Doctorate in Public Administration (DPA)

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

The doctorate in public administration (DPA) is a cohort program that starts every other fall term. A cohort is a group of students who start and finish a program together. This program is available at the Hamline University Saint Paul Campus. The Hamline University doctorate in public administration (DPA) is ideal for professionals who wish to build on the knowledge and experience they have already attained, who are anticipating their next career step, or who want to pursue the highest qualification in their profession.

The Hamline University doctorate in public administration (DPA) is a part-time program designed for working professionals interested in the in-depth analysis of state and local public policy issues. The program integrates theory and practice, service and values to foster students’ critical thinking skills and scholarship. Students completing the Hamline University doctorate in public administration (DPA) program should expect to achieve:

Advanced public leadership skills and knowledge, with a focus on critical issues and challenges facing senior managers in governance and politics
Mastery of the field of public administration, due to an in-depth exploration of contemporary ideas and practices related to public administration
A substantial ability to work with, synthesize, and integrate public administration concepts
Enhanced skills as producers and consumers of public administration research, applying this advanced knowledge to the field and to the workplace
An improved ability to communicate public administration concepts to diverse audiences
Enrichment through interaction with other reflective public administration practitioners

NOTE: Hamline recognizes that many professionals interested in public administration may have received master’s degrees or extensive graduate-level education in fields other than public administration. To accommodate these students, the Hamline University School of Business offers options to prepare academically prior to entering the program.

DPA Degree Requirements (Total of 48 credits, exam completion and dissertation completion/defense):

5 Required Core Courses (20 credits)

4 Elective Courses (16 credits)

Choose from any School of Business course level 8500 or above.

Final Exam:

After completion of all coursework, students must pass a final comprehensive exam.

Earning a Certificate in Advanced Public Administration (CAPA)

After completion of the above, students may exit the program with a certificate in advanced public administration (CAPA) or continue working toward the doctorate in public administration.

The CAPA is ideal for professionals who wish to build on the experience and knowledge they have already attained, and who anticipate substantial increases in their responsibilities. Through skills learned in the certificate program, students may be able to advance their careers, and also advance the field of public administration, allowing for more effective public leadership.

Dissertation Completion/Defense (12 credits)

The completion and defense of a dissertation is the final requirement in the doctorate of public administration (DPA) program. The DPA candidate must demonstrate a high level of academic competence, which typically results in a significant contribution of new knowledge in the field. The DPA dissertation usually focuses on applying theory to practice in the contexts of critical public issues and the student’s professional experience. To advance to degree candidacy, the DPA candidate is required to complete the Dissertation I course and successfully defend a dissertation prospectus. Then, the DPA candidate is expected to register for dissertation work (Dissertation II and Dissertation III) for two consecutive semesters, leading to the completion and successful defense of the Dissertation. However, a student who is able to rearrange her or his work schedule to permit more intense concentration on the dissertation may register for Dissertation II and Dissertation III in the same semester. This requires prior approval from the student’s advisor and her or his dissertation committee chair.

Time Limit:

New students enter in the fall semester, and normally complete most or all of their core courses together. (Exceptions can be arranged with the approval of a student’s advisor and the program faculty coordinator.) Satisfactory/steady progress is typically completion of one course per term, two or three terms per year. Normally students complete all required core courses within the first three years of study.

NOTE: Ten years is the maximum time allowed for students to complete the doctorate in public administration (DPA) program.

NOTE:

These requirements are consistent with other doctoral program requirements (as per the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs Administration Committee on Doctoral Programs, 1993).

DPA Application Requirements:

Completed application form (available online at: www.hamline.edu/gsm/admission/online_application.html)
Personal Statement. A one- to two-page personal statement, typewritten and double-spaced, detailing:
- why you have chosen Hamline University,
- how the degree program will help you meet your career goals, and
- which concentrations or policy areas are of interest to you and why.
Professional résumé or curriculum vitae.
Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate work. If your transcripts are in a language other than English, you must submit both the original and an official or a certified course by course English translation. The Hamline University School of Business reserves the right to require applicants to have their academic records evaluated by an academic credential evaluator.
Three letters of recommendation, written by people familiar with your academic and/or professional history, detailing your specific qualifications to pursue advanced study (letters from family members are unacceptable).
Writing sample. A sample of your academic or work-related writing, typewritten, at least three pages in length, written in the last two years, and written solely by you.