Twin Cities campus

This is archival data. This system was retired as of August 21, 2023 and the information on this page has not been updated since then. For current information, visit catalogs.umn.edu.

 
Twin Cities Campus

Public Affairs, Ph.D.

HHH Administration
Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs
Link to a list of faculty for this program.
Contact Information
Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota, 301 19th Avenue S, Minneapolis, MN 55455 (612-624-3800; fax: 612-626-0002)
  • Program Type: Doctorate
  • Requirements for this program are current for Spring 2019
  • Length of program in credits: 66
  • This program does not require summer semesters for timely completion.
  • Degree: Doctor of Philosophy
Along with the program-specific requirements listed below, please read the General Information section of this website for requirements that apply to all major fields.
The doctor of philosophy (PhD) in public affairs offers students opportunities for rigorous, advanced study in the areas of public affairs, policy analysis, and planning. The goal of the PhD program is to train researchers who will enter academia or join highly respected public or nonprofit institutions involved in cutting edge research in public affairs, policy, planning, and management. Successful applicants to the program will be clear about the research they wish to undertake and why they think the Humphrey School is the best place to do that research. Students are expected to make original theoretical, methodological, or substantive contributions in the area of their specialization (sub-plans). Sub-plans are offered in public policy; urban planning; management and governance; and science, technology, and environmental policy. Students will be expected to complete the degree program within five years.
Program Delivery
  • via classroom (the majority of instruction is face-to-face)
Prerequisites for Admission
The preferred undergraduate GPA for admittance to the program is 3.50.
Other requirements to be completed before admission:
The general requirement is the capability to pursue PhD-level work. Typically, an applicant should have an academic record from a recognized college that includes undergraduate coursework in microeconomics and mathematics (either calculus, statistics, or algebra).
Special Application Requirements:
A complete application will include a U of MN graduate application, a personal statement that includes motivation for pursuing doctoral studies, a resume or C.V., transcripts, GRE scores, a writing sample, TOEFL scores (if applicable), and at least three letters of recommendation.
Applicants must submit their test score(s) from the following:
  • GRE
International applicants must submit score(s) from one of the following tests:
  • TOEFL
    • Internet Based - Total Score: 100
    • Paper Based - Total Score: 600
  • IELTS
    • Total Score: 7.0
The preferred English language test is Test of English as Foreign Language.
Key to test abbreviations (GRE, TOEFL, IELTS).
For an online application or for more information about graduate education admissions, see the General Information section of this website.
Program Requirements
42 credits are required in the major.
24 thesis credits are required.
This program may be completed with a minor.
Use of 4xxx courses towards program requirements is not permitted.
A minimum GPA of 3.00 is required for students to remain in good standing.
At least 1 semesters must be completed before filing a Degree Program Form.
Practical teaching experience: Each candidate must complete training in pedagogy and a teaching experience as a course instructor or teaching assistant (TA) with instructional responsibilities. The pedagogical training may take place prior to or concurrent with the teaching experience. Evidence of English-speaking proficiency is required prior to the teaching experience. Dissertation requirement: Each candidate must complete original academic research and fulfill a dissertation requirement by completing either an academic thesis or three related academic papers that are judged by the student's committee to be of publishable quality.
