The Status of Doctoral Programs in Public Affairs and Administration

Abstract

At least 72 doctoral programs in public affairs and administration, almost all Ph.D.s, now exist in the United States. The number of doctoral degrees awarded by NASPAA institutions grew from 169 in 2003 to 208 in 2006, according to Public Administration Times. The National Research Council formally recognized the Ph.D. in “public policy, public administration and public affairs” as a field in its 2006 Assessment of Research Doctorate Programs. In the context of this momentum, it is important to assess the current status of Ph.D. programs in public affairs and administration. The purpose of this article is to provide that snapshot of the field, with particular attention to trends and questions grounded in data collection.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Adams

G. B.

White

J. D.

. 1994. “Dissertations in Public Administration and Cognate Fields: An Assessment of Methods and Quality.” Public Administration Review, 54(6):565–576.

American Society for Public Administration . 2003. “Doctoral Degrees Awarded in Public Affairs and Administration at NASPAA Member Schools.” Public Administration Times (Education Supplement).

American Society for Public Administration . 2004. “Doctoral Degrees Awarded in Public Affairs and Administration at NASPAA Member Schools.” Public Administration Times (Education Supplement).

American Society for Public Administration . 2005. “Doctoral Degrees Awarded in Public Affairs and Administration at NASPAA Member Schools.” Public Administration Times (Education Supplement).

American Society for Public Administration . 2006. “Doctoral Degrees Awarded in Public Affairs and Administration at NASPAA Member Schools.” Public Administration Times (Education Supplement).

Brewer

G. A.

Douglas

J. W.

Facer

R. W.

II O’Toole

L. J.

Jr.

1999. “Determinants of Graduate Research Productivity in Doctoral Programs of Public Administration.” Public Administration Review, 59(5):373–382.

Cleary

E. R.

2000. “The Public Administration Doctoral Dissertation Reexamined: An Evaluation of the Dissertations of 1998.” Public Administration Review, 60(5):446–455.

Douglas

J. W.

1999. “Faculty Graduate Student, and Graduate Productivity in Public Administration and Public Affairs Programs, 1986-1993.” Public Administration Review, 56(5):433–440.

Felbinger

C. L.

Holzer

White

J. D.

. 1999. “The Doctorate in Public Administration: Some Unsolved Questions and Recommendations.” Public Administration Review, 59(5):459–464.

10.

Raadschelders

C. N. J.

Douglas

J. W.

. 2003. “The Doctoral Graduate in Public Administration: Apprentice or Master?” Journal of Public Affairs Education, 9(4):229–243.

11.

White

J. D.

Adams

Guy B.

Forrester

J. P.

. 1996. “Knowledge and Theory Development in Public Administration: The Role of Doctoral Education in Research.” Public Administration Review, 56(5):441–452.