The School of Public Administration offers a Doctor of Philosophy degree. This doctoral program is designed to prepare students for research, teaching, and service. The program is seeking applicants who show a record of previous success, and strong potential for continued success in the Ph.D. program and beyond.

Program Information

• Competitive stipends are available at $12,000 - $16,000 plus 80% - 100% tuition reimbursement
• Application deadlines are November 1st and April 1st of each year for domestic students, and February 15th and August 15th for international students.
• Excellent placement record in faculty and research positions upon graduation
• There are currently 48 students in the program taking courses and actively involved in their dissertation
• Advanced Schedule (Fall 2006 - Spring 2010)
• Policy on Appeal of Dismissal
• New Policy Manual
• Graduate School Application

Ph.D. in Public Administraton Admission Requirements

All applicants must show a record of previous academic success, strong potential for continued success in the Ph.D. program, and a logical rationale for seeking admission to the program. Applicants to the Ph.D. program must hold a master's degree. If the applicant does not have an MPA degree, the MPA core or its equivalent must be completed.

All applicants should have a minimum graduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 or higher, a combined score of at least 1000 on the verbal and quantitative portions of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), and a minimum score of 4.5 on the Analytical Writing section. In addition, applicants must submit a current resume, a professional 1etter of intent, two samples of academic or professional writing, and three academic or professional letters of reference.

If an applicant fails to present a minimum GRE score of 1000 and a GPA of 3.5, the applicant may be considered by the Graduate Admissions and Petition Committee. The Committee will review all evidence of high promise to include, but not limited to:

1. Trend of graduate grades;
2. Type of graduate program; 
3. Mature work experience;
4. Performance in required preparatory work;
5. Scores upon retaking the Graduate Record Examination when required.

Upon completion of the review of such evidence, and through a petition process, the applicant may be admitted to the Ph.D. program by the Admissions and Petition Committee.

Transfer Credits

Acceptance of transfer credits from approved institutions is dependent on the pertinence of the work to the Ph.D. program. Transfer of credits should occur at the time of admission and is limited to six semester credits subject to the following restrictions:

1. Grades on all transfer credits must be a minimum of "B" (3.0 in a 4.0 grading system).
2. No graduate credit will be allowed for correspondence or extension work.

Credit Duplication

No credit used for another degree or preparatory/ deficiency course credit may be counted toward the 63 hours in the Ph,D, degree.

Time Limitations

Candidates for the Ph.D. degree must complete all work within a seven-consecutive-year period after initial registration in the graduate program.

Dismissal

Students may be dismissed from this degree program at any time for cause. Decision rule is majority vote of the SPA faculty.

Students may appeal such dismissal by sending a letter, with supporting documentation, to the Director of the School, who will place it on the agenda of the next faculty meeting provided the letter is received at least four days in advance.

Academic Standing

Continuation in the graduate program requires satisfactory progress toward the graduate degree. Evidence of such progress includes maintenance of a 3.25 cumulative average throughout the course of academic study. In addition, only grades of A, A-, B+, and B are acceptable in fulfilling graduate school requirements in the Ph.D. plan of study.

Students who do not maintain the required 3.25 cumulative GPA will be placed on academic probation in the semester immediately following the semester in which the cumulative GPA drops below 3.25. Failure to regain a 3.25 cumulative average within two successive semesters following the semester in which the deficiency first occurred can result in dismissal. The faculty of the School of Public Administration reserves the right to dismiss any student at any time when in its judgment the student is not making satisfactory progress toward completion of the degree.

Lets move on to the Ph.D. in Public Administration Course Descriptions.

Faculty and the Students

Ph.D students work closely with distinguished professors, who have published over 60 articles in the last school year, including:

Students in the Ph.D. program are diverse. Each semester there is a sizable full-time contingent; several part-time, mature professionals; and a healthy mix of students by age, gender, and nationality. The students are closely guided through diversified dissertations by a faculty.

Some recent dissertation titles include:

You may contact Todd Hedrick, Coordinator, at thedrick@fau.edu or send a letter to:

Ph.D Coordinator
School of Public Administration
Florida Atlantic University
111 East Las Olas Blvd
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301