Advisor:
Matthew Mingus,
Room 220E, Walwood Hall

The mission of the Doctor of Philosophy in Public Administration program is to give students a deep and pervasive knowledge of the history, theory, practice, and future of the field. The program is designed to encourage broad intellectual inquiry with a scholarly perspective. The curriculum incorporates a diversity of viewpoints, gathered from readings in the great books of the discipline, examination of the contributions of its seminal thinkers, an analysis of the institutions and processes of governance, exploration of emerging theories and trends, and an investigation of the challenges of public management in a democracy. Integral to the program is the development and refinement of the skills to conduct both qualitative and quantitative research, practice in statistical and quantitative analysis, and experience with applied skills of leadership and ethical decision-making.

The doctoral program is designed both for those who have experience in a supervisory or administrative position with a federal, state, or local government or nonprofit agency and for those wishing to teach public administration in a college or university setting. The program is structured to provide decision makers and future professors with a more sophisticated understanding of the governing process.

Completion of the degree will provide doctoral graduates with the background to perform independent research on theoretical public administration concerns and substantive issues, to analyze a wider range of alternative policies, and to weigh competing choices in the decision-making process.

Students are admitted into the doctoral program in odd-numbered years, and begin classes in the Fall semester. Each cohort moves through its sequence of courses and comprehensive examination together.

Admission Requirements

1. Master’s degree in public administration or related area.
2. At least four years of experience in a supervisory or administrative position.
3. One academic reference and two letters of recommendation from persons acquainted with the applicant’s professional work.
4. Completion of the Departmental Application that requires responding to several essay questions.
5. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores for the quantitative, verbal, and analytical parts of the examination.
6. An interview with members of the School’s faculty.