Prepare for Executive Leadership with a Doctoral Degree in Public Administration
The Doctor of Public Administration (DPA) degree at West Chester University is designed to prepare you for the highest levels of public affairs and administration.
As a student in the DPA at WCU you’ll develop core skills in strategic management, public sector economic and financial decision-making, and policy advocacy and leadership, to prepare you to engage in the highest levels of program and policy evaluation.
Interdisciplinary at its core, the 45-credit, fully online DPA program will allow you to select a concentration (in consultation with an advisor) from among the departments of Public Policy & Administration, Criminal Justice, Geography and Planning, and Graduate Social Work. Recent dissertation research conducted by our students has examined motivation and public service values in law enforcement professionals, University-community partnerships, collaborative government, affordable housing, and long-term health care issues.
Benefits of Earning Your Doctoral Degree at West Chester University
Flexibility & Accreditation
West Chester University’s Doctor of Public Administration was designed for working professionals and is offered 100% online. Flexible, asynchronous courses allow you to log in whenever from wherever to meet assignment deadlines.
WCU’s DPA is offered through our AACSB-Accredited College of Business and Public Management. AACSB is the premier global accreditation body for business schools, and ensures top-tier quality, and innovation. Less than 6% of schools worldwide are AACSB-Accredited.
Accomplished Faculty & Research Opportunities
Faculty in the DPA program are practitioner scholars who teach in the classroom and make an impact outside of it every day.
Even with online coursework, there are opportunities for research collaboration with faculty. Research interests include higher education and finance, technology, program evaluation, organizational culture, and community service initiatives from The Fund for Women and Girls and the Frederick Douglass Institute to Journal of Social Equity and Public Administration and the AIDS/Lifecycle Ride.
Affordable Tuition
Affordability is part of WCU’s mission, and our tuition is among the most affordable in the region. To help put your graduate studies within reach, WCU also offers employee reimbursement options, payment plans, and graduate assistantships.
Personalized Advising & Dissertation Process
You’ll work closely with your advisor, program director, and faculty to achieve your personal and professional goals. Advisors will support you throughout your educational and dissertation journeys.
You will complete a series of dissertation seminar courses leading to a piece of applied scholarship that will showcase your expertise with DPA competencies by solving an organizational or public problem/issue.
Many of our DPA students present their resulting work at regional and national conferences.
What Can You Do with a Doctor of Public Administration Degree?
Our graduates are successful in a variety of industries. Many can be found in local, state and federal government; nonprofits (including founding their own organizations), law enforcement, and education administration.
Your DPA will prepare you for executive leadership, senior policy roles, academia, and consultant positions. Rather than a theory-focused Ph.D. the DPA is practice focused and will give you the hands-on skills to be successful in any area you choose.
In fact, 100% of our recent graduates surveyed were employed within six months of graduation with a median salary range of $85,000 - $89,999.
What Will You Study as a Student in the Doctor of Public Administration Program?
The Doctor of Public Administration program at WCU includes administrative, methods, and dissertation coursework as well as the option to choose an area of concentration.
A comprehensive exam is required prior to beginning work on your dissertation.
Doctor of Public Administration (D.P.A.)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Doctoral Study | ||
| DPA 700 | Doctoral Seminar in Public Policy and Administration | 3 |
| Administrative Core | ||
| DPA 701 | Advanced Practice and Applied Theories of Public Policy and Administration | 3 |
| DPA 702 | Strategic Public Sector Management and Governance | 3 |
| DPA 703 | Advanced Public Sector Economic and Financial Decision Making | 3 |
| DPA 704 | Advocacy and Leadership in Public Policy and Administration | 3 |
| Methods Sequence | ||
| DPA 705 | Research Design for Program and Policy Evaluation | 3 |
| DPA 706 | Quantitative Methods of Program and Policy Evaluation | 3 |
| DPA 707 | Qualitative Research Methods | 3 |
| Concentration Area | 9 | |
| May be selected from different departments such as: Public Policy and Administration, Criminal Justice, Geography and Planning, Graduate Social Work, Health, and Psychology. | ||
| Dissertation Project | ||
| DPA 801 | Dissertation Seminar I: Research Questions and Framing the Literature | 3 |
| DPA 802 | Dissertation Seminar II: Data and Measurements | 3 |
| DPA 803 | Dissertation Seminar III: Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis | 3 |
| DPA 804 | Dissertation Seminar IV: Recommendations and Conclusions | 3 |
| Total Credits Required | 45 | |
Get Started on YourDoctoral Degree in Public Administration
If you’re interested in working at the highest levels of public administration and policy, the DPA could be for you. Apply today and start making a difference.
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