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Gianarkis Rebecca MPA
Recruiting and Admissions Coordinator​
Time required to complete the PhD program
The PhD program requires an intense commitment. Most core courses are offered during the late afternoon or early evenings. On average, students take four to six years to complete all of the requirements for the PhD program.
General requirements
Review CU Denver's Graduate Academic Policies.
Program requirements
A total of 30 hours of course credit and 30 hours of dissertation credit must be completed to earn the PhD degree. Students may complete the degree full time or part time.
Required courses
Students must complete the courses below:
In addition to the three methods classes listed above, students must take an approved three-credit qualitative methods course of the student's own choosing. Depending on the student's interest, topics might include qualitative methodology, administrative law, geographical information systems or social network analysis.
All course descriptions can be found in the Graduate Academic Catalog.
Elective courses
In addition to the required courses, doctoral students must complete 6 credit hours of graduate-level elective courses relevant to the student's dissertation plans. With approval of the PhD program director, students may apply graded graduate-level credit taken at other universities toward their elective courses.
All course descriptions can be found in the Graduate Academic Catalog.
Comprehensive Exam, Dissertation Proposal and Dissertation
Immediately following the completion of their core courses and soon after defending their dissertation proposal, PhD students must take and pass the comprehensive exam. Students then advance to candidacy for the PhD. Upon completing complete 30 hours of dissertation credit, students must defend their dissertation.
Questions
Applicants are encouraged to contact Dr. Chris Weible, director of the PhD program, at chris.weible@ucdenver.edu.
View the admissions requirements for the School of Public Affairs.
Recruiting and Admissions Coordinator​
Professor; Program Director, Doctor of Philosophy in Public Affairs