The purpose of the Doctor of Public Administration (D.P.A.) degree program is to prepare skilled professional public administrators for high-level positions in the public sector, and to foster the next generation of public administration scholars in research and university teaching. The program is designed to emphasize both normative and conceptual content pertaining to value assessments, theoretical assumptions, ethics, and modes of decision making, as well as practitioner problem-solving skills in budgeting, public personnel management, public finance, planning, program evaluation, and policy analysis.
The D.P.A. degree program is interdisciplinary in nature and is offered by faculty from various colleges. One of the unique features of this interdisciplinary program is that, because it utilizes faculty research and teaching interests from a number of academic units, a student may tailor a course of study to fit individual needs and goals. The D.P.A. degree program is administered by an executive committee appointed by and responsible to the dean of the Graduate College.
Admission. Applications are reviewed by an admissions committee appointed by the director of the executive committee. Recommendations for admission are made by the director of the executive committee to the dean of the Graduate College. Minimum Graduate College admission requirements must be met. Additionally, each applicant must provide a letter of career goals and statement of reasons for seeking the D.P.A. degree, a GRE test score, a professional résumé, and six letters of recommendation (three from faculty and three from professional public administrators). International students must submit both TOEFL and TSE scores. Admissions recommendations are made only once each year, with admitted students beginning their studies in the fall semester. To assure consideration for the ensuing fall semester, submit applications for admission, graduate assistantship, and tuition waiver by February 15. Only applicants already holding a master’s degree are considered. If deficiencies exist in public administration course work at the master’s level, appropriate classes are prescribed.
Program of Study. When the program of study is filed, a supervisory committee consisting of at least three persons is appointed by the dean of the Graduate College upon the recommendation of the director of the executive committee. The chair of the supervisory committee serves as the student’s graduate advisor. The supervisory committee advises the student in developing a program of study and assumes primary responsibility in assessing the student’s progress in the program. The program consists of a minimum of 60 semester hours of graduate work beyond the master’s degree. Of the 60 semester hours, at least 24 must be dissertation and research credit. A minimum of 30 semester hours of approved course work, exclusive of dissertation and research, must be taken at ASU after admission to the program. A sequence of four core courses is required of all students, followed by a screening examination.
Residency. The minimum residency requirement for the D.P.A. degree consists of 30 semester hours of doctoral program credit within a period of 24 consecutive months.
Comprehensive Examinations. Upon completion of course work, and before dissertation research, the student is given a written examination in each of the areas of specialization. The written examinations are followed by a single oral examination. If the student should fail one or more components of the examination, a re-examination may be administered no sooner than three months and no later than one year from the date of the original examination. Approval for this re-examination must be obtained from the supervisory committee, the director of the executive committee, and the dean of the Graduate College. A second failure is considered final and dismissal from the program is recommended to the Graduate College.
Candidacy. Doctoral students should apply for admission to candidacy immediately after they have met all requirements for the degree, except the dissertation. These requirements include passing the comprehensive examinations and other requirements specified by the executive committee.
Dissertation Requirements. A dissertation is required of each student. The dissertation must consist of a fully documented written analysis demonstrating a high level of skill and competence. Each student must register for a minimum of 24 hours of dissertation and research. The dissertation is supervised by a committee of at least three faculty members appointed by the dean of the Graduate College.
Final Examinations. The final oral examination in defense of the dissertation is scheduled by the dean of the Graduate College and conducted by the student’s dissertation committee. A candidate must pass the final examination within five years after completing the comprehensive examination. Any exception must be approved by the dissertation committee, the director of the executive committee, and the dean of the Graduate College.
Graduation. The student is eligible for graduation when the Graduate College scholarship requirements have been met, the final oral examination has been passed, and the dissertation has been approved by the supervisory committee and accepted by the director of the executive committee and the dean of the Graduate College.
Applications for graduation should be made no later than the date specified in the Graduate College calendar.
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