Core Courses
Key concepts, literature, and research questions of public affairs. PA 8006 (1.5 credits) is taken two semesters for total of 3 credits.
PA 8003 - Integrative Doctoral Seminar in Public Affairs I (3.0 cr)
PA 8004 - Integrative Doctoral Seminar in Public Affairs II (3.0 cr)
PA 8005 - Doctoral Research Seminar in Public Affairs (3.0 cr)
Take exactly 3 credit(s) from the following:
· PA 8006 - Current Research in Public Affairs: Topics, Approaches, and Cultures (1.5 cr)
Research Methods
Take 4 or more courses totaling 12 or more credits, including at least one course each in: research design, quantitative methods, and qualitative methods. Courses are chosen in consultation with advisor based on student's background and research interests. Students may use previous graduate-level coursework for up to three of the four methods courses (up to 9 credits) with approval of PhD program director.
Academic Sub-plan
Students are required to complete one of four sub-plans consisting of a minimum of 18 credits, as described below. Sub-plans offer students the opportunity for advanced, rigorous study in the theory, methods, and practice in their field. Students may use up to 18 credits of previous graduate-level coursework to fulfill sub-plan requirements.
Doctoral Thesis Credits
Take 24 or more credit(s) from the following:
· PA 8888 - Thesis Credit: Doctoral (1.0-24.0 cr)
Program Sub-plans
Students are required to complete one of the following sub-plans.
Students may not complete the program with more than one sub-plan.
Management and Governance
Required Courses
PA 8106 {Inactive} (3.0 cr)
PA 5012 - The Politics of Public Affairs (3.0 cr)
Electives
12 credits in the area of public and nonprofit leadership and management. Courses are chosen in consultation with advisor based on student's background and research interests.
Public Policy
The public policy sub-plan is a self-designed set of topic-based courses (minimum 18 credits) determined by the student and advisor with the consent of the other faculty in the sub-plan area.
Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy
PA 8706 or PA 5711
PA 8706 {Inactive} (3.0 cr)
or PA 5711 - Science, Technology & Environmental Policy (3.0 cr)
PA 8707 or PA 5752
PA 8707 {Inactive} (3.0 cr)
or PA 5752 {Inactive} (3.0 cr)
Focus Group
PA 5721 -  Energy Systems and Policy (3.0 cr)
or PA 5723 - Water Policy (3.0 cr)
or PA 5724 - Climate Change Policy (3.0 cr)
or PA 5731 - Emerging Sciences and Technologies: Policy, Ethics and Law (3.0 cr)
or PA 5751 - Addressing Climate and Energy Challenges at the Local Scale (3.0 cr)
Environmental and Sustainability Systems
One course (at least 3 credits of coursework at the 8000-level, or advisor permission) providing depth in environmental and sustainability systems, such as: • Health & well-being, environmental psychology • Climate, environment and eco-system studies • Environmental economics, applied economics • Industrial ecology • Models, scenarios, risk, uncertainty, decision analysis Examples of courses offered in U of M departments related to these topics are available from faculty advisors.
Policy Process and Implementation
One course (at least 3 credits of coursework at the 8000-level, or advisor permission) providing depth in policy process and implementation, covering topics such as: •Law, regulations, science and innovation policy •Politics of public affairs •Urban environmental planning •Leadership and management •Global policy •Public finance, budgeting •Policy implementation and evaluation Examples of courses offered in U of M departments related to these topics are available from faculty advisors.
Additional electives (at least 3 credits) to be selected in consultation with your advisor.
Urban Planning
Required Courses
PA 8206 - Planning Theory (3.0 cr)
PA 5204 {Inactive} (3.0 cr)
Urban Planning Electives
Four additional courses, for at least 12 credits, to be determined by student and advisor. Students must demonstrate proficiency in GIS.
 
