Professors

Cayer, Chapman, Coor, Crow, J. Denhardt, R. Denhardt, Hall, Lan, Perry

Associate Professors

Campbell, McCabe

Assistant Professors

Al-Yahya, Catlaw, Corley, Peck, Voorhees

Professor of Practice

Vanacour

The School of Public Affairs offers an interdisciplinary graduate program leading to the PhD degree in Public Administration.

The PhD in Public Administration is a theoretically grounded research degree designed to prepare students for an academic career. The degree may also be appropriate for high-level practitioners who want to strengthen their practice through theory-based research. 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 problem-solving skills in budgeting, public personnel management, public finance, planning, program evaluation, and policy analysis.

The 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.

Admission

Applications are reviewed by an admissions committee appointed by the director of the program. Recommendations for admission are made by the director to the dean of graduate studies. Minimum Division of Graduate Studies admission requirements must be met. See Admission to the Division of Graduate Studies, for requirements. Additionally, each applicant must provide a letter of career goals and statement of reasons for seeking the degree, GRE test scores, a professional résumé, and three letters of recommendation. Letters may be a mix of academic and professional references, but all must address the applicant’s capacity to successfully complete the doctoral program. 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 January 15. Only applicants already holding master’s degrees are considered. If deficiencies exist in public administration course work at the master’s level, appropriate classes are prescribed.

Program of Study

The program of study consists of a minimum of 42 semester hours of graduate course work beyond the master’s degree, plus a minimum of 24 semester hours of 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 (12 hours) is required of all students, followed by successfully passing a screening examination. Then students establish a program of study committee that works with them to develop an appropriate interdisciplinary course of study. In addition to the four core courses, an approved program of study must have a course listed in each of the following areas: quantitative research methods, qualitative research methods, political economy, and democratic theory and governance. In addition, students are expected to develop areas of specialization.

Residency

See the graduate director with regard to the residency requirements for this program.

Comprehensive Examinations

Upon completion of course work, and before dissertation research, the student is given a written examination in chosen areas of specialization. The written examination is followed by a single oral examination. Students must complete their comprehensive exams within five years of passing the screening exam. If the student should fail one or more components of the examination, a reexamination may be administered no sooner than three months and no later than one year from the date of the original examination. Approval for this reexamination must be obtained from the supervisory committee, the director of the program, and the dean of graduate studies. A second failure is considered final and dismissal from the program is recommended to the Division of Graduate Studies.

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 program.

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 and contributing to scholarship. 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 graduate studies.

Final Examination

The final oral examination in defense of the dissertation is scheduled by the dean of graduate studies 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, and the dean of graduate studies.

Graduation

The student is eligible for graduation when the Division of Graduate Studies 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 and the dean of graduate studies.

Applications for graduation should be made no later than the date in the Division of Graduate Studies calendar.

The school engages in an extensive research program that includes individual faculty research, applied public service, and contract and grant-funded research. Several units exist in the school for the purpose of furthering research in the public sector and linking that research to the effective management of public organizations. One aspect of that research-service-management link has been the participation on and/or coordination of several Arizona Academy Town Hall research reports. Chief among the research linkages is the Morrison Institute for Public Policy. The Morrison Institute analyzes current and proposed public policies that are important to the future of the greater Phoenix area, Arizona, and the nation. Its mission is to conduct research that informs, advises, and assists Arizona’s state and community leaders. For more information on research activity in the School of Public Affairs, access spa.asu.edu.

Omnibus Courses. For an explanation of courses offered but not specifically listed in this catalog, see Omnibus Courses.