doctor-public-administration

Degree Requirements and Learning Outcomes

The 48-credit DPA program requires:

  • 21 credits in core courses
  • 6 credits in advanced methodology
  • 9 credits in a field of specialization
  • 12 credits in public scholarship research.

 

Degree Requirements

  • These requirements apply to students entering this program in fall 2024 and thereafter. Students who enrolled earlier should consult the catalog in effect at the time they enrolled.
  • Read the course descriptions.
  • Prerequisite: The program director may conclude that you must complete master's-level coursework in some areas before moving on to doctoral-level study.
  • Program Assurance of Learning Goals 
  • Foundations of Public Administration (PUAD 810)
  • Strategic Management in the Public Sector (PUAD 811)
  • Seminar in Doctoral Research (PUAD 813)
  • Seminar in Policy Making and Implementation (PUAD 814)
  • Public-Sector Financial Analysis (PUAD 815)
  • Seminar in Program and Policy Evaluation (PUAD 817)
  • Doctoral Seminar in Organizational Theory (PUAD 824)
  • Case Study and Qualitative Methods (PUAD 831)
  • Quantitative Methods (PUAD 832)
    (You can replace this course with another course upon approval of the program director.)

Before enrolling in these courses, you must complete all 36 credits of coursework from core courses, advanced methodology and chosen specialization (see below).

  • Theory and Practice of Public Scholarship (PUAD 890)
  • Applied Public Scholarship (PUAD 895)
  • Doctoral Research (PUAD 899)

 

DPA Specializations

Customize your specialization to meet your career goals or select from one of our other specializations. Choose 9 credits.
This specialization is ideal for students who want to focus on a specific area of interest. You will meet with the program director to build your customized specialization coursework.

Choose three of the following courses:

  • Contemporary Corrections (CRJU 611)
  • Managing Police Organizations (CRJU 640)
  • Managing Correctional Organizations (CRJU 642)
  • Seminar in Criminal Justice (CRJU 703)
  • Criminal Justice Planning/Systems Applications (CRJU 711)
  • Seminar in Judicial Administration (CRJU 713)

Choose three of the following courses:

  • Understanding and Assessing Conflict (CNCM 506)
  • Terrorism and Counterterrorism (CNCM 710)
  • Ethnic and Cultural Factors in Conflict (CNCM 740)
  • International Development (GAHS 610)
  • Managing NGOs (GAHS 600)
  • New Approaches to Economic and Social Development (GAHS 605)

You must first complete the following required course, unless you have completed relevant coursework and/or have relevant professional experience.

  • Healthcare Delivery Systems (HSMG 750)

Then complete the following three required courses:

  • Health Insurance and Prepaid Health Care (HSMG 697)
  • Health Finance and Economics (HSMG 699)
  • Policy Issues in Health Care (HSMG 753)

Choose three of the following courses:

  • Public Administration and Public Finance (PUAD 701)
  • State and Local Personnel Management (PUAD 730)
  • Leadership and Organizational Change (PUAD 732)
  • Administrative Law and Regulation (PUAD 740)
  • Political Economy of Nonprofit Organizations (PUAD 777)
  • Public-Sector Performance Measurement (PUAD 785)
  • Advanced Public-Sector Management and Decision Techniques (PUAD 816)
  • Doctoral Seminar in Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations (PUAD 875)

Complete the following required courses:

  • Advanced Seminar in Evaluation: Theories and Techniques (PUAD 834)
  • Practicum in Program Evaluation (PUAD 835)

Choose another course from among the following:

  • Public-Sector Performance Measurement (PUAD 785)
  • Advanced Public-Sector Management and Decision Techniques (PUAD 816)
  • Survey Research (PUAD 830)
  • Economics, Public Policy and Corporate Social Responsibility (ECON 640)

Learning Outcomes

Assurance of Learning: Doctor of Public Administration

Mission Statement: The mission of the Doctor of Public Administration program is to prepare students with the analytical, conceptual and professional skills to succeed in three primary areas (1) senior managers in government and nonprofit organizations; (2) faculty members and researchers in academic settings; and (3) consultants in governmental and non-profit agencies to identify, analyze, recommend and implement solutions to problems of governance in the 21st century. This mission is achieved through coursework and apprenticeship opportunities with an active faculty engaged in research and service. Through this process students will become more committed to promoting the public interest while adhering to the highest standards of ethical conduct.

Students will be able to analyze current issues in governance in terms of the conceptual foundations and scholarship of public administration.

Students will be able to integrate understanding of the policy process, program development, program evaluation and fiscal analysis to improve the effectiveness of public policy and programs.

Students will be able to use acquired skills in research methods and qualitative and quantitative analysis to conduct original research that answers questions confronting public administrators and others in the public sphere.

Students will be able to act in support of the public interest while adhering to the highest ethical standards.