not require a dissertation for completion of the degree. The DPA program at La Verne is among those who require a dissertation for degree completion. All 5 of the research focused DPA programs (including Laverne’s) tend towards a regional perspective. Providing a practitioner-oriented degree that allows students to further advance their administrative skill set in order to address the extremely complex nature of today’s public sector issues. While the core curriculum for these 5 programs are somewhat similar, La Verne’s DPA is the only one of these that does not offer a student selected concentration area. At the other DPA granting institutions, students may engage in a concentration of their choosing—taking courses at the graduate level throughout the given institution. Concentrations range from 9-15 units. Only the University of Illinois program has a faculty dedicated 100% to DPA instruction. Institution Units Exams Faculty Concentrations Diss Units La Verne 55-76 Y N N Y Valdosta St. 57 N N Y Y U of I, 52 Y Y Y Y Springfield U of Baltimore 48 N N Y Y Hamline Univ. 48 N N Y Y The University of La Verne, DPA curriculum differs from the other 3 institutions due to the concentrated focus on theory as a foundation for the scholarly practitioner. At La Verne, the first year of coursework is dedicated to the foundations and theoretical scope of the field. The other institutions tend to place their curricular focus on advanced management techniques. The expectation at La Verne is that students have achieved this functional administrative focus primarily in their master’s programs and are better served towards doctoral research outcomes with a fundamental understanding of the theories of the field. The goal is the ability of
not require a dissertation for completion of the degree. The DPA program at La Verne is among those who require a dissertation for degree completion. All 5 of the research focused DPA programs (including Laverne’s) tend towards a regional perspective. Providing a practitioner-oriented degree that allows students to further advance their administrative skill set in order to address the extremely complex nature of today’s public sector issues. While the core curriculum for these 5 programs are somewhat similar, La Verne’s DPA is the only one of these that does not offer a student selected concentration area. At the other DPA granting institutions, students may engage in a concentration of their choosing—taking courses at the graduate level throughout the given institution. Concentrations range from 9-15 units. Only the University of Illinois program has a faculty dedicated 100% to DPA instruction. Institution Units Exams Faculty Concentrations Diss Units La Verne 55-76 Y N N Y Valdosta St. 57 N N Y Y U of I, Springfield 52 Y Y Y Y U of Baltimore 48 N N Y Y Hamline Univ. 48 N N Y Y The University of La Verne, DPA curriculum differs from the other 3 institutions due to the concentrated focus on theory as a foundation for the scholarly practitioner. At La Verne, the first year of coursework is dedicated to the foundations and theoretical scope of the field. The other institutions tend to place their curricular focus on advanced management techniques. The expectation at La Verne is that students have achieved this functional administrative focus primarily in their master’s programs and are better served towards doctoral research outcomes with a fundamental understanding of the theories of the field. The goal is the ability of
CBPM-DPA-Program-review-Draft-10-2-11.docx