Ph.D. Program

Foundations

Foundations refer to the enduring theoretical issues and questions in the field; thus, on entering the academic job market, students can justifiably claim to be familiar with the core public administration “canon.”

PA doctoral students are required to take the following foundational courses:

• PUAD 932, Seminar in the Intellectual History of Public Administration,
• PUAD 930, Research Seminar in Public Administration and Democratic Theory,
• PUAD 931, Research Seminar in Public Administration and Management,
• PUAD 943, Constitutional Foundations of Public Administration or PUAD 949, Law, Courts and Public Policy.

Methods

The PA doctorate emphasizes skill development in research methods.

PA doctoral students are required to take the following methods courses:

• PUAD 934 Research Methods in Public Administration
• PUAD 935, Advanced Quantitative Methods in Public Administration.

PA doctoral students are encouraged to take the following methods courses:

• PUAD 937, Qualitative Methods in Public Administration
• PUAD 936 Policy Analysis and Evaluation

Specialization

Students also choose a primary area of specialization, consisting of at least three courses. The standard specializations are budgeting, public finance, human resources management, public policy analysis and evaluation, public values and ethics, organizations and organization theory, public law and administration, and urban policy/politics and community building.

Cognate

A student's cognate consists of a coherent series of courses outside the discipline of Public Administration.  In consultation with their academic advisor, students will craft cognates that are closely related to their areas of specialization and their research program.

Comprehensive written exams

Students who complete the required courses with a GPA of 3.0 or better may proceed to the preliminary written examinations. PA doctoral students are required to take two separate written exams: one covering foundations and the other their area of specialization.

Comprehensive oral exam and advancement to candidacy

Following the successful completion of the comprehensive written examinations, the student must satisfactorily complete a comprehensive oral examination and present a dissertation proposal in order to become a Ph.D. candidate. The oral exam involves comprehensive questioning across the intellectual field and a close review of the student’s dissertation idea.

Dissertation

Students complete and defend a dissertation which reports substantial original research in the field of Public Administration.

Teaching

SPAA doctoral students develop teaching knowledge and skills through serving as graduate teaching assistants, attending departmental teaching workshops, and utilizing campus resources such as the Center for Teaching Excellence and the Center for Online & Distance Learning.

Research

SPAA doctoral students develop research knowledge and skills through coursework, positions as graduate research assistants and departmental research workshops.