An Overview of Political Science-Based Doctoral Programs in Public Administration

A questionnaire to elicit information on program structure, admissions and exit standards, students, and faculty of public administration doctoral programs was sent to fifty-two political science departments. The thirty-eight responding departments reported that their programs afforded reasonable flexibility even for students without strong political science backgrounds, the opportunity for some degree of specialization, and an adequate number of faculty. The survey results also revealed that these programs produce only a small number of graduates each year, giving rise to the question of how public administration faculty staffing needs can be met. The article is based on a paper presented at the meeting of the American Society for Public Administration, held in Detroit, April 1981.