The Professional Doctorate program in Public Administration provides opportunities for advanced study and reflection on theory and practice in the professional field of public administration and public policy. These opportunities are provided for professionals of standing in public administration who will be able to draw on and extend their professional experience and expertise. The program is a combination of coursework and research dissertation.

The Doctor of Public Administration (DPA) course will allow students to develop relevant research skills through a carefully designed program supplemented by a dissertation and relevant choice of electives.

The objectives of the Doctor of Public Administration (DPA) course are to enable practitioners to extend and build upon their professional experience through:
(a) Coursework that develops knowledge and skill in research methodology and research methods;
(b) Development of research, writing and analysis skills which enable students to produce a dissertation which constitutes an original and significant contribution to the relevant literature and/or to professional practice;
(c) Preparation of a substantial dissertation which adds to existing knowledge and constitutes an in-depth investigation and analysis of a particular professional issue or set of issues; and
(d) Bridging the gap between theory and practice by developing closer links between the University and senior professionals in fields associated with public administration and public policy.

Further Study

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Admission Requirements

Before a candidate is admitted to the Doctor of Public Administration, the Faculty must be satisfied that it is able to supervise the candidate's proposed dissertation and that the candidate satisfies the following admission requirements:
(a) holds at minimum a Bachelor degree and a post-Bachelor Honours year by research, or a Master or Graduate Diploma degree of 1 to 2 years full-time duration in a relevant field with a credit or greater average and evidence of having performed in some subjects relevant to the proposed study at Distinction level or above;
(b) has five years of professional practice in a relevant area;
(c) provides evidence of capacity for independent research under the guidance of a supervisory panel at the doctoral level and relevant professional development; and
(d) provides evidence of superior professional performance both intellectually and technically.

A requirement for proceeding to the research component of the degree is completion of the coursework component of the degree and the acceptance and approval of a research proposal and research plan by the course convener.

Course Requirements

72 credit points comprising:

(a) Required (66 credit points) as follows:
Coursework components (18 credit points)

• 6647 Research Methodology and Research Design PG (6cp)
• 6649 Qualitative Research Methods B PG
• 6648 Quantitative Research Methods B PG
• 6650 Literature Review Seminar
• 8610 Professional Doctorate Research Proposal B PG

Research component (48 credit points)

• 4515 Public Administration Dissertation D:FT (48cp)

(b) Restricted choice (6 credit points) as follows:
6 credit points at PG level coursework units selected from masters or graduate diploma courses with the approval of the thesis supervisor and course convener after assessing relevance to proposed dissertation.

In addition to enrolment in the above units, students are required to attend relevant school research seminars or equivalent academic activity throughout the period of their enrolment.

Students are also required to complete a Research Education Program that will enable them to acquire the generic skills and attributes identified as appropriate for graduates of postgraduate research programs at the University of Canberra.

Typical Course Structure

Note: Information provided as a guide only. Consult the UC Handbook for the year of commencement for official course rules. Units are not offered in all semesters.