Doctor of Public Administration (DPA) Degree Online Change Makers, Lead the Charge
48
Credit Hours
100% online, 8-week courses
Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
Bring About Lasting Change in Your Community with a Doctor of Public Administration Online (DPA) Program
Are you excited about the idea of transforming communities into better environments for their citizens — from the local to the national level? Do you enjoy implementing efficient government processes and procedures? Maybe you’re currently an educator or a civil servant who wants to make a difference in government for the betterment of society. Liberty University’s Doctor of Public Administration (DPA) program is an excellent option that can give you the training you need to make the difference you want to in public and private policy and administration.
Throughout this degree, you’ll explore the administrative functions of governmental agencies and you can gain experience in strategic planning, program implementation, advanced management techniques, and results-based leadership. You could also take on positions in higher education as an administrator or professor or have the option of working as a civil servant, politician, consultant, or grants writer.
It is the work of administrators, civil servants, and public officials that makes the government work, and society benefits when professionals like you get involved and influence the laws and policies that affect daily life.
As a pioneer in distance education since 1985, we understand what you’re looking for in an online degree program. You want to earn a degree that can help you command respect among peers, hiring managers, and various entities — one backed by a brick-and-mortar campus and an esteemed accrediting partner. At Liberty, you can have confidence in our decades-long commitment to uncompromised excellence.
Your officially conferred degree name will be Doctor of Public Administration (DPA).
Why Choose Liberty’s Doctor of Public Administration (DPA) Online Degree?
Choosing where to pursue your doctoral degree is an important decision. When you choose to pursue your doctorate through Liberty University, you’re choosing a well-respected, accredited, globally recognized university. You’re also choosing flexible course scheduling and academic excellence that is grounded in Christian principles and values.
Liberty University is accredited through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). This means all of our degree programs have met rigorous academic standards and requirements. You can be confident that you’re receiving a challenging and worthwhile degree.
This degree can be completed 100% online with no set login times. We understand that you can’t afford to put your life on hold to pursue a doctoral degree, which is why at Liberty, you can stay committed to both your family’s success and your professional success while pursuing your academic and professional goals.
What Will You Study in Our Doctor of Public Administration Online (DPA) Degree?
Our doctorate in public administration is designed to train you in leadership, management, and problem-solving skills in government and governance. Throughout this degree, you can learn how to create change in government, nonprofits, and other policy-creating organizations. You can also develop a thorough knowledge of the legal, ethical, and political environments of public administration.
Our doctorate degree in public administration is divided into 3 sections: core public administration courses, research-focused courses, and a capstone sequence. In the public administration doctorate’s core courses, you will study public administration ethics, statesmanship, and governance; finance and budgeting in the public sector, the legal and