PhD Public Administration & Policy
Produce methodologically sound, socially relevant research that makes important contributions to knowledge and theory.
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SPA: Graduate Admissions
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Washington, DC 20016
United States
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:
Course Requirements
Public Administration Track |
Public Policy Track |
|---|---|
|
Major: Public Administration (4 courses) Minor: Public Policy (2 courses) Ìý Electives (2 courses) Research Methods (4 courses) Colloquium (4 semesters, zero-credit) |
Major: Public Policy (4 courses) Minor: Public Administration (2 courses) Electives (2 courses) Research Methods (4 courses) Colloquium (4 semesters, zero-credit) |
Comprehensive Exams |
Comprehensive Exams |
|
|
Sample Course Timeline - Public Administration Track
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.
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) |
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
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.
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 |
| 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) |
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.