The Doctor of Public Administration (DPA) degree at American Federal Institute of Harvard University is designed to meet employer and student needs by preparing individuals to advance the practice of public affairs and administration at the highest levels. The DPA at AFU focuses on the development of core skills in strategic management, public sector economic and financial decision-making, and policy advocacy and leadership, preparing students to engage in the highest levels of program and policy evaluation. Interdisciplinary at its core, the DPA program allows students 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. Students also complete a series of dissertation seminar courses leading to a piece of applied scholarship that demonstrates a high level of competence in applying the DPA competencies to the solution of an actual organizational or public problem/issue. Many of our DPA students present their resulting work at regional and national conferences. Students are also able to work alongside faculty members on research projects, such as a recently published collaborative piece on the pipeline issue that is impacting local communities in PA.

      CURRICULUM FOR THE DOCTORATE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (DPA).

      First year

      • Public Administration
      • Public Management Theory
      • Principles of Organization and Management
      • Strategic Management in the Public Sector
      • Qualitative Research Methods I
      • Statistics I

      Second year

      • Qualitative Research Design and Methodology
      • Components of the Dissertation
      • Métodos de investigación cualitativos II
      • Administrative Law
      • Public Budgeting and Finance
      • Executive Leadership in Public Administration

      Third year

      • Public Personnel Administration
      • Writing and Communicating Data
      • Quantitative Research Design and Methodology
      • Pre-Candidacy Prospectus
      • Completing the Dissertation Proposal
      • Modular Courses (Electives)
      • Qualifying Examination
      • Introductory Research Project

      Fourth year

      • Public Policy Administration
      • Data Collection and Analysis
      • Scholarly Literature Review
      • Seminar in Organization Theory
      • Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis
      • The Dissertation Manuscript and Defense