Objective

To describe the methods used at a postgraduate level to teach and research public policies in Colombia.

Methods

Documentary analysis as part of a qualitative study. Among other things, a broad characterisation of authors, theoretical techniques employed, and areas of interest was accomplished in a first instance. Then, the main significants of the programmatic discourse were recognized based on the postgraduate curriculum from the universities from which the investigated thesis came.

Results

313 theses and 8 postgraduate programs in public policy analysis were studied. There is a clear preference for post-positivist mainstream approaches and problem-solving strategies; weak challenges to structural determinants of oppression, exclusion, and exploitation; and the preservation of dominant relationships in decision-making between political/administrative science researchers and subjects with other knowledge.

Conclusions

The research's findings challenge the discipline of Public Policy Analysis, its epistemological views, and its dominant study methodologies, as well as the analyst's role, encouraging the reader to consider the need for alternative critical approaches.