Free ASPA Membership
New M.P.A. and Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration students receive a free one-year membership to the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA).
Improve Your Academic Writing
Learn graduate-level writing skills, how to avoid plagiarism, and APA style with non-degree courses from Walden’s Center for Student Success.
Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration
The Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration program prepares you to meet the challenges of governance and effective service delivery as government and nonprofit institutions increasingly become intertwined. You’ll integrate scholarly research with your professional experience, gaining the knowledge, confidence, and expertise to create effective solutions.
The program offers you two ways to learn
- Course-based
This option is a structured program of study comprised of online courses. As a student, you will follow a specific plan for completion and may be eligible to graduate in three years.* You’ll also have the opportunity to collaborate with peers and faculty through online discussions and face-to-face residencies. - Mixed-model
This option is a more flexible program of study that includes online courses and Walden’s signature Knowledge Area Modules (KAMs). Study independently and work closely with a faculty mentor to apply your research to an area in which you are passionate. This option was updated to include new courses on timely policy issues and a reduction in credit requirements for graduation.
Both formats offer you the opportunity to reach a significant and highly respected milestone in your professional career—a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration—while exposing you the knowledge required to create effective solutions in today’s public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
View a comparison of the course-based and mixed-model formats here.
Special programs for students with
- an M.P.A. from Walden University
- an M.P.A. or M.P.P. from a regionally accredited university
Specializations
- Criminal Justice
- Health Services
- Homeland Security Policy and Coordination
- International Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs)
- Law and Public Policy NEW
- Local Government Management for Sustainable Communities NEW
- Nonprofit Management and Leadership
- Public Management and Leadership
- Public Policy
- Public Safety Management
- Terrorism, Mediation, and Peace NEW
For assistance deciding which specialization fits your goals, call an enrollment advisor at 1-866-492-5336.
Other Recommended Programs
*Time to completion may vary by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred. For a personalized estimate of your time to completion, please call an enrollment advisor at 1-866-492-5336.
Alaska State Teacher of the Year, Bob Williams
The School of Public Policy and Administration is proud to have one of the U.S.’s most celebrated educators as a student.
Learn more.
