Doctoral Program in Public Affairs - Message
The Doctoral Program in Public Affairs at University of Central Florida provides a unique focus on public policy, planning and administration. The interdisciplinary program draws from the strengths of faculty in four disciplines (criminal justice, health, public administration and social work) in its preparation of mid-career professionals for leadership and/or research positions in public, non-profit and private agencies, and for academic positions in colleges and universities. The integration of the dynamic mix of students creates a stimulating environment to examine contemporary organizational, institutional and community problems and issues.
The College of Health and Public Affairs’ interdisciplinary doctoral program is striving to become the premier program in public affairs education and research. A competency-based curriculum develops a new breed of leaders with integrity, credibility and expertise in professional and academic settings. More specifically, the program creates an environment for interdisciplinary study that enhances student understanding of the myriad important and interrelated public affairs issues that are confronting all communities. Too often, in the past, the interrelated problems of crime and justice, health services and social welfare delivery, and the administration of organizations that deal with these problems have been approached in a discipline-specific and fragmented way. By providing an integrated broad-based theoretical and methodological base, the program aims to prepare its graduates to hold leadership positions in the field of public affairs.
The program matches career goals of students through the interdisciplinary nature of course content, the interaction with faculty from all four disciplines and the flexibility inherent in the choice of electives. A generalist track in public affairs is also available for those who are interested in developing non-discipline focus areas of investigation such as aging, poverty, child welfare, public affairs informatics, etc. Those seeking advancement within public agencies or non-profit organizations can choose a mix of electives, including course work from other UCF programs, while those seeking to teach at the college or university level can concentrate their elective course work more within a single cognate or discipline.
For more detailed program information, please review our website (www.PAFresearch.ucf.edu) from which you will learn about the accomplishments of our faculty and alumni/ae. Through our scholarship and sponsored research activities, the Program is at the leading edge of education, service, and research to enhance the performance of service organizations and community agencies. I invite you to explore our website. Should you have questions, please contact us.
Cordially,
Thomas T.H. Wan, Ph.D., M.H.S.
Professor and Director