Public Policy and Administration (PhD)

Program Educational Goals:

Public Policy and Administration PhD Program

Mission

The doctoral program in public policy and administration is an interdisciplinary, research degree that prepares students to engage in rigorous scholarship that addresses the critical policy and administrative challenges of our times. We achieve this mission through providing a core substantive curriculum in the areas of public policy and public administration and management alongside methodological research training, and research and engagement opportunities with faculty and the research and public service centers in the Biden School.

Educational Goals

Graduates of the Public Policy and Administration PhD Program will be able to:

Demonstrate knowledge and mastery of public policy and public administration theories and scholarship.
Demonstrate an ability to synthesize theoretical perspectives and substantive content within and between the fields of public policy and public administration.
Demonstrate understanding of the application of public policy and administration theories and research methods in empirical research.
Demonstrate an ability to construct research questions and determine appropriate research design, data, and method for answering them in the fields of public policy and administration.

Program Policy Document:

Please see the Program Policy Document for more information.

Program Requirements:

The Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration requires 47 credits of graduate-level coursework beyond the Master’s degree including 9 credits of dissertation.

Foundation:

Students are expected to have taken a graduate level course in quantitative analysis/statistics, research methods, and public policy. If the student has not taken these courses, they may be required to complete foundational courses as preparation for doctoral-level study. These courses are required to be completed prior to enrollment in the core doctoral curriculum.

UAPP 691 - Quantitative Analysis in Public and Nonprofit Sectors Credit(s): 3 *Quantitative Analysis/Statistics (students who do not meet the basic knowledge level requirement).
UAPP 701 - Public Policymaking Credit(s): 3 *Public Policy (students who do not meet the basic knowledge level requirement)
UAPP 702 - Research Methods in Urban and Public Policy Credit(s): 3 *Research Methods (students who do not meet the basic knowledge level requirement).

Substantive Core:

18 credits.

SPPA 840 - Advanced Public Policy and Administration Credit(s): 3
UAPP 822 - Public Policy Theory Credit(s): 3
UAPP 830 - Public Administration Theory Credit(s): 3
Students are required to complete 3 additional doctoral-level courses in a substantive policy or administration area. (9 credits).

Professional Development:

2 credits. One credit is taken in both the fall and spring of the first year.

SPPA 861 - Academic and Professional Development for UAPP, DISA, ENEP Doctoral Students Credit(s): 0-1

Research Design:

SPPA 800 - Research Design and Data Analysis Credit(s): 3
UAPP 801 - Processes of Social Inquiry Credit(s): 3

Methods:

9 credits.

SPPA 704 - Advanced Quantitative Methods Credit(s): 3
SPPA 808 - Qualitative Research Methods Credit(s): 3
Advanced Quantitative or Qualitative Analysis Course (choose from list of approved courses in consultation with an advisor). (3 credits).

Dissertation Proposal:

3 credits:

SPPA 863 - Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Credit(s): 3

Dissertation: