PhD Program

The PhD program in the Department of Public Administration and Policy is a full-time, cohort-based degree that prepares students for careers in research and teaching. From the first day of orientation to the final dissertation defense, each student works one-on-one with a faculty mentor to develop the skills needed for a career in academia. By the time they graduate, virtually all of our students have presented their research at key conferences and published their work in peer-reviewed academic journals.

Our philosophy is that doctoral education should be about much more than coursework. Our program provides a comprehensive, multifaceted introduction to the research enterprise and what it means to be a scholar in public administration and public policy. The following are illustrative of the opportunities available to our students:

• Research assistantships that provide one-on-one interaction with faculty
• Weekly research seminars
• The annual Charles H. Levine Memorial Lecture and PhD Student Research Award
• Professional development workshops on publishing, grant-writing, and the job search
• University-wide teaching development opportunities, such as the Greenberg Seminars for Effective Teaching and Ann Ferren Teaching Conference
• For advanced students, the opportunity to teach an undergraduate course in public administration or public policy
• Funding for students to present their research at key professional meetings

We invite you to learn more about our programs by browsing the website, and we hope that you will get in touch with us if you would like to know more.