Public Affairs (PhD)

The Doctoral Program in Public Affairs provides a unique focus on public administration, planning, policy, and research. The program prepares future scholars and leaders to better recognize and respond to complex social ills which cross traditional disciplinary boundaries. Students may choose from five tracks: Criminal Justice, Governance and Policy Research, Health Services Management and Research, Public Administration, and Social Work.

Instead of a discipline specific approach to the intransient problems facing our society today, the Doctoral Program in Public Affairs is an interdisciplinary program which draws upon the strengths of faculty in Criminal Justice, Health Management and Informatics, Public Administration, and Social Work. The program prepares students for academic appointments in colleges and universities as well as research and leadership positions in public, nonprofit, and private agencies. The dynamic mix of an interdisciplinary faculty, together with students from varied backgrounds, creates a stimulating environment to examine many of the contemporary social ills communities are currently facing.

The program matches career goals of students through the interdisciplinary nature of course content, the interaction with faculty from all four disciplines, and the flexibility inherent in the choice of electives. Those seeking advancement within public agencies or nonprofit organizations can choose a mix of electives, including course work from other UCF programs, while those seeking to teach at the college or university level can focus on taking more courses within their discipline.

Upon completing the program, graduates will have the theoretical, analytical, and ethical foundation to provide alternative solutions to these social ills while deepening our understanding of the underlying problem. This holistic approach answers to both applied and theoretical concerns and, as such, has the potential to have both local as well as national impact on programming and decision-making.