PhD of Public Administration

The doctoral program in the Department of Public Administration provides students with a rich and diverse education through a combination of hands-on research training and a foundation of coursework targeted at your specific areas of interest.

The goal of doctoral training is to equip individuals to add to the knowledge of public administration and related fields through disciplined research. When practicing professionals undertake the doctorate they should recognize the need to demonstrate substantial research skills and to interact with a research faculty on a continuing basis as they design and execute their dissertation projects.

Degree Requirements

A minimum of 96 semester hours of coursework beyond the baccalaureate is required. Those holding the Master of Public Administration from UIC or an equivalent program will ordinarily receive a maximum of 32 semester hours toward the degree requirement. A cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00 (A = 4.00) in all graduate courses taken at UIC is required for graduation.

Specializations:

• Public and Nonprofit Management: The Public and Non-Profit Management specialization prepares students to conduct research on the management of agencies at all levels of government and non-profit organizations. Although knowledge about management in these sectors borrows heavily from the knowledge of management in the private sector, public management is fundamentally different due to the context of public governance and public values. Although they are not public organizations, non-profit agencies face demands and pressures that are similar to yet different from public organizations. All Ph.D. students selecting this area of specialization are required to take PA 527, Public Management Theory
• Financial Management: The Financial Management specialization prepares students to conduct research on the financial administration and fiscal policy of governments, primarily at the state and local levels. This is a very broad area of research with theoretical bases in the fields of public finance, political science, management, and accounting. Learning in the specialization focuses on applying theories and research in these fields to the context of the public sector in order to affect government policy and management decisions, and also to enhance knowledge in the broader field of public administration. All Ph.D. students selecting this area of specialization are required to take PA 554, Advanced Seminar in Financial Management.
• Survey Methods: The Survey Methods specialization prepares students to use surveys to conduct research in all areas of public and nonprofit administration and to conduct methodological research on the use of survey methods. Although survey design and analysis are skills that can be used in a wide range of substantive fields and areas of study, students are specifically focused on the use of surveys in research conducted by academics, government, and nonprofit organizations. All Ph.D. students selecting this area of specialization are required to take PA 578, Surveys, Public Opinion and Public Policy.
• Urban Governance and Networks: The Urban Governance and Networks specialization prepares students to conduct research on the variety of organizational structures through which local and regional public services/policies are designed, implemented, and evaluated. Urban policy issues cross traditional jurisdictional boundaries and require the integration of actors operating in different sectors and at different scales. Governance in urban/regional settings occurs through multiple and overlapping networks of governments, nonprofits, and for-profit organizations. This specialization explores the formation and management of government networks as well as their capacity to address the challenges confronting communities throughout the world. Research on urban governance draws from literature on collaborative management, local governance institutions, network science, political science, and public policy. All Ph.D. students selecting this area of specialization are required to take PA 562, Local, Urban, and Regional Institutions and Public Policy.

What do we think we're doing?

The short answer is that we are trying to make the places we live better for everyone. That can mean different things to different people and there are certainly many ways to go about it. And that's really why there is a UIC CUPPA.

We look at the history, theory, and practice of why we live where we do and what we need in the places we live in. We add that to our new research, new data, and new information. After that, we remember our dreams. We get creative and use our imaginations. Finally, we share our work to help residents go about making things as fair as they can be, get through the tough times if and when they happen, and be prosperous.

We believe in our mission. We promote just, resilient, and livable communities.

We are CUPPA.

CUPPA’s two undergraduate programs have 130 students. Our five graduate programs have 375 students. That means personalized attention from the faculty and staff across the college.

Thirty-four full-time faculty members teach our undergraduate and graduate classes. Adjunct faculty members hired specifically for their expertise in a particular topic in the Chicago metropolitan region are added for special course topics.

Our very own building, CUPPA Hall adjoins our Art and Exhibition Hall, which serves as the home for our contemporary, technologically enhanced classrooms. Our building also supports meeting rooms, computer labs, lounges, and discussion spaces for students 24/7. In the final stages of completion, CUPPA Hall underwent renovations totaling over $7 million.

Celebrate Our Differences

Theodore Levitt said, "One should not focus on the differences between people but look for commonality and similarity."

The UIC College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs is proud to be a community of students, staff, and faculty from around the world. Indeed, one of the most important experiences we offer our students, staff, and faculty is the opportunity to study, learn and work in a wonderfully diverse environment.

Recent restrictions to US entry by immigrants and refugees from Muslim-majority countries stand in direct contradiction to CUPPA’s core values of encouraging cultural diversity and respecting the unique individual contributions of our students, faculty, and staff. For all of our CUPPA undocumented students, foreign students, postdocs, visiting scholars, staff, and faculty, please know that your continued presence and success is of the utmost importance to the College. You greatly enrich our lives and we are privileged and honored to have you here with us at UIC.

CUPPA remains committed to promoting reasoned dialogue and civil discourse. We will work with you to ensure you have safe spaces and full access to the faculty, staff, and administrators in the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs to share your concerns, ask questions, or seek support.

Sweet Home Chicago

Proud to be part of the Chicagoland Region

Located in the heart of one of the world's global cities, the University of Illinois at Chicago and our College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs are a vital part of the educational, technological, and cultural fabric of the region.

Real people live, study, and work in Chicago; our city is known for its history, resilience, and a premier location in the center of the country. We are not isolated at the edges but fully immersed in the culture of the citizens surrounding us.

At CUPPA, we work hand in hand with the city of Chicago and the surrounding region, which contains the most local governments of all U.S. metro areas. We are able to use the intellectual capital among our faculty, students, and alumni to the benefit of all that surrounds us and beyond.