PhD Public Administration and Policy at Arizona State University

Programme overview

ASU ranks No. 11 for best graduate public affairs programs by U.S. News and World Report, 2025.

What you will study

84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation Required Core (21 credit hours) PAF 601 Advanced Public Policy Seminar (3) PAF 602 Advanced Research Design for Public Policy and Management (3) PAF 603 Advanced Economics for Public Administration and Public Policy (3) PAF 604 Intellectual Foundations of Public Administration (3) PAF 605 Organization Theory and Behavior Seminar (3) PAF 609 Advanced Quantitative Methods Seminar (3) PAF 610 Advanced Qualitative Methods for Public Affairs Research (3) Electives (45 credit hours) Research (6 credit hours) PAF 792 Research (6) Culminating Experience (12 credit hours) PAF 799 Dissertation (12) Additional Curriculum Information When approved by the student's supervisory committee and the Graduate College, this program allows 30 credit hours from a previously awarded master's degree to be used for this degree.

Career pathways

Graduates of this degree program are prepared to conduct high-level research and policy development in academic careers, public and nonprofit agencies, foundations and research institutes. This may include opportunities as a college or university professor, research scientist, research associate or researcher for another organization.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions. Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor¿s or master's degree from a regionally accredited institution. ASU's School of Public Affairs expects applicants for the doctorate to have demonstrated competency in the following subject areas at the time of application: organizational theory, public policy analysis, economics and quantitative analysis. The doctoral program director or advisors may require or recommend completion of additional courses when there is a perceived gap of knowledge, especially if the gap relates to graduate-level quantitative analysis and economics (PAF 502 and PAF 504, respectively, or equivalent courses). However, these requirements or recommendations, if any, are not a barrier to admission.

Domestic applicants: USD 13,327 a year (2026-27). Arizona resident tuition. Tuition only for the graduate on-campus (Tempe/Downtown Phoenix/Polytechnic/West Valley) rate band in the ASU tuition estimator, 2026-27: Fall 2026 plus Spring 2027 term tuition summed (full-time flat rate; part-time credit loads Source

International applicants: USD 24,780 a year (2026-27). International tuition. Tuition only for the graduate on-campus (Tempe/Downtown Phoenix/Polytechnic/West Valley) rate band in the ASU tuition estimator, 2026-27: Fall 2026 plus Spring 2027 term tuition summed (full-time flat rate; part-time credit loads ar Source

Entry terms: Fall, Spring and Summer; the terms available for each programme are listed in Degree Search.

Graduate application deadlines are set by each programme office and listed in Degree Search. The nonrefundable application fee is $75 for U.S. citizens, permanent residents, DACA and international online students outside the U.S., and $120 for international students on a nonimmigrant visa studying in the U.S.

Apply through the official page: https://admission.asu.edu/apply/graduate/admission

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