Main navigation
- Programs
- Subjects
- Universities
- Destinations
- Advice
The PhD program focuses on academic excellence in public administration, policy, management, and criminal justice/criminology, preparing graduates for careers in academia, consulting, government, policy analysis, political advocacy, and nonprofit organizations. Success in the program often depends on alignment between student research interests and faculty expertise. Applicants are strongly encouraged to research School of Public Affairs faculty members, including their scholarly work, professional backgrounds, and areas of specialization. Prospective students can gather this information through coursework, direct faculty conversations, and discussions with current doctoral candidates. Applications should clearly specify one to three potential faculty advisors in the personal statement.
Admission to the program is based on the personal and professional qualifications of the applicant. It is desirable that an applicant have a master’s degree in public administration or a closely related field before undertaking doctoral work. Applicants should have:
GPA of 3.5 or above in master's-level course work
GRE scores (no more than five years old) that are, at a minimum, above the 50th percentile ranking in both the quantitative and verbal sections.
TOEFL iBT Overall Score 79 (Reading 8 Listening 7 Speaking 18 Writing 16) IELTS ACADEMIC - 6.5 (Reading 5.5 Listening 5.5 Speaking 5.5 Writing 5.5)