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Degree Requirements

The following requirements must be satisfied to earn a doctoral degree (PhD) from the Department of Public Administration and Policy (DPAP):

  • 54 credit hours of coursework for students entering without a master’s degree, or 36 credit hours for students who enter with a master’s degree in a related field (not counting PUAD 899 colloquium zero-credit hours)
  • 4 semesters of PUAD 899 colloquium credit (zero-credit hours)
  • Defense of an original research paper (qualifier examination) between the first and second years of study (May 1 – September 30)
  • Completion of two written comprehensive examinations
  • Defense of a dissertation

Students will be admitted into one of these two tracks: public administration or public policy. Course requirements are as follows:

PhD in Public Administration

PhD Public Administration & Policy

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Degree Requirements

Public Administration Track

Public Policy Track

Major: Public Administration (4 courses)
PUAD 710: Proseminar in Public Administration
PUAD 714: Seminar in Organization Theory
PUAD 718: Seminar in Public Management
PUAD 732: Seminar in Policy Implementation

Minor: Public Policy (2 courses)
PUAD 730: Proseminar in Public Policy
PUAD 770: Economics for Policy Analysis

 

Electives (2 courses)

Research Methods (4 courses)
SPA 612: Conduct of Inquiry I
SPA 613: Conduct of Inquiry II
SPA 614: Conduct of Inquiry III (or, alternative)
SPA 615: Conduct of Inquiry IV (or, alternative)

Colloquium (4 semesters, zero-credit)
PUAD 089: Colloquium in Public Admin and Policy

Major: Public Policy (4 courses)
PUAD 730: Proseminar in Public Policy
PUAD 770: Economics for Policy Analysis
PUAD 771: Seminar in Public Finance & Human Capital
PUAD 732: Seminar in Policy Implementation

Minor: Public Administration (2 courses)
PUAD 710: Proseminar in Public Administration
and one of the following two courses:
PUAD 718: Seminar in Public Management or
PUAD 714: Seminar in Organization Theory

Electives (2 courses)

Research Methods (4 courses)
SPA 612: Conduct of Inquiry I
SPA 613: Conduct of Inquiry II
SPA 614: Conduct of Inquiry III (or, alternative)
SPA 615: Conduct of Inquiry IV (or, alternative)

Colloquium (4 semesters, zero-credit)
PUAD 089: Colloquium in Public Admin and Policy

Comprehensive Exams

Comprehensive Exams
  1. Public Administration Major Comp
    (4.5-hour exam, to answer 3 out of 5 questions)
  2. Public Policy Minor Comp
    (3-hour exam, to answer 2 out of 5 questions)
  1. Public Policy Major Comp
    (4.5-hour exam, to answer 3 out of 5 questions)
  2. Public Administration Minor Comp
    (3-hour exam, to answer 2 out of 5 questions)

Sample Course Timeline - Public Administration Track

The following timeline is based on a hypothetical student who enters the public
administration track for the PhD program with a master’s in the Fall of 2018.

Degree Requirements

Fall 2017

Spring 2018
SPA 612: Conduct of Inquiry I
PUAD 089: Colloquium in PA & Public Policy
PUAD 710: Proseminar in Public Administration
PUAD 730: Proseminar in Public Policy		 SPA 613: Conduct of Inquiry II
PUAD 089: Colloquium in PA & Public Policy
PUAD 718: Seminar in Public Management
__________: Elective Course
Summer 2018: Qualifier examination (between May 1 and Sep 30)

Fall 2018

Spring 2019
FSPA 614: Conduct of Inquiry III
PUAD 089: Colloquium in PA & Public Policy
PUAD 770: Economics for Policy Analysis
__________: Elective Course		 SPA 615: Conduct of Inquiry IV
PUAD 089: Colloquium in PA & Public Policy
PUAD 714: Seminar in Organization Theory
PUAD 732: Seminar in Policy Implementation
Summer 2019: Comprehensive exam in public administration, major field (mid-June)

Fall 2019

Spring 2020

Comprehensive exam in public policy, minor field (mid-September)
Work on dissertation proposal
Dissertation Committee gets approved

 Defend dissertation proposal (January-March)
Work on dissertation
Summer 2020: Work on dissertation and prepare materials for the job market

Fall 2020

Spring and early Summer 2021
Work on dissertation
Submit job applications and interview for jobs		 Work on dissertation
Defend dissertation
Attend Commencement Ceremony

Sample Course Timeline - Public Policy Track

The following timeline is based on a hypothetical student who enters the public
policy track for the PhD program with a master’s in the Fall of 2018.

Degree Requirements

Fall 2017

Spring 2018
SPA 612: Conduct of Inquiry I
PUAD 089: Colloquium in PA & Public Policy
PUAD 730: Proseminar in Public Policy
PUAD 770: Economics for Policy Analysis

SPA 613: Conduct of Inquiry II
PUAD 089: Colloquium in PA & Public Policy
PUAD 771: Seminar in Public Finance and Human Capital
PUAD 718: Seminar in Public Management
Summer 2018: Qualifier examination (between May 1 and Sep 30)

Fall 2018

Spring 2019
SPA 614: Conduct of Inquiry III
PUAD 089: Colloquium in PA & Public Policy
PUAD 710: Proseminar in Public Administration
__________: Elective Course		 SPA 615: Conduct of Inquiry IV
PUAD 089: Colloquium in PA & Public Policy
PUAD 732: Policy Implementation
__________: Elective Course
Summer 2019: Comprehensive exam in public administration, minor field (mid-June)

Fall 2019

Spring 2020

Comprehensive exam in public policy, major field (mid-September)
Work on dissertation proposal
Dissertation Committee gets approved

 Defend dissertation proposal (January-March)
Work on dissertation
Summer 2020: Work on dissertation and prepare materials for the job market

Fall 2020

Spring and early Summer 2021
Work on dissertation
Submit job applications and interview for jobs		 Work on dissertation
Defend dissertation
Attend Commencement Ceremony

Note: Students in the public policy track have a choice of either PUAD 714: Seminar in Organization Theory or PUAD 718: Seminar in Public Management as a part of their public administration minor. The timeline above shows the option that incorporates PUAD 718: Seminar in Public Management. However, students may instead choose to take PUAD 714: Seminar in Organization Theory (offered in Spring 2019) and take an elective in place of PUAD 718: Seminar in Public Management in Spring 2018. Ask your PhD Program Coordinator for a clarification, if needed.