Public Administration, PhD

Program Overview

The PhD in Public Administration program at the University of Nebraska at Omaha emphasizes research and theory development in public and nonprofit administration and management. With a focus on democratic and diverse societies, the program prepares students for careers as researchers, policymakers, and educators. The rigorous curriculum includes required courses in public administration, research methods, and specialization areas, culminating in a dissertation that contributes original research to the field.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The PhD in public administration program is a research degree with a focus on public and nonprofit administration and management in a democratic and diverse society. It is the terminal degree for research and theory development. The program creates a supportive, collaborative, and rigorous environment for students to develop their intellectual identities and a comprehensive understanding of the field and a range of research traditions. Students and alumni make significant contributions to theory, policy, research, and practice towards enhancing a democratic society. The program values intellectual openness, collaboration, diversity, and excellence.

Outline:

Required Courses:

• Seminar Courses (21 hours):
• PA 9000: FOUNDATIONS OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (3 credits)
• PA 9200: THEORIES OF THE POLICY PROCESS (3 credits)
• PA 9300: KNOWLEDGE DEVELOPMENT AND USE IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE PROFESSION (3 credits)
• PA 9400: THE ENVIRONMENT OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (3 credits)
• PA 9500: THEORIES OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND CIVIL SOCIETY (3 credits)
• Research Courses (12 hours):
• PA 9800: ADVANCED RESEARCH DESIGN (3 credits)
• PA 9950: QUANTITATIVE METHODS IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (3 credits)
• PA 9960: QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS (3 credits)
• PA 9970: DIRECTED RESEARCH IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (3 credits)
• Specialization Courses (6 hours):
• Two elective courses related to one of the following:
• Public and Nonprofit: Policy, Theory, Management, Budgeting & Finance, Technology & Data Analytics
• Workshops (2 hours):
• Dissertation (15 hours):
• PA 9990: DISSERTATION (15 credits)
• Additional graduate-level coursework (from master’s degree) (36 hours):
• May be earned from an accredited institution toward a Master of Public Administration degree or a master’s degree (MA or MS) in a related academic discipline or field.

Program Structure:

• Progress Review: The doctoral program committee conducts a review of student progress each year.
Students are required to submit a summary of annual progress and plans.
• Field Examination: Following completion of coursework, doctoral students take the field examination, which includes two questions: one comprehensive and one related to the student’s specialization.
The field exam is given in open-book format over two days, eight-hours each day. The field exam testing period is in August (about one week before the fall semester starts) each year.
• Degree Candidacy: Students who have successfully passed the required coursework and the field examination apply for Admission to Candidacy for the Doctoral Degree.
This application requires majority consent of the student’s supervisory committee, the doctoral program committee, and the dean for Graduate Studies. After admission to degree candidacy, the student must maintain continuous enrollment until they receive the degree.
• Dissertation: The dissertation represents an original contribution to knowledge development in the field of public administration.
Following successful completion of all coursework and field exams, doctoral students apply for candidacy for the degree and then defend a dissertation proposal before their supervisory committee. Following successful defense of the proposal, students work under the guidance of their supervisory committee chair until the project is complete. Two readers from the student's supervisory committee then review the entire document and may recommend further work or changes. After the committee chair and readers agree that the dissertation is ready for defense, the student schedules a public defense. The time limit on granting the PhD in public administration degree is eight (8) years from the time of filing the plan of study in the Office of Graduate Studies.

Assessment:

• Quality of Work Standards: Doctoral students are expected to do work of high caliber.
Failure to maintain quality of work standards may result in probation or dismissal from the program. Reasons for probation or dismissal may include:
• Failure to maintain a 3.33 average for all course work
• A grade of C+ or below in one course
• Failure to maintain continuous enrollment
• Failure to pass field exams
• Failure to form a supervisory committee
• Dr. Yu-Che Chen, PhD, Graduate Program Chair (GPC)
• 111 College of Public Affairs & Community Service (CPACS)
• 402.554.2058

• The doctoral program committee reviews student academic preparation, specifying appropriate courses that must be taken as prerequisites to doctoral study.

• Except for those who have completed an MPA degree, new doctoral students may be required to first complete MPA course prerequisites or reading prior to enrolling in 9000-level core or research courses.