Doctor of Philosophy (Social Policy)

On successful completion of this programme, graduates are expected to be able to:

1. Critically evaluate issues, actors, practices, and processes relevant to social policy formulation, implementation and administration in Pacific Island societies and cultures by applying the principles, theories, and concepts of social policy, development, and administration.
2. Develop concrete, evidence-based, theory-based, and contextualised ideas on how social policy(ies) specific to a given area of social inequality can be improved.
3. Design and conduct social policy in an autonomous and independent manner, employing relevant methodologies and methods that are informed by ethical, theoretical, decolonial and reflexive considerations, to critically analyse social issues, practices, and policies.
4. Produce a consistent, comprehensive, and original piece of academic research in social policy that contributes new knowledge to the discipline.
5. Critically evaluate responses to poverty, inequality, social displacement, and other social development challenges in Pacific Island societies utilising theories of development, social policy, and social movements.
6. Articulate complex social policy ideas and research effectively through research presentations and publications for a scholarly audience, using appropriate media, disciplinary terminology, and conventions.