PhD Public Administration and Policy

Program Overview

---

The PhD in Public Administration and Policy at the University at Albany prepares students for research careers in academia, focusing on multi-dimensional public policy and management problems. The program emphasizes causal inference methods, theories of the policy process, and interdisciplinary research, offering concentrations in Public Policy, Public Financial Management, and Public Management. Students benefit from opportunities to work with faculty, research centers, and government practitioners on research projects.

Program Outline

---

Degree Overview:

---

Overview:

The PhD in Public Administration and Policy program at the University at Albany's Rockefeller College prepares students for research careers, primarily in academia. The program focuses on multi-dimensional public policy and public management problems, training students in social science methodologies to analyze and address these issues.

---

Objectives:

• Train students to produce original research on systemic public problems and public service professionals to address practical challenges.
• Equip students with the ability to create and implement rigorous research designs, use quantitative and qualitative methods, inform theory development, contribute to improving practice, maintain high ethical standards in research, and consider competing public values in policy and administrative decisions.

---

Description:

• The core curriculum covers theoretical foundations of public administration and public policy, advanced research design, and professional development.
• Students can focus their studies through two advanced research tools and five or more courses in one of three fields: Public Policy, Public Financial Management, or Public Management.
• The program emphasizes causal inference methods and theories of the policy process while providing opportunities to work with faculty, research centers, and government practitioners.

---

Outline:

---

Core Courses:

• Field Seminar in Public Policy
• Scholarly Foundations of Politics and Administration
• Research Design
• Advanced Quantitative Analysis
• Scholarly Foundations of Public Administration
• Develop expertise in a policy area and receive training in designing and managing policy research projects.
• Conduct research on topics like state and local government budgeting, financial management, education finance, healthcare finance, and nonprofit financial management.
• Draw on theories and concepts from economics, finance, accounting, and political science.

---

Public Management:

• Examine management challenges within public and nonprofit organizations, focusing on politics, inter- and intra-governmental interactions, and policy implementation.
• Conduct theory-informed empirical research based on interdisciplinary foundations from political science, sociology, psychology, economics, organization behavior and theory, and information sciences.

---

Professional Development:

• Seminars in Doctoral Research and Professional Development
• Rockefeller Brown Bag Research Seminar
• Specialized doctoral readings groups
• Opportunities to work with faculty, research centers, and government practitioners on research projects

---

Assessment:

---

Candidacy Requirements:

• Completion of core curriculum courses
• Personalized courses in research tools and concentration electives
• Empirical research paper
• Literature review
• Dissertation proposal outline

---

Dissertation:

• Work closely with a faculty committee to craft a proposal, collect and analyze data, and write the dissertation.
• Tailor the approach to interests and career goals, including quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods research tools; drawing on theories from various disciplines; selecting topics in domestic or international contexts; and utilizing a three-paper or book format dissertation.

---

Teaching:

---

Teaching Methods:

• Seminars
• Research projects
• Readings groups
• Collaboration with faculty, research centers, and government practitioners

---

Faculty:

• Committed to training students in theory-driven interdisciplinary social science research.
• Expertise in various areas, including public policy, public finance, and public management.

---

Unique Approaches:

• Interdisciplinary focus on public administration and policy.
• Emphasis on causal inference methods and theories of the policy process.
• Opportunities for hands-on experience through research projects with faculty, research centers, and government practitioners.

---

Careers:

---

Career Paths:

• Academic careers in research or teaching positions
• Research-intensive positions in government and nonprofit sectors

---

Career Services and Support:

• Departmental fellowships with funding and research/teaching assistantships.
• Financial support for attending academic conferences.
• Assistance with locating additional employment opportunities.

---

Other: