Best Doctorate of Public Administration Programs

Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) scores are a standard request for students looking to apply to doctoral programs in public administration. The GRE tests a student's ability to reason in multiple areas from literature to math, think analytically and write cogently. Admissions offices place different weights on GRE scores when choosing between applicants, though as one would assume, higher scores better one's chances of being admitted. Some institutions will accept Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) results as a substitute for GRE scores.

Ph.D. programs in public administration may also ask applicants to write a letter of academic intent or an essay. Essay topics vary, though they are usually about theoretical issues or dilemmas one might encounter in the field post-graduation. These types of prompts are put forward to gauge prospective students' knowledge of the discipline acquired through past studies and to judge their writing skills. Since dissertations are key to doctorates in public administration students need to demonstrate excellent writing skills.

Public administration doctoral programs generally do not require applicants to have professional experience. As for educational prerequisites, programs can vary widely. Colleges and universities usually expect applicants to their Ph.D. programs to have earned a master's degree in the field or a similar discipline. Most institutions use online applications when considering interested students, and these forms invariably ask for transcripts. Some public administration programs will want students to have earned a 3.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) out of 4.0. Other common requests include three letters of recommendation, a resume, and a writing sample. Some colleges and universities will ask for each of these things, while others will only require a few.

The leading authority in the accreditation of public administration programs is the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA). However, NASPAA only accredits individual public administration programs at the master's level. This means that Ph.D. programs in the field are rarely individually accredited, instead being offered by accredited colleges or universities. Many institutions with NASPAA accredited master's programs also offer doctorates that are likely to share staff and standardized pedagogies, but of course, this is not the same thing as accreditation.

Accreditation is important because it assures prospective students that a program has met educational requirements established by an outside authority. Industry groups have a vested interest in the professional success of those entering their field, and so they promote teaching practices and models that better prepare students for the working world. In addition to reassuring potential students, accreditation also serves as a guarantee to those who might support their studies through financial assistance. Government departments and private organizations that award student aid almost always require their applicants to attend an institution or program that has been accredited by an outside agency. This ensures that their money will go toward an enriching education.

On average a public administration doctorate takes four to six years to earn. The majority of PhDs in this field consist of about 45-60 credit hours, meaning that a typical program is made of around 15-20 courses. When a doctorate is pursued full-time completion of the degree is closer to four years, though when taken part-time six to eight years is a more likely timetable.

Usually, 30 credits or more will be devoted to core courses, while about 12-15 will be devoted to electives. Courses centered around researching, refining, and defending one's dissertation range from 12-18 credits in total. This last group might also include one or more capstone courses.

Coursework in public administration doctorates can be divided into three categories: core courses, electives, and dissertations courses. Foundational courses cover subjects ranging from the history of public administration policies to theories of organization. Theoretical approaches and frameworks are key to most programs given that many degree holders will pursue teaching jobs after graduating. However, the core courses in public administration Ph.D.s do not only cater to the academically inclined. Other common offerings include managerial leadership in different levels of government and public budgeting and finance.

Beyond courses that will apply to everyone are those that are specific to a sector of the government or economy. Depending on the program, these might either be categorized as electives or as a group of core courses from which students pick one or two. These courses go into depth on professional areas like Adult Education or Disaster and Emergency Management. Another course might focus on public sector work and non-profits. These allow students with specific goals in mind to better work toward their professional goals. Many colleges and universities with campus-based programs also offer these and other public administration courses online.

Dissertations are the other major component of public administration doctoral coursework, though the topic is involved enough that it deserves its own section.

Preparing Your Public Administration Dissertation

Public administration dissertations are quite similar to those found in other social and political science disciplines. First, a student must select a topic in public administration that would benefit from further study. Specificity is key for dissertations in any field as too broad a scope will be beyond an individual student's ability to research and likely fail to produce new insights. After selecting a topic, students will have to develop a proposal for their dissertation. A committee made up of such faculty members will assess each student's proposal and only approve them after they meet several criteria. These usually include a thesis, a review of research literature related to the topic that will inform the study, details on how the research will be conducted, and an explanation of intended analysis methods for connecting data gathered to the student's thesis. Once a dissertation proposal is approved, the student may begin researching, conducting studies, and writing their dissertation. This phase of the process can take one to two years or longer depending on the student's schedule and the nature of the dissertation.

