Public Policy and Administration, PhD

The curriculum of the Ph.D. program provides knowledge of the principles of organizational behavior, an understanding of the public policy process and policy issues, and an ability to analyze policy and administrative problems through research and analytical methods. 

Admission Requirements

Many incoming students will hold a master’s degree in public administration or public policy. Other students with master’s degrees in such areas as political science, economics, agricultural economics or business administration will be evaluated with respect to their background in public administration. All students are expected to have taken four University of Kentucky courses: PA 652 PUBLIC POLICY ECONOMICS , PA 631 PUBLIC FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT , PA 642 PUBLIC AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THEORY AND BEHAVIOR , and PA 651 THE POLICY PROCESS , or their equivalents from a NASPAA accredited program or their equivalents. Students who have not fulfilled these class requirements will do so before taking the relevant Ph.D. core classes. All students are also expected to have a strong background in research methodology and will need to take calculus before beginning the Ph.D. classes. Applicants must be prepared to submit:  

• A one-to-three-page statement explaining why you wish to pursue a Ph.D. degree.  
• A resume or CV. 
• Transcripts from each post-secondary institution that you have attended. They can be unofficial for admission purposes, but official transcripts must be submitted upon enrollment.  
  • Minimum of 2.75 GPA on all undergraduate coursework, preferably over 3.0 GPA.  
  • Minimum of 3.0 GPA on all previous graduate level coursework, preferably over 3.5 GPA. 
• The email address of at least three individuals who have agreed to write a recommendation letter on your behalf. Ideally, at least two letters are from academic references. 
• A writing sample.  
• You will enter your GRE or GMAT scores in the Graduate School application but will also need to submit official scores from ETS.  

The Martin School does not have “cut-off” scores when it comes to the GRE (or other accepted admissions exam) and considers all aspects of students’ records, including evidence of improving performance during students’ academic careers. The final selection of students for admission will be subject to the discretion of the director of Graduate Studies based on the advice of the admissions committee of the Ph.D. program. Competitive admission is based on a consideration of the documents listed above. 

Degree Requirements

Students are required to take 42 hours of graduate course work beyond the master’s degree or its equivalent.  

• The program of study includes 15 credit hours of core courses,  
  • PA 731 FISCAL AND BUDGETARY POLICY  (3)  
  • PA 742 THEORY OF PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS  (3) 
  • PA 750 INTRODUCTION TO ECONOMICS FOR PUBLIC POLICY  (3) 
  • PA 751 PUBLIC POLICY FORMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION  (3) 
  • PA 752 THE ECONOMICS OF POLICY ANALYSIS  (3) 
• 15 credit hours in the area of concentration,  
• 3 credit hours of theory related to and supporting the student’s area of concentration, and  
• 9 credit hours of research methodology courses.  
• In addition to course work, students complete two exams and a dissertation. The dissertation involves research on a public management or public policy issue. 
  • PA 767 DISSERTATION RESIDENCY CREDIT  (2) (minimum of 2 semesters) 

https://martin.uky.edu/phd