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The PhD in Public Administration is a research degree in public management. Its focus is on public sector organizational management in a democratic and diverse society. The faculty seek applicants who wish to enter the academic job market or to contribute to knowledge development in public administration as a senior practitioner. The faculty admit a small number of applicants each year for the fall semester, with a particular emphasis on admitting full-time students. There are opportunities for financial assistance as graduate assistants and research assistants on grant-sponsored research projects.

Admission to the PhD Program is the decision of the Dean of Graduate Studies based on the recommendations of the Doctoral Program Committee. There are 10 elements in the application portfolio, and once the portfolio is complete the Doctoral Program Committee reviews and evaluates the application. There are two application deadlines, one on February 1 for applicants seeking financial assistance and the second on July 1 for all other students seeking admission. Those applicants who enter the program with a masters degree in a related field (but not the Master of Public Administration) will need to complete up to four pre-requisites: Introduction to Public Administration, The Public Economy, Organization Theory and Behavior and Research Methods in Public Administration. The letter of admission will specify which pre-requisites are necessary before enrolling in the core curriculum.

The Doctoral Program of Study consists of 93 credit hours, including 39 hours from an earned masters degree. The doctoral program of study includes 1) four core seminars covering the foundations of public administration, knowledge frameworks in public administration, the environment of public administration and advanced management theory; 2) three research seminars, one in quantitative research methods, one in qualitative research methods, and one in advanced research design; 3) a teaching and professional skills workshop; 4) four additional courses, two each in two of five areas of concentration: public budgeting and finance, public aviation and transportation, public policy, urban management, citizenship and democracy; 5) 20 hours of dissertation.

Procedures for the Degree include: 1) formation of a supervisory committee during the first semester 2) development of a program of study during the first semester 3) application for candidacy for the degree following successful completion of course work and a field exam 4) successful defense of a dissertation proposal and 5) successful defense of the dissertation.

Through a variety of outreach activities, doctoral students have the opportunity to engage in both basic and applied research in five identified areas of concentration.

For more information, please contact:

Dr. Meagan Van Gelder
Academic Program Coordinator
School of Public Administration
University of Nebraska at Omaha
6001 Dodge Street
Omaha NE 68182-2682
402.554.3480 or 800.858.8658 x2625 (Iowa or Nebraska only)
402.554.2682 (fax)
mvangelder@mail.unomaha.edu

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updated 1/25/2008 by Melanie Kiper, webmaster