DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (Ph.D.)
Advising & Committees
Orientation
There is a formal orientation for all entering Ph.D. students at the
beginning of each academic year (fall semester). The orientation is
attended by faculty, staff, current students, and Ph.D. alumni.
Significant interaction between new and returning students occurs during
the orientation.
Download the Ph.D. Program - Step by Step
Initial
Advising
The Director of the Ph.D. program provides guidance and counseling to all
incoming Ph.D. students and is generally available to all students
throughout the course of their study. However, upon admission each student
is assigned an initial advisor on the basis of the interests expressed in
the written statement of educational and career goals. The initial advisor
works with the student through the first phase of the program up to the
screening examination.
Supervisory
Committee for Program of Study
Once the screening examination has been completed successfully, each
student must form a Supervisory Committee. This committee consists
at minimum of a chair and two members. The chair of the supervisory
committee serves as the student's graduate advisor. The chair of
this committee must be a member of the ASU School of Public Affairs
faculty or affiliated faculty. The role of this committee is to help the student prepare a program of
study and subsequently approve it, and assumes primary responsibility in
assessing the student's progress in the program.
A student may take as many hours as the student and/or Program of Study Committee feel is appropriate, as long as the approved minimums are met. The program of study must be approved by the Division of Graduate Studies. Any deviations in coursework from that specified on the official program of study must be approved by the committee, the Ph.D. director and the dean of the Division of Graduate Studies.
It is the responsibility of the Supervisory Committee to advise and supervise the student through the completion of classes listed on the program of study, as well as to supervise the comprehensive examination process.
View directions on submitting the doctoral program of study.
Dissertation
Committee
If all faculty are appropriate and available, the student's Program of
Study Committee also may serve as the dissertation committee. All
dissertation committees must be approved by Ph.D. director and the dean of
the Division of Graduate Studies. The chair of Dissertation
Committee must also be a member of the ASU School of Public Affairs
faculty or affiliated faculty.
