PhD Curriculum and Structure

The PhD requires 75 credit hours of graduate course work. Students entering the program with a bachelor's degree must complete the Foundations course work as specified bleow. Students entering the program with a related master's degree may move directly into the doctoral core course work. Up to 30 credit hours from a master's degree may be applied to the required credit hours.

Program structure:

I. Foundations (5 courses, 15 credit hours)

Foundations courses are required of students entering the PhD program without a related master's degree.

• PA 8150: Collaborative Governance
• PA 8160: Organizational Dynamics and Leadership
• PA 8170: Public Policy Processes and Strategies
• PA 8181: Research Methods & Inquiry in Public Affairs II
• PA 8190: Economic Analysis for Public Affairs

II. Doctoral core (5 courses, 15 credit hours)

• PA 9150: Governance and Public Affairs
• PA 9160: Organization Studies in Public Affairs
• PA 9170: Policy Theory
• PA 9182: Logics of Inquiry in Public Affairs
• PA 9183: Public Affairs Research and Professional Development Seminar

III. Methods (4 courses, 12 credit hours)

• PA 9180: Advanced Research Methods for Public Affairs I
• PA 9181: Advanced Research Methods for Public Affairs II
• Students may complete either two additional methods courses or one additional methods course and one additional specialization course.

IV. Specialization (21 credit hours)

V. Dissertation (12 credit hours)

Sample course schedule

This schedule assumes the student has completed the Foundations course work. Courses listed are for three credit hours unless specified.

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Students take the comprehensive exam on September 15. The re-take date is May 15.

Year 4

Year 5