Doctor of Public Administration

Public policymakers often rely on microeconomic and macroeconomic models to formulate new policies and reevaluate existing polices. In this course, students examine the use of such models in the public policy setting and assess how public finance influences policy choices as well as implementation alternatives. Through weekly analytical writing assignments and peer discussions, students explore tax policies and tax incentive models; budgeting; public/private models; market influences on policy; the impact of government expenditures on income redistribution; and economic considerations of welfare, food stamps, workers' compensation, Social Security, and outsourcing of public programs. Synthesizing course content and applying critical-thinking skills, students assess a local government jurisdiction, examine the decisions of policymakers, and recommend improvements based on economic models.

Students in this course are introduced to evidence-based practices and analytic techniques for decision making in the public sector.  Learning focuses on building a tool kit of analytic methods related to budgeting, problem solving, and utilization of data to inform leaders of areas for improvement in the delivery of public goods and services.  

Successful organizations in a rapidly changing and complex world require leaders who embrace change and are able to engage others in change. In this course, students use traditional literature, current articles, and interactive media to explore the qualities, characteristics, and skills of effective leaders as well as the theories, models, and relationships between leadership and organizational change. They assess the ethical issues and standards as well as the opportunities and challenges related to leading diverse organizations through change. Students also examine how current leaders employ leadership and organizational change to contribute to social change, and they consider how to use these lessons to make further positive changes within an organization or their own community. 

Democratic principles are the foundation of modern life. Students in this course are provided with an overview of democratic governance in public administration, public policy, or nonprofit or nongovernmental organizations in modern society. Students examine the theoretical underpinnings of democratic governance and public policy in their chosen area of specialization necessary for doctoral-level research. Students examine the context in which public and nonprofit leaders function and the social institutions that influence public policy and guide administrative decision making. Students also review fundamental theories of governance, research current literature on a specialized topic, and apply best practices as they relate concepts to complete practical application assignments and a final case scenario project. 

Analytics is the practice of using statistics and computer programming together to manipulate and gain insight from very large datasets. Analytic processes discussed in this course include data mining, the use of neural networks as a decision-making tool, and exploration into computer-simulated and generated models for public decision making such as agent-based modeling. Analytics are used to understand past events and predict future events.

Students in this course will learn to develop funding proposals and propose applied research projects. Learning is focused on two objectives: first, to prepare the student for the doctoral professional administrative study; and second, to prepare the student to write professional documents designed to explore problems in the practice of public administration, propose solutions to those problems, and gain grant-writing skills to fund public and nonprofit organizations.  

In this research course, students are provided with core knowledge and skills for understanding, analyzing, and designing research at the graduate level. Students explore the philosophy of science, the role of theory, and research processes. Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research designs and data collection methods are introduced. The alignment of research components is emphasized. Students also explore ethical and social change implications of designing and conducting research. Students demonstrate their knowledge and skills by developing an annotated bibliography. (Prerequisite(s): RESI 8401.)

In this research course, students are provided with the opportunity to develop core knowledge and skills for designing and carrying out quantitative research at the doctoral level, including the application of statistical concepts and techniques. Students explore classical common statistical tests, the importance of the logic of inference, and social change implications of conducting quantitative research and producing knowledge. Students approach statistics from a problem-solving perspective with emphasis on selecting appropriate statistical tests for a research design. Students use statistical software to derive statistics from quantitative data and interpret and present results. (Prerequisite(s): RSCH 8110 or RSCH 7110 or RSCH 6110, and RESI 8401.)

The professional administrative study results in a formal manuscript designed and written to address a problem in public administration practice. Each DPA student is required to complete a professional administrative study paper and four quarters of DDPA 8400 with a satisfactory grade. The professional administrative study paper involves students' completing an applied research project that addressed an actual problem or planning situation. Students work under the direction of a faculty chair and a second faculty mentor. The professional administrative study paper takes the format of a consulting report and, at a minimum, includes the following sections:Executive SummarySituation or Problem DescriptionConceptual ApproachDetailed ProcessEvaluationRecommendations or PlanStudents take this course for a minimum of four quarters and are continuously enrolled until completion of their doctoral study with final chief academic officer (CAO) approval.To complete a doctoral study, students must obtain the academic approval of several independent evaluators including their committee, the University Research Reviewer, and the Institutional Review Board; pass the Form and Style Review; gain approval at the oral defense stage; and gain final approval by the chief academic officer. Students must also publish their doctoral study on ProQuest before their degree is conferred.