Program Overview

Doctor of Public Administration (D.P.A.)

Curriculum

The Doctor of Public Administration (D.P.A.) program is designed to provide advanced education and training in public policy and administration. The program is tailored to meet the needs of professionals working in the public sector, non-profit organizations, and private sector companies that interact with government agencies.

Course List

The following courses are required for the D.P.A. program:

• Doctoral Study
  • DPA 700: Doctoral Seminar in Public Policy and Administration (3 credits)
• Administrative Core
  • DPA 701: Advanced Practice and Applied Theories of Public Policy and Administration (3 credits)
  • DPA 702: Strategic Public Sector Management and Governance (3 credits)
  • DPA 703: Advanced Public Sector Economic and Financial Decision Making (3 credits)
  • DPA 704: Advocacy and Leadership in Public Policy and Administration (3 credits)
• Methods Sequence
  • DPA 705: Research Design for Program and Policy Evaluation (3 credits)
  • DPA 706: Quantitative Methods of Program and Policy Evaluation (3 credits)
  • DPA 707: Qualitative Research Methods (3 credits)
• Concentration Area (9 credits)
  • May be selected from different departments such as Public Policy and Administration, Criminal Justice, Geography and Planning, Graduate Social Work, Health, and Psychology.
• Dissertation Project
  • DPA 801: Dissertation Seminar I: Research Questions and Framing the Literature (3 credits)
  • DPA 802: Dissertation Seminar II: Data and Measurements (3 credits)
  • DPA 803: Dissertation Seminar III: Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis (3 credits)
  • DPA 804: Dissertation Seminar IV: Recommendations and Conclusions (3 credits)

Total Credits Required

45 credits are required to complete the D.P.A. program.

Sample Course Plan

Two sample course plans are provided below:

Nine Credits Per Semester

• Year One
  • Semester One:
    • DPA 700: Doctoral Seminar in Public Policy and Administration (3 credits)
    • DPA 701: Advanced Practice and Applied Theories of Public Policy and Administration (3 credits)
    • Concentration Elective Course (3 credits)
  • Semester Two:
    • DPA 703: Advanced Public Sector Economic and Financial Decision Making (3 credits)
    • DPA 705: Research Design for Program and Policy Evaluation (3 credits)
    • Concentration Elective Course (3 credits)
• Year Two
  • Semester One:
    • DPA 702: Strategic Public Sector Management and Governance (3 credits)
    • DPA 707: Qualitative Research Methods (3 credits)
    • Concentration Elective Course (3 credits)
  • Semester Two:
    • DPA 704: Advocacy and Leadership in Public Policy and Administration (3 credits)
    • DPA 706: Quantitative Methods of Program and Policy Evaluation (3 credits)
• Year Three
  • Semester One:
    • DPA 801: Dissertation Seminar I: Research Questions and Framing the Literature (3 credits)
    • DPA 802: Dissertation Seminar II: Data and Measurements (3 credits)
  • Semester Two:
    • DPA 803: Dissertation Seminar III: Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis (3 credits)
• Year Four
  • Semester One:
    • DPA 804: Dissertation Seminar IV: Recommendations and Conclusions (3 credits)

Six Credits Per Semester

• Year One
  • Semester One:
    • DPA 700: Doctoral Seminar in Public Policy and Administration (3 credits)
    • DPA 701: Advanced Practice and Applied Theories of Public Policy and Administration (3 credits)
  • Semester Two:
    • DPA 705: Research Design for Program and Policy Evaluation (3 credits)
    • Concentration Elective Course (3 credits)
• Year Two
  • Semester One:
    • DPA 702: Strategic Public Sector Management and Governance (3 credits)
    • Concentration Elective Course (3 credits)
  • Semester Two:
    • DPA 703: Advanced Public Sector Economic and Financial Decision Making (3 credits)
    • DPA 706: Quantitative Methods of Program and Policy Evaluation (3 credits)
• Year Three
  • Semester One:
    • DPA 704: Advocacy and Leadership in Public Policy and Administration (3 credits)
    • DPA 707: Qualitative Research Methods (3 credits)
  • Semester Two:
    • DPA 801: Dissertation Seminar I: Research Questions and Framing the Literature (3 credits)
    • Concentration Elective Course (3 credits)
• Year Four
  • Semester One:
    • DPA 802: Dissertation Seminar II: Data and Measurements (3 credits)
  • Semester Two:
    • DPA 803: Dissertation Seminar III: Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis (3 credits)
• Year Five
  • Semester One:
    • DPA 804: Dissertation Seminar IV: Recommendations and Conclusions (3 credits)