Enhance your public leadership skills as you develop and apply research to address multidisciplinary public service issues within your community. This doctoral specialization uses course work, current case studies, advanced learning technologies, and field experiences to strengthen your collaboration and leadership skills and identify community issues that could benefit from an action-based research project. Working with a rich, global network of experienced faculty and professional peers, you will gain an in-depth understanding of your own field, plus insights from professionals in other fields, such as public safety and health care, who often collaborate with you to solve today's complex challenges. The specialization is designed to be completed in three years, using a cohort model. You will enroll in two courses each quarter in a prescribed sequence, enhancing opportunities to build on your newly acquired knowledge and develop professional relationships with the same cohort of students. Convenient electronic textbooks lowers program costs and provides immediate access to course materials. People likely to choose this specialization include public administrators who want to pursue leadership positions in government agencies, public service organizations, or the political arena; or faculty positions in the fields of public administration, public affairs, and political science.

Residency requirement: none.