About PhD Program,
The PhD program in public administration and policy at the University of Georgia has a strong research orientation and maintains high standards in the admission and evaluation of students. Graduates of the program have received numerous national dissertation awards in public administration and public policy. They are placed in Research I institutions throughout the United States and in leading institutions of higher learning around the globe where they contribute to the expansion of knowledge in the fields of public management and policy analysis.
Our PhD students work closely with an award-winning, highly productive, and internationally recognized research faculty. The aim of the program is to educate professionals who can generate, share, and consume knowledge effectively in academic settings, and the curriculum is crafted with those objectives in mind. First, it provides an appreciation for the broad range of issues — economic, institutional, normative, and political — that surround public administration and public policy in the contemporary state. Second, it equips students with the research skills that are needed to conduct original investigations of questions central to these fields. Finally, it immerses students in the core issues, research traditions, and applied skills of a management or policy specialization of their choice.
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
To be considered for admission to the PhD program, students must hold a baccalaureate and masters degrees from accredited college or university programs and must demonstrate potential for excellence in the study of public administration and public policy.
Doctoral applications are considered for fall semester admission only and must be received in time for thorough consideration by the Department of Public Administration and Policy and the Graduate School. Applicants from countries where English is not the native language must submit official TOEFL or IELTS scores with their application materials. Please request that official scores be sent to UGA. Photocopies of will not be accepted. Any application originating from outside the United States must be received at least twelve weeks before the beginning of the fall semester.
Doctoral applicants are admitted only if the department can offer them financial assistance in the form of a research or teaching assistantship as noted above. All doctoral applicants must submit all application materials before February 1 deadline to ensure full consideration.
PhD Funding Coverage,
Information on the cost of attendance can be found on the Office of Student Financial Aid’s website. However, the Department of Public Administration and Policy places all PhD students on teaching or research assistantships that provide tuition waivers and stipends ranging from approximately $19,000 to $22,000 for a nine-month academic year. Assistantships also require at least a 17 hour per-week work commitment and are renewable for up to four years depending upon satisfactory academic success. To achieve renewal for years two and three, you must maintain a 3.7 GPA and avoid grades of Incomplete except in cases of documented medical hardship. In order to continue funding in year four, you must have passed all comprehensive exams and successfully defended your dissertation prospectus before the completion of the third year.
Application Requirement,
- Online Graduate School Application and fee ($75 domestic / $100 international).
- One unofficial transcript from each institution of higher education attended, except the University of Georgia (University of Georgia transcripts are on file). You may upload transcripts through the application portal or mail them directly to the UGA Graduate School.
- Official GRE test score report. The UGA institutional code for ETS reporting is 5813. No departmental code is required.
- You will be prompted to upload a resume and statement of purpose. The statement of purpose is your opportunity to communicate to us how this program fits with your future plans. You should use this document to convey why this area of study and specifically this program are a good fit with your career and educational goals. You should also highlight your relevant experience and preparation for this program.
- You will be asked to enter the email addresses of three recommenders. If you would rather submit paper letters to the department, list your name and e-mail in the boxes on the online application that ask for your recommenders. That way, only you will receive the electronic letter of recommendation requests, which you may delete.
- International applicants please see additional requirements.
If you have problems uploading documents to your application or any other application issues, please contact Kristin Lawrence at (706) 542-3510 or padpgrad@uga.edu.
Application Deadline,
Feb 01, 2025
Application Fee,
- Application fee ($75 domestic / $100 international).
