The Public Affairs PhD - Public Administration MPA Dual Degree Track provides academically talented students an opportunity to earn the Doctor of Philosophy in Public Affairs and the Master of Public Administration degrees concurrently. Students successfully completing the PhD/MPA Dual Degree program will have the skills and analytical techniques for careers in academia or in the public and nonprofit sectors. After successful completion of the PhD/MPA Dual Degree program, students will receive two diplomas, one for the Public Administration MPA degree and one for the Public Affairs PhD degree.
Students seeking admission to the PhD/MPA Dual Degree program should apply directly to the Public Affairs PhD - Public Administration MPA Dual Degree Track. Only one application will be required. If admitted, student will be active in both the Public Administration MPA and the Public Affairs PhD programs.
The Public Administration MPA Dual Degree track in the Public Affairs PhD program consists of 84 credit hours, including 63 credit hours of required courses, 6 credit hours of electives approved by the student's faculty adviser or program director, and 15 credit hours of dissertation. For required courses, students must first complete seven core courses plus the capstone course for the MPA program (24 credit hours) before enrolling in doctoral level courses. Doctoral level courses are reserved for students who have successfully completed all master's degree requirements. Once a student has completed all master's level coursework, then that student will take three Public Affairs substantive core courses and six Public Affairs methodological and statistical core courses for the PhD program (30 credit hours), plus five elective courses (15 credit hours).
Total Credit Hours Required: 84 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Bachelor's Degree