Public Administration and Policy, PhD

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.

Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.

All applicants must submit:

1. graduate admission application and application fee
2. official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework
3. completed checklist
4. written statement
5. current resume or curriculum vitae
6. three letters of recommendation
7. samples of research reports or papers
8. GRE scores (verbal, quantitative, analytical)
9. proof of English proficiency

Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must submit TOEFL scores to be considered for admission, regardless of their current residency; applicants should use institution code 4007. This is true even for those who have a master's degree from a United States university. To be considered for admission to the doctoral program in public administration and policy, the minimum score on a TOEFL iBT® is a 5, or a score of 100 (taken at a testing center) if taken before January 21, 2026. Applicants with scores below the minimum are not considered.

The written statement of educational and career goals must include a discussion of research interests.

The letters of recommendation should be primarily from faculty members. All letters should address the candidate's capacity to successfully complete the doctoral program. They should assess the student's capacity for critical and analytic thought, their ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, and their commitment to completion of the program.

Only GRE test scores from within the past five years are accepted, and analytical scores are considered in admission decisions. ASU does not accept the GRE® General Test at home edition.

Admission is competitive; a limited number of well-qualified applicants are admitted each year.