Doctoral Program in Public Administration
We are an established Carnegie designated PhD Program with a robust research tradition. The School of Public Administration (SPA) at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) will empower you to establish a strong intellectual identity. You will be introduced to different knowledge traditions and become thoroughly immersed in the discourse of public administration and its integration of theory and practice. At UNO, we foster a culture of openness where the
process of knowledge creation among students is a common enterprise. As our students move through the PhD program, they have opportunities to teach and to work hand-in-hand with faculty. When they graduate, they are prepared to understand and help solve public problems as an esteemed academic professional.
Why SPA?
Why UNO?
The School of Public Administration, located on the UNO campus, is a national leader in public service education, with five of its programs ranked in the nation’s top 25 by U.S. News & World Report. To learn more about the School of Public Administration’s national rankings, please visit National Rankings.
After you have completed your course of study and have earned your UNO graduate degree or certificate, you will find the value of your education is highly sought after and will set you on the path to not only getting your dream job but thriving in your career.
Contemporary society doesn’t function on its own. Leaders must prepare to face challenging questions and guide it. The School of Public Administration at UNO is home to internationally known faculty whose dedication prepares tomorrow’s leaders to manage organizations, plan cities, protect natural resources, hold elected office and ensure access to human services.
If you think public service is in your future, you’ll find that our diverse programming can complement your interests and provide a strong orientation to the field.
The University of Nebraska Omaha offers premier graduate education at extremely competitive tuition rates, which are the most affordable in the region. Whether you are a full-time or parttime student, or taking a course for professional development, you have full access to a traditional university experience on a metropolitan campus with nationally recognized faculty and accredited curriculum.
Approximately 2,800 graduate students from 41 states and 83 countries attend UNO.
Why Omaha?
The Omaha metropolitan area provides excellent opportunities for personal growth and enrichment. Omaha is home to numerous performing arts venues, leading technology centers, national sporting events and exciting urban nightlife. Affordable housing options are available near campus and in a variety of dynamic neighborhoods. UNO serves as a gateway to a metropolitan environment and is an indispensable part of the Omaha community. Omaha is home to five Fortune 500 companies. More than 50 Fortune 500 companies have operations in the Omaha area as well. UNO Graduate Studies programs take full advantage of the opportunities Omaha has to offer. All graduate programs have strong connections and partnerships with corporations and non-profit organizations that value and recruit professionals with a UNO graduate degree. These close ties to businesses offer a multitude of opportunities for internships, mentoring, networking and jobs.
#1 The 10 Best Cities to Raise a Family in America, Movoto Blog, Jan. 2014 #2 Best Cities to Find a Job in 2015, Fortune, June 2015
The 5 Best Big Cities - Midwest, Time.com/money, Aug. 2015
Structure of the Curriculum
The doctoral program curriculum is comprised of academic course work, field exams, a dissertation proposal and finally, the doctoral dissertation. At each stage of this course of study students add layers of knowledge with each building upon the next. By the numbers, there are four core seminars, three advanced research courses, and four specialization courses, and a formal teaching workshop required prior to the field exams and dissertation work.
Core Seminars
There are four required core seminars in the doctoral program of study. These seminars are taken at the beginning of a student’s program of study and cover the theoretical foundations of the field, the major knowledge frameworks that form the basis for research design and methods, the political social and economic environments of public administration, and the history of management reforms. PA 9000 | Foundations of Public Administration PA 9300 | Knowledge Development & Use PA 9400 | Environment of Public Administration PA 9600 | Seminar in Advanced Management Theory
Research Track
There are three required research seminars. The first two courses are taken during the first or second year of a student’s program and cover quantitative and qualitative research design and methods. The third course on advanced research design is taken at the end of the student’s course work under the supervision of the committee chair and covers the elements of a successful dissertation proposal. PA 9800 | Advanced Research Design PA 9950 | Quantitative Methods in Public Administration PA 9960 | Qualitative Research Methods
Teaching & Professional Skills Workshop
There is a required two-day workshop which doctoral students take prior to completing their degree. A team of faculty facilitate discussions on topics related to teaching and job search skills. The workshop includes videotaping of students giving “micro” lectures and feedback from faculty and students.
Dissertation
The dissertation represents an original contribution to knowledge development in the field of Public Administration. Following successful completion of all course work and a field exam, doctoral students apply for Candidacy for the Degree and then defend a dissertation proposal before their supervisory committees and other faculty and
proposal, students work under the guidance of their supervisory committee chairs until the project is substantially complete. Two readers from the student’s supervisory committee then review the entire document and may recommend further work or changes. After the committee chair and readers agree that the dissertation is ready for defense, the student schedules a public defense.
Specializations
The faculty offer six areas of specialization. Doctoral students choose two courses (6 hours) in each of two areas, for a total of 12 credit hours. The area of specialization includes a seminar or proseminar and second course drawn from the graduate curriculum of Public Administration or a related academic unit in the university system. The six specialization areas are: • • • • • •
Public Administration Theory Public Aviation & Transportation Public Budgeting & Finance Public Policy Urban Management Information & Technology Management
Intellectual Identity
Academic Focus Faculty
The graduate faculty at UNO is world-class and internationally recognized through professional academic associations. The faculty members are dedicated to individual student instruction and mentoring to help guide students through their courses of study. The average class size is seven students.