Programs handle dissertation courses in their own ways. Some doctorates in public administration will puts milestones in their courses that students are expected to meet, whereas others will leave the pace entirely up to the students. Either way, once a student has completed the first draft of their dissertation they will either edit it themselves to refine it or be required to submit it to their faculty member of the committee for an editing check. Following this, the final major stage of the dissertation process is defending it publicly. They will appear before the committee, often with the aid of a slideshow presentation, to go over the intent, methodology, and findings of their research. While more than a formality, most public administration dissertation defenses are set up so that if students have followed the previous steps in the process they are more than likely to succeed in defending their dissertation.

Concentrations are tracks within degrees that allow students to focus on specific areas of their discipline. They take fewer courses to complete than a minor but serve more or less the same purpose of giving students expertise in a subject of their choice. In public administration, doctorate programs concentrations revolve around policy areas, management, finance, and the public sector. Most colleges and universities that have Ph.D. programs in public administration do not offer concentrations; those that do might offer options like Public Management, Urbanism, and Environmental Policy.

Public Management

Public management greatly benefits students who plan to work in the government or at a non-profit in a managerial or administrative capacity post-graduation. This concentration emphasizes courses that deal with the structures and practices of government agencies at the local, state, and federal levels. Knowing how various agencies operate and what it takes to craft, propose, and campaign for policy changes is indispensable whichever side of the process one ends upon. Organizational strategy and the laws and ethics of administration are also integral to this pathway. Whether someone is overseeing employees or volunteers it is important to be able to marshal them effectively, which is why public management combines leadership fundamentals with industry know-how.

Urbanism

Urbanism, or urban policy, pathways highlight the policy challenges that affect cities big and small. Urban populations range from the thousands to the millions, so whenever anything is changed in their day-to-day environment the consequences can be massive. Cities are complex webs of overlapping and intersecting systems, so isolated incidents are few and far between. For example, when a road or lane is closed for repairs is does more than just slow down traffic. It can alter supply chains, increase the number of people taking public transportation, lead to an uptick in accidents, and require funds to be reallocated if construction is delayed for an unforeseen reason. Public administration doctorates with urbanism concentrations look into these and other issues that cities regularly face. Courses cover the history of urban policy, rules and regulations particular to cities, and private-public partnerships.

Environmental Policy

Environmental policy is an increasingly important policy area. With climate change an ever-present threat, the need to craft smart and responsive policy is paramount. To meet this need public administration PhDs with this pathway discuss national and international environmental laws and examine how economic activity contributes to and combats global warming. Environmental policy seeks to get governments and corporations on the same page when it comes to climate change, and one of the better ways to accomplish this is through policy. As a concentration, environmental policy is relatively new though that does not make it any less vital.

Other than the Ph.D. in Public Administration, the most common post-master's degree is the Doctor of Public Administration (DPA). The curricula of DPAs largely resemble those of Ph.D.s, though the former usually cater more to those with professional aspirations. This can be seen in the wider abundance of internship courses in DPA programs or in their concentrations, which deal less often with policy areas and more often with types of industries.

Online doctorates in public administration are another route students can take. Both online and campus-based public administration degrees tend to be generalist, covering various policy types and sectors. For those who know exactly which industry they wish to end up in after graduating pursuing an alternative degree might prove useful, such as a doctorate in public health for those who wish to administrate in the healthcare industry.

Of course, none of these degrees are attainable without first going through at least one undergraduate program.

