►  Graduate School Rules  apply to this program

Program Director: Peter deLeon, PhD 

The School of Public Affairs offers a program of advanced graduate study leading to the doctor of philosophy in public affairs. The program, based on the Downtown Campus, permits elective work to be taken on any campus of the university if it is part of the approved program of study or degree plan.

The doctoral program was developed to meet the need for people with mastery in the scholarly theory, concepts and research skills of public administration, public policy and public management, and who are able to use such skills in careers of research, teaching and analysis of public-sector challenges. The PhD is designed to prepare students for leadership responsibilities in academia, research and public policy analysis. Accordingly, the PhD stresses the development of theoretical, conceptual and methodological knowledge in public administration, policy and management.

Participants

The doctoral program is primarily designed to serve (1) people who desire to further the field of public policy and public and nonprofit management through teaching and research; (2) scholar-practitioners working in government, private-sector organizations concerned with government and nonprofit organizations; and (3) policy analysts in government, private-sector organizations concerned with government and nonprofit organizations.

Time Required for PhD Degree

The PhD program requires an intense commitment. Most courses and seminars are offered during the late afternoon, in the evenings or on an intensive basis. (Some electives are offered online, but core courses are not.) Anyone starting the PhD program with a master’s degree in public administration can expect to take at least three but no more than eight years to complete all of the requirements for the PhD.

Students are required to enroll for a minimum of 6 semester hours of course work each fall and spring semester. All requirements for the PhD degree should be completed within eight years of admittance. Any student entering the program with no prior graduate work in public administration, public policy or management should expect additional course requirements.

PhD Admission Requirements

Admission to the program is based on the personal and professional qualifications of the applicant. It is desirable that an applicant have a master’s degree in public administration or a closely related field before undertaking doctoral work. Applicants should have a 3.5 GPA or above in master-level course work, as well as a combined score of 1,000 or better on the quantitative and verbal sections of the GRE. Successful applicants will also show the potential for productive careers of scholarship, research and analysis.

Meeting the minimum thresholds listed above does not assure admission. In unusual cases, students who fail to meet the thresholds may be admitted if high academic skills are demonstrated in other ways.

PhD Application Process

Applicants must submit the following items to the SPA office before they can be formally considered for admission. The application deadline is February 1; admitted students will begin in the fall semester.

• application forms
• official transcripts (two copies) from all degree granting institutions
• GRE scores (no more than three years old)
• a resume or vita
• three letters of recommendation from colleagues and previous professors, focusing on the potential for deriving benefit from the PhD program
• a 500–1,000 word statement of educational and career goals, focusing on research interests

In addition, students may also submit samples of research reports or publications. All application materials will be retained by SPA and will not be returned. A personal meeting with the PhD director or other faculty member is recommended.

Financial Assistance

For excellent candidates, SPA will fund a small number of doctoral research assistantships each year based on financial availability. Students selected will receive a full-tuition waiver as well as a stipend of $15,000 for the academic year. Our goal is to provide such funding for students for at least three years.