U.S. News & World Report
UNO graduate programs are cited in U.S. News & World Report’s ‘Best Graduate Schools’ rankings.
The Carnegie Foundation
The Carnegie Foundation has classified UNO as a Carnegie Doctoral Research University for our specialized doctoral programs and comprehensive range of master’s degrees and certificates.
Successful completion of the PhD requires each student to have a sophisticated relationship with knowledge and an awareness of one’s own intellectual project. Doctoral students are introduced to the ontological and epistemological foundations of knowledge. This occurs within an academic culture of openness and the shared understanding of terms, ideas and concepts in order to work scientifically and creatively. Students are able to identify with a specific research tradition and method of inquiry that matches their own paradigmatic commitments.
Academic Rigor
Doctoral study requires a tenacious commitment to the advancement of knowledge. This ideal is reflected in the level of difficulty of the course work, exams and dissertation process. Students can expect rich and intense subject matter interaction with faculty and fellow students. A successful dissertation defense is the pinnacle of these expectations for high academic achievement, content expertise and intellectual complexity.
Democratic Purpose
The practice of public administration occurs within a diverse and democratic society. Democratic practice equally informs the day-today management and delivery of public services as well as broader debates over public purposes. Knowledge of democratic governance is
emphasized throughout the curriculum. Students gain intensive knowledge of the Federalist and Anti-Federalist debates, the historic tension between democracy and bureaucracy, the role of the public interest, competing theories of democracy and their relationship to administrative accountability and public participation, to name just a few of these core concepts.
Excellent Placements
Graduates of the PhD in Public Administration Program include faculty at the following institutions: • • • • •
Rutgers University SUNY Albany Florida International University California State University, Fullerton Sun Yat Sen University (People’s Republic of China)
Doctoral Program FAQ Do you have graduate assistantships available?
Yes, we have graduate assistantships available. Our graduate assistants work with a faculty member on research projects and grants. Graduate assistants will eventually teach at the undergraduate level with support of our faculty. Applications to be considered for a graduate assistantship are due February 1.
Do graduate assistants get paid?
Yes, our graduate assistants received a stipend of $18,000 during the academic year (September-May). Tuition is paid for by UNO. Students pay for their student fees and textbooks.
How much does the program cost?
UNO’s tuition is based on a per credit rate at the following rates: Resident On-campus: $249.50 Nonresident On-campus: $697.00 The cost of the program varies since it depends on how many credits are completed and the number of semesters enrolled.
PhD Admissions
Admission to the PhD Program is the decision of the Dean of Graduate Studies based on the recommendations of the School of Public Administration Doctoral Program Committee. There are two application deadlines, one on February 1 for applicants seeking financial assistance and the second on June 1 for all other students seeking admission. There are 10 elements in the application portfolio, including three letters of recommendation, (listed on the next page). All application materials must be received by the applicable deadline in order for the application to be reviewed by the Doctoral Program Committee. Those applicants who enter the program with a masters degree in a field other than PA 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 prerequisites are necessary before enrolling in the core curriculum.
APPLY TODAY
Application deadline for financial aid: February 1 Application deadline for all other students seeking admission: June 1
Application Checklist
Applicants apply online at http://www.unomaha.edu/graduate/prospective.php: 1. All official transcripts from post-secondary educational institutions are sent to: Office of Graduate Studies and Research, Eppley Administration Building 204, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE 68182 2. A $45.00 application fee 3. Completed graduate application 4. A minimum TOEFL score of 557 (or 233 on computer-based test or 90 on internet based test)*; or minimum IELTS score of 6.5, or minimum Pearson score of 61 5. A minimum Graduate Record Exam combined verbal and quantitative score of 305
6. A five-page statement of intent describing what career the applicant wishes to pursue after completion of the PhD, desired area of concentration and an explanation of academic and professional backgrounds 7. A resume of professional work experience 8. Three email addresses for your writers of letters of recommendation; two recommendations must be academic; the Graduate Studies Office will contact each of them via email to obtain the letters * Required if applicant’s language of nurture is not English and master’s degree is not from a university in a country where the official language is English.
SCHOOL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION If you have any questions about the Public Administration Doctoral Program at UNO, please read through our website and contact us. Dr. Gary Marshall Doctoral Program Chair gmarshal@unomaha.edu 402.554.2962 Dr. Meagan Van Gelder Academic Program Coordinator mvangelder@unomaha.edu 402.554.3480 We look forward to assisting you as you explore the many possibilities of the PhD Program in Public Administration at UNO. The University of Nebraska at Omaha shall not discriminate based upon age, race, ethnicity, color, national origin, gender-identity, sex, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran’s status, marital status, religion, or political affiliation.