Public Administration Associate Degrees

Associate of Arts (AA) in Public Administration and Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Public Administration are the typical degrees at this level. Both types commonly consist of 60 credit hours and take two years to complete. These degrees differ little in their curricula, with both featuring courses in algebra and statistics, economics, sociology, and information technology. Beyond these general education courses, associate programs in public administration often offer courses in urban planning, budgeting and finance, business management, and ethics in the public sector. This coursework prepares a solid foundation for future learning, and depending on a college or university's transfer policies much of it can be put toward a bachelor's degree in public administration.

Public Administration Bachelor's Degrees

A Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Public Administration or a similar Bachelor of Science (BS) in Public Administration both prepare students for graduate education in the field. These programs take four years to earn and their curricula are generally spread across 120 credits. Courses covered include the general education basics one will find in an associate degree like statistics and economics. In addition to these, BAs and BSs in public administration also go into key topics like public policy and organizational management and strategies. Both undergraduate degree levels touch on these subjects but bachelor's programs cover them more thoroughly due to their expanded requirements. Many public administration degrees at this level also introduce students to collegiate research through courses dedicated to the practice, which serve as a great introduction for those interested in academia beyond their BA or BS.

Public Administration Master's Degrees

A Master of Public Administration (MPA) is designed to further a student's ability to manage in a government or public organization and also primes them for Ph.D. programs. Research methods, policy analysis, and the educational dynamics of public administration take center stage in the majority of MPAs. Graduate studies no longer have to deal with table setting courses and are free to dive deep into subjects ranging from international negotiations to labor-management relations. MPA programs teach to those who wish to administrate in the professional world and those interested in becoming public administration instructors. Concentrations coincide with these goals and those who undertake pathways like Public and Nonprofit Management will get to focus more on the courses that suit their career goals. Most public management master's programs fall between 42-64 credit hours in length. When taken full-time an MPA takes about two years to earn, while part-time students are more likely to complete their degree in four years.

Public Administration Graduate Certificates

Graduate certificate programs in public administration come in two major varieties: general and specialized. General certificates have simple titles like ''Public Administration'' and typically consist of four to six core courses that one might find in a master's or doctoral program. These certificates are designed for professionals who want to gain experience in public administration without committing the time and money it takes to earn a degree in the field. Specialized graduate certificates have the same course credit requirements as general ones, but their curricula are meant to bolster a public administration graduate with specialist knowledge. Certificates like these help distinguish applicants who have specific professions in mind, such as urban planners or environmental policy advocates. One might also diversify their resume and gain expertise in related fields through a graduate certificate in public health, an online graduate certificate in public health, or an online graduate certificate in communications.

Public administration doctorate holders are well-equipped to work in the public or private sector. Graduates from these programs can apply to executive and administrative positions in government, human resource departments, and nonprofit organizations. A career in public administration typically involves a combination of coordinating others, analyzing policies and their outcomes through the data they produce and navigating public-private partnerships. General public administration degrees prepare students in each of these areas, and also various research methods and teaching pedagogies. These last two subjects receive more attention in doctoral coursework for graduates whose goal it is to teach public administration in a college or university. Whichever of these routes graduates take they are likely to earn $45,000-$70,000 annually.

Become an Urban Planner

Urban planners, or regional planners when dealing with locales outside of cities, manage community development. Most are employees of local governments, and in this capacity, they often act as liaisons between elected officials and property developers. An urban planner's main job is to promote and maintain community prosperity and health, which they accomplish by aligning public and private interests with regard to construction and other development projects. Their work takes them to offices, municipal buildings, and construction sites. Communication skills, a robust knowledge of codes and regulations, and the ability to interpret data and statistics are all necessary to be a successful urban planner.

Nationally, urban planners make about $61,640 a year, according to ZipRecruiter. At the state level, ZipRecruiter estimates that average annual salaries are highest in Hawaii, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, North Dakota, and Alaska, with Hawaii topping the list at $69,585. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that from 2019-2029 urban and regional planning jobs will increase by 11%.

Become a Social Service Manager

Social service managers can either work in government departments that provide social assistance or at a similarly oriented nonprofit. As the job title suggests the position is managerial, requiring the direction and oversight of social service employees and budgets. Social service managers are in charge of financial assistance programs, such as food and housing assistance, and must connect populations in need with both social service workers and funding. Because of this social service managers move frequent government and nonprofit offices and fundraising events. Depending on where one works and their staffing structure, a social service manager may be in charge of only one program or may have to coordinate several.

Yearly social service managers can expect to make about $46,319, according to ZipRecruiter. The BLS expects the field to expand by 11% between 2019-2029.

Become a Professor

Public administration professors teach their discipline at colleges and universities. Teaching the subject requires an understanding of both the professional and academic dimensions of the field. In addition to this knowledge, public administration professors have to excel as instructors as well. This entails public speaking, creating exams and essay prompts, developing lesson plans, attending faculty meetings, and advising students. As academics, professors also have to continue their research and look to publish their findings if they want to advance in their careers.

Annual salaries for professors average out to $56,565 by ZipRecruiter's reckoning. When it comes to individual states, ZipRecruiter found the highest average salaries in Wyoming, Massachusetts, Montana, Arizona, and Hawaii, with Wyoming at $61,154. The BLS estimates that from 2019-2029 teaching positions at colleges and universities will increase by 9%.

• American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) is a national organization dedicated to promoting public administration as a career choice and to training those who enter the field. ASPA offers its over 8,000 members networking opportunities, access to its Annual Conference, e-learning modules, and the Public Administration Review, a professional journal that covers current research and best practices in the field. Members can join through local chapters or individually.
• Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM) is a national organization to further academic research into public policy and increase its integration into professional practice. To achieve this, it hosts a yearly research conference, webinars on public policy education and professional development, and puts out the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management (JPAM), a quarterly peer-reviewed research journal. APPAM's membership comes in three varieties: professional membership for those working in public policy and public affairs, student membership for those attending a college or university, and institutional membership for academic institutions, foundations, and research organizations.
• International City/County Management Association (ICMA) is an international organization aimed at those who manage and support communities. ICMA emphasizes leadership, cooperation, equity, and inclusivity among its over 11,000 members. It accomplishes this via the ICMA Strategic Partners Program, skill-building workshops, and credentialing assessments. Members can access these and other benefits through full memberships for chief administrative officers (CAOs), affiliate memberships for non-CAO professionals, or academic memberships for students.

When it comes to doctorate programs the biggest factor in determining the cost of tuition is whether a student attends an in-state or out-of-state college or university. Most institutions that offer PhDs advertise their tuition costs by academic year and these refer to full-time course loads, as ultimately tuition costs are calculated by credit hours. A year at an in-state institution might cost around $11,000-$13,000, which would make a four-year Ph.D.'s tuition come out to $44,000-$52,000. Out-of-state tuition can nearly or more than double in-state rates, meaning that a doctorate earned at a school in another state could run a student $88,000-$104,000. Beyond tuition, there are also fees to consider, and graduate fees are considerably higher than their equivalents in undergraduate programs. Fees for the use of campus facilities, like labs and the library, often amount to $2,500-$3,500 a year. And of course, students have to budget their own cost of living, transportation expenses, and money for textbooks.

One of the first things students interested in receiving student aid should do is look into the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Applying for FAFSA is a relatively straightforward process that is open to both undergraduate and graduate students. Those who qualify receive money each semester to put toward their tuition. The amount varies based on income and other factors.

Another great resource for obtaining student aid is CareerOneStop's Scholarship Finder. Sponsored by the US Department of Labor, Scholarship Finder is a database filled with scholarships, grants, and awards for students in several fields and at each level of education. Searches can be refined by using keywords, by specifying where one attends, and by award type.

The Fellowship on Women & Public Policy is one example of an award one can find using CareerOneStop's database. This fellowship is intended for working women enrolled in any graduate-level public policy program and requires the submission of transcripts and a resume to apply.

Another is the Washington City/County Management Association Scholarships, which provides financial assistance to graduate students pursuing public administration degrees. The scholarship asks applicants to submit their transcripts from their graduate and undergraduate institutions, a letter of recommendation from a faculty member at each, and an application letter.