelligence
• U.S. Department of State
• Department of Homeland and Security
• International Monetary Fund
• Harvard Center for Education
• Yale University
• Johns Hopkins University

Where are PRGS graduates employed?

• Government - 19%
• Non-Profit Organizations – 6%
• Academia – 33%
• Research Institutes – 26%
• Private Sector -16%