Doctorate in Public Administration Degrees (DPA)

Consider a featured online public administration program currently taking applications.

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School Level Program
Liberty University Doctor Doctor of Public Administration
100% online DPA program. 2.5 year average completion time.
JHU Advanced Academic Programs Graduate Graduate Government Studies Programs

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This degree program can be a great way for students to learn more about the leadership components present within the nonprofit sector, as well as some of the challenges and decisions that can be faced at this level.

The skills and techniques taught within these programs can assist students within make better leadership choices that can improve the services that their organization provides.

The Doctorate in Public Administration was designed in an effort to provide students with practical skills relevant to the public and nonprofit field. This may include a deeper look into the financial aspects of nonprofits, the ins and outs of policy analysis and the laws and ethics surrounding employee management within these agencies. Nonprofit agencies are complex entities that may require professionals to be involved in diverse training prior to applying for open positions. If you are interested in this type of degree program, you should review some of the programs available to you below.

Consider a featured online public administration program currently taking applications.

AD
School Level Program
Liberty University Doctor Doctor of Public Administration
100% online DPA program. 2.5 year average completion time.
JHU Advanced Academic Programs Graduate Graduate Government Studies Programs

Click for more 100% online public administration programs.

Doctorate Degree Public Administration Programs To Consider

The program you choose for your education can be the first step to a successful career. You may have certain requirements for a degree program, including those that are reliable or even online. Online degree programs are some of the most preferred in society today, since students can attend classes from their own home and do not have to worry about scheduling conflicts and time missed at home or work.

We have researched online Doctorate in Public Administration programs throughout the United States in order to introduce you to a few in this section. Take a look at each of the open programs below to see if one could meet your needs.

Valdosta State University

Students that are seeking a terminal degree in public administration that can help extend their skills and knowledge in leadership within the public sector can consider Valdosta State University for their online program. The online Doctor of Public Administration at this university may consist of 54 credit hours that can be completed in around 2 years after the completion of a master’s program. This program can be a great resource for people seeking higher level positions within their current field.

California Baptist University

At the doctorate level, students may focus more on the problem-solving aspects of management within the nonprofit sectors. The online Doctorate in Public Administration at CBU can be an excellent choice for upcoming students that are seeking better management skills and tactics for solving some of the most complex social problems. This program may require students to complete 50 credit units throughout the duration of the program. Most students can complete the entire program within 3 years, which include the dissertation.

West Chester University

Located in Pennsylvania, West Chester University can be a great resource for upcoming public administration students seeking reputable and reliable degree programs. This university currently offers an online Doctor of Public Administration program for those interested in going the extra mile with their education. Students in this program may complete 43 credit hours from start to finish. The entire program can be completed in 2-3 years, depending on whether or not students can be enrolled full-time.

Common Doctorate Coursework to Expect

While reviewing available programs, you should also take a look at the types of courses that you might be expected to take throughout the process. Each program may consist of different courses, especially if you decide to take on a specialization with your program.

In total, most of the degree programs in public administration may consist of similar topics related to leadership, policy analysis and ethics. The goal of these programs is to create more knowledgeable and ethical leaders within the nonprofit sector, so coursework may focus on the main areas of management within the field.

As you can see in the list below, the role of the leader in the nonprofit agency can be very diverse. If you are interested in being a part of this field, you should have a deep understanding of different leadership techniques that can be effective with people from different cultural backgrounds.

You may also be required to review and suggest change in employee performance in order to maximize efficiency for the people you serve. Leaders within this domain can also be expected to evaluate their programs and assess the need for change. All of these responsibilities can be covered throughout this program’s curriculum.

Leadership in the Public Sector

It may be vital for public administration specialists to have the skills to effectively lead large teams towards a common goal. Courses such as this one can help students recognize their strengths in leadership and teach new skills that can assist with providing top-notch services in the field. Finance and communication may also be a part of this course, as well as public relations and advertising.

Performance Measurement and Evaluation

Another aspect of public administration that may be increasingly important to upcoming professionals may be measuring the performance of employees. In this course, students can learn about different methods for evaluating the performance of employees and implementing specific strategies to help increase the effectiveness of employee performance in the workplace. Students may take a look at different methodologies to determine which methods are most effective in different scenarios.

Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis

The role of the public administration manager may go beyond just managing large teams of public professionals. Some of the duties of professionals at this level may include developing research projects to determine needed change and implementing relevant solutions. In this course, students can learn more about collecting data, testing hypotheses and delivering results to research questions. These skills can be helpful in problem solving and program implementation throughout a career.

Public Administration Doctorate Degree Career Options

The Doctorate in Public Administration can be a great way for upcoming professionals to learn skills that can be relevant to management in the public sector, as well as research in the field. The skills that can be learned throughout this degree program can be great resources for students that are unsure about the professional path that they desire, as well as helpful for students that wish to make a difference in the quality of services within the field of public administration.

Those interested in learning more about what type of careers are available at this level should take a look at some of the job titles listed below.

  • Political Science Specialist
  • Social Science Research
  • Policy Analysis
  • Public Operations Specialist
  • Nonprofit Manager

How Much Does A Doctorate in Public Administration Graduate Make?

The career that you choose after completing your degree program can potentially have an effect on the quality of public services within your community. There are multiple paths you can take as a professional in this field, many of which can be great choices financially.

Students that pursue degrees in the field of public administration may seek out positions at the local or government level and can even pursue private endeavors concerned with social improvement. Our team of educational experts has reviewed some of the top positions for degree-earners in this field and provided some salary data below for you to review.

Social Scientists

$83,230 on average per year (BLS)

Survey Researchers

$54,270 on average per year (BLS)

Doctorate Versus PhD in Public Administration

After you have completed a Bachelor’s or Master’s in Public Administration, you may be seeking even more out of your education. There are multiple doctoral-level degree options for students at this level to consider, so you should always look at the differences between different programs to determine which could be the right choice for you.

Most students that choose to move forward into a doctorate or PhD program may wonder what differences are common between the 2 routes. Read more below to learn which could be the right choice for you.

The Doctorate in Public Administration is a degree program that can be helpful to current professionals already in the field. The purpose of this degree program is to provide students with practical skills that can assist them with being better leaders in the field. The topics discussed in this program may be more focused on the application of public management or leadership in the field, compared to the PhD program in Public Administration.

The PhD in Public Administration may be more focused on the research and change that takes place within the nonprofit sector. Students may learn skills that can help them become better researchers, which can help make a difference in the quality of public organizations from an insider perspective.

So, if you plan to work in positions that seek to change and improve the quality of nonprofit systems throughout the country, this may be the better choice for you.

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