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PA 8003 - Integrative Doctoral Seminar in Public Affairs I
Credits: 3.0 [max 6.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
Lays foundation for doctoral-level study of public affairs through introduction of key concepts, literature, research questions of public affairs. Critically examines paradigms/methodologies through readings, discussions, writing assignments, research presentations. Facilitates development of dissertation research ideas. prereq: Public Affairs doctoral student
PA 8004 - Integrative Doctoral Seminar in Public Affairs II
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Spring
Continues PA 8003. Lays foundation for doctoral-level study of public affairs through introduction of key concepts, literature, research questions of public affairs. Critically examines paradigms/methodologies through readings, discussions, writing assignments, research presentations. Facilitates development of dissertation research ideas. prereq: Public Affairs doctoral student
PA 8005 - Doctoral Research Seminar in Public Affairs
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Prerequisites: Public Affairs doctoral student
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Spring
Conduct of research, including ethics. Students develop and refine their research ideas. Facilitates development of dissertation research prospectus. prereq: Public Affairs doctoral student
PA 8006 - Current Research in Public Affairs: Topics, Approaches, and Cultures
Credits: 1.5 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: S-N only
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Students participate in research seminars exploring current topics, approaches, and cultures in public affairs. Students responsible for discussion, presentation, and evaluation of research, including peer review of papers and presentations. Discussion of research ethics and skills, including literature reviews, research design, data visualization, public engagement, presentation, and project management.
PA 8888 - Thesis Credit: Doctoral
Credits: 1.0 -24.0 [max 100.0]
Grading Basis: No Grade
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
Doctoral thesis credit. prereq: [Max 18 cr per semester or summer], 24 cr required
PA 5012 - The Politics of Public Affairs
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Politics is how we make collective decisions about matters of shared consequence. This course examines politics and introduces students to key concepts and skills needed for effective political analysis. The central themes of the course focus on power; institutions and organizations; discourse; and citizenship.
PA 5711 - Science, Technology & Environmental Policy
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall
Interplay of science, technology, the environment, and society. Approaches from across the social sciences will cover how science and technology can create new environmental pressures as well as policy challenges in a range of spheres from climate change to systems of intellectual property and international development.
PA 5721 - Energy Systems and Policy
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall
Impact of energy production/consumption choices on environmental quality, sustainable development, and other economic/social goals. Emphasizes public policy choices for energy/environment, linkages between them.
PA 5723 - Water Policy
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Course Equivalencies: PA 5723/WRS 5101
Typically offered: Every Spring
Socio-cultural, legal, and economic forces that affect water resource use. Water quality, Clean Water Act contrasted with international laws, roles of State and Local agencies. Water supply, drought, flooding, drainage, irrigation, storage. Sulfide mining, Line 3, hypoxia, wildfire, climate, snowpack, extreme events, China south-to-north transfer, CEC?s, AIS, Aral Sea, CAFOs, and more.
PA 5724 - Climate Change Policy
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall
Existing and proposed approaches to mitigate and adapt to climate change through policies that cross scales of governance (from local to global) and impact a wide range of sectors. Exploration of climate change policy from a variety of disciplinary approaches and perspectives, emphasizing economic logic, ethical principles, and institutional feasibility. How policy can be shaped in the face of a variety of competing interests to achieve commonly desired outcomes. Students develop a deep knowledge of climate change in particular countries through a team final project. prereq: Intro microecon (such as Econ 1101 or equiv)
PA 5731 - Emerging Sciences and Technologies: Policy, Ethics and Law
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
This interdisciplinary course will examine issues at the nexus of public policy, ethics, law, and emerging sciences and technologies (ES&T) including nanotechnology, genetic and biomedical engineering, synthetic biology, and artificial intelligence. Topics we will explore include the role of science and technology as both a tool for and the subject of policy and law; the policy, ethical, economic, and legal implications of ES&T research and development; environmental and human health risk analysis and regulation (e.g., EPA, FDA, OSHA, and state and local regulatory mechanisms); intellectual property issues; liability issues; and global impacts. Topics will be approached from the perspective of different stakeholders (e.g., federal agencies, industry, academic researchers, the environment, international organizations, and the public) and in the context of different application areas (e.g., drugs, devices, food, agriculture, energy, environmental remediation) using a variety of interdisciplinary approaches. Students with a broad range of interests are encouraged to enroll.
PA 5751 - Addressing Climate and Energy Challenges at the Local Scale
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
Examine energy and climate innovations at local and community scales. Understand how to implement local policies, projects, and programs with a diverse set of perspectives on energy issues. Develop professional and analytical skills that support solutions to energy and climate challenges.
PA 8206 - Planning Theory
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Periodic Spring
An overview of the major theories that have shaped the field of urban and regional planning, including the analysis of theories related to the process and substance of urban planning. prereq: Public Affairs Ph.D. student, urban planning subplan