How to Get a PhD or DPA in Public Policy & Administration

Public policy and administration scholarship is dedicated to enhancing the efficiency of government institutions. Drawing on political science, law, and even business administration, public administration scholars investigate the forces that shape policy and bureaucracy in a democratic society. They use this insight to develop strategies for improving management and administration in the public sector.

Doctoral degrees in public administration prepare you to contribute to this mission, either as an academic scholar or public servant. Available as a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Doctor of Public Administration (DPA), this advanced degree equips you to research public administration issues, develop applied solutions to specific administrative problems, and share your expertise with the next generation of policy makers and government leaders.

This guide helps you lay the foundation for earning a PhD or DPA in Public Policy & Administration. Programs can take four to six years to complete, and require a great deal of discipline and focus. By researching your options and defining your goals at the outset, you can set yourself up for success.

A Guide to the PhD and DPA in Public Policy & Administration

Public administration emerged in the nineteenth century as a multidisciplinary field related to political science. Since then, public administration has evolved into a distinct academic discipline situated at the intersection of political science, administrative law, management, economics, and sociology. In recent decades, the field has shifted toward policy analysis, leading many schools to offer a combined public policy and administration doctorate.

PHD in Public Policy & Administration or DPA?

The PhD in Public Policy & Administration and Doctor of Public Administration are equal in rigor and curriculum, but not in emphasis. In theory, the PhD in Public Policy & Administration is the traditional academic doctorate and the DPA the professional practice doctorate degree. Both involve extensive training in research methods, but to different ends. The PhD in Public Policy & Administration program requires candidates to produce an original contribution to the field. The DPA dissertation, by contrast, applies existing theory to a real-world public administration problem.

In practice, the distinction between the two doctoral degrees is more diffuse. The National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration's report on the evolution of the DPA and PhD in Public Policy & Administration "finds few differences between the programs, noting that degree title is more informative about the type of students recruited than outputs." The PhD in Public Policy & Administration tends to attract students interested in academic careers, while the DPA attracts aspiring and mid-career government leaders, researchers, and policy makers.

Specializations

The interdisciplinary nature of the public policy & administration discipline ensures a broad spectrum of specialized research areas.

Public administration specializations include:

• Administrative law
• Public personnel administration
• Public financial administration
• Organization theory
• Urban and regional development
• Urban geography

Public policy areas include:

• Environmental policy
• Public health & social welfare
• Law enforcement

These are some standard examples of specializations. You may find that each PhD and DPA in Public Policy & Administration offers its own selection of courses and program areas, typically reflecting faculty research interests.

Career Opportunities in Public Policy and Administration

A doctorate degree in public policy or public administration may lead to either an academic career or a professional career in public service.

Academic careers focus on research and teaching roles. The most common path is a college or university professor position, which allows you to apply your expertise both in advanced scholarship and in training the next generation of public service leaders.

Professional careers include:

• Elected official
• Federal, state, or local government administrator (city manager, agency director, etc.)
• Budget analyst
• Government or private "think tank" researcher
• Policy analyst
• Nonprofit administrator
• Political or nonprofit consultant
• Hospital administrator

You can browse career options at the American Society for Public Administration's Public Service Careers resource site. To develop your own career goals, use the career planning and assessment tools available at WorldWideLearn.com's Career Pathways resource.

How to Apply for PhD and DPA Programs in Public Policy & Administration

Applying for a PhD or DPA in Public Policy & Administration amounts to a complex match-making exercise: the challenge is to find the perfect fit between your goals and the program that can help you achieve them. Your familiarity with doctorate degree options in public policy & administration can help you navigate this process.

Finding the right match takes both introspection and thorough research. This guide leads you through the school selection and application process step by step. You can find useful links to online resources along the way.

Find the Right Doctorate Degree Program

Public administration's main academic association, the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA), lists nearly three hundred programs in public administration and policy. With so many public policy & administration doctorate degree programs to choose from, the application process can seem overwhelming. The following resources and considerations can help you focus your search.

Step One: Develop a List of Accredited Programs

Online directories of accredited programs offer a valuable starting point. Accreditation is the baseline criteria for any PhD in Public Policy & Administration or DPA program. In addition to ensuring the quality of the program and the value of the degree, accreditation affects your access to federal financial aid programs. Independent accrediting agencies and academic associations perform regular evaluations of member institutions to validate program quality. The U.S. Department of Education maintains a database of approved accreditation agencies.

Resources

• National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) publishes an annual Roster of Accredited Programs.
• WorldWideLearn.com maintains a more focused selection of accredited campus-based and online PhD and DPA programs. The site validates accreditation status and other criteria, ensuring a high quality standard for its education partners. Learn more about the accreditation process or browse a list of university partners. Or proceed directly to the Degrees by Subject resource, which allows you to refine your search to your specific areas of interest.

Step Two: Campus-Based or Online PhD or DPA in Public Policy & Administration?

Identifying your preferred learning environment can help you make considerable progress in narrowing down your list of program options. Take into account your learning style, personal circumstances, and career goals in making this decision.

Online PhD or DPA programs offer a flexible, asynchronous learning format and a professional focus. The self-paced format is ideal for working professionals and independent learners. You can communicate and share ideas with professors and peers, many of whom are also actively engaged in public administration work. Online doctoral degree programs generally suit the DPA or more professionally-oriented PhD degrees, since the student's public administration job offers a readily accessible context for applied research.

Campus education is the preferred format for academic PhD programs. The importance of access to campus research facilities and faculty mentors argues for on-site access. Many online PhD programs in public administration substitute temporary residency requirements for full-time campus presence. But the optimal arrangement is a local program, which also offers support resources for an academic career path, such as apprentice-like teaching and research assistantships, conferences, and academic community events.

Resources

• WorldWideLearn.com features search resources for both online and campus doctoral programs. If you select a campus program, extend your search to degrees by location.

Step Three: Explore Academic Programs

The most important feature of program "fit" is the match between your interests and the program's particular areas of expertise and academic emphases. You should find a rich diversity among both campus-based and online PhD programs in Public Policy & Administration.

Faculty research interests serve as a useful guide to the character of a particular program. Mentorship is an important feature of both campus and online PhD programs in public administration. Finding a professor who shares your interests is a good indication of the support you're likely to receive as you establish yourself in the field. Besides direct guidance, faculty interests influence course offerings, special programs, and other resources.

The following features offer an indication of a program's strengths and unique characteristics:

• Faculty publications
• Specializations
• Curriculum and course requirements
• Special programs (internships, school exchanges, research groups, etc.)
• Relationships with institutions, foundations, private think tanks, etc.

Resources

• WorldWideLearn.com eases some of the burden of program research by connecting you directly with school representatives who can answer your questions. Fill out an online form indicating your program preferences and the system automatically matches you with schools that fit your specifications.
• School Web sites offer a resource for detailed information about program requirements and faculty research interests. You can find course catalogs, reading lists, links to special foundations and programs, and information about faculty publications.
• Academic Journals are useful not only for focusing your research interests but also for finding faculty who share your academic interests. These experts are the best resource for identifying the best programs and faculty in a given research area.

Step Four: Evaluate Program Quality

Once you've narrowed down your list, you're ready to vet the program candidates. Your goal is to select approximately six schools to which to apply. Choose programs that meet your standards of quality yet don't exceed your reach as an applicant.

Program Selectivity. Both campus-based and online PhD and DPA programs vary in selectivity and the top-rated programs are likely to be extremely competitive. It's a good idea to apply to a range of programs on your wish list, including both a dream school and a sure bet. Admissions committees generally take into account your undergraduate GPA and GRE test scores. Ask admissions counselors for average statistics on the students they admit, and use these numbers to gauge your admissions prospects.

Program Quality. Evaluate the relative merit of the programs on your list by considering:

• Reputation
• Graduation Rate
• Job Placement Statistics
• Career Support Resources
• Student Body Profile

Resources

• Rankings. Rankings offer an easy way to assess a school's reputation and program quality. Major rankings of online and campus PhD and DPA programs in public administration include:

1. U.S. News & World Report. The best-known ranking publishes its list of Best Public Affairs Schools annually.
2. National Research Council. The authoritative ranking in the field takes a more rigorous approach and focuses specifically on doctoral programs. The 2009 Assessment of Research Doctorate Programs evaluates 54 programs in public affairs, public policy, and public administration.

• School Data. Schools publicize useful data on placement history of recent graduates, the proportion of academic and non-academic jobs, and tenure statistics, as well as the demographic characteristics of the graduate student body.

Preparing for a PhD or DPA Program in Public Administration

Once you've identified your programs of choice, your next challenge is securing admission. Each school should specify prerequisites and application materials needed. Generally speaking, prerequisites include:

• A bachelor's degree or master's degree (MPA) in public administration. If you have a degree in another field, you may be required to complete general coursework before beginning the program.
• Graduate Record Exam (GRE). International students must also complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
• Work experience may be an asset in gaining admission to professional programs such as the online DPA in public administration.

Application materials include:

• Faculty or professional letters of recommendation
• Official transcripts
• Test scores
• Personal statement

Financial Aid

This is also the time to investigate financial aid options. Many doctorate degree programs offer some funding support to doctoral students, in the form of teaching and research assistantships, stipends, or tuition waivers. Other sources of educational funding include private scholarships, research grants, and private or federal student loans.

Joining the Academic Community

Applying to a doctorate program represents your first step toward becoming a member of the academic community. You can start forging relationships now by subscribing to academic journals, attending conferences, and joining professional associations. Journals include:

• Journal of Public Administration, Research & Theory (JPART)
• Public Administration Review
• The American Review of Public Administration
• Journal of Public Management and Social Policy
• Policy and Management Review
• Public Administration Quarterly

Professional associations include NASPAA, The American Society for Public Administration, and the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM).

Taking the time to plan your PhD or DPA in Public Policy & Administration at the outset builds a solid foundation for your success in the field. An advanced doctorate degree opens doors to a diverse array of academic and career opportunities. Make the most of this educational journey by focusing your goals now.

Sources

• American Society for Public Administration (ASPA)
• Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM)
• Journal of Public Affairs Education, vol. 5, no. 4, What's in a Name? Comparing DPA and PhD Programs, by Gene Brewer
• National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA), Public Service Careers
• National Research Council, Assessment of Research Doctorate Programs
• U.S. Department of Education, Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs
• U.S. News & World Report, Best Graduate Schools in Public Affairs (2009)
• United Nations Public Administration Network, List of Public Administration Journals
• University of Georgia, Ph.D. Program in Public Administration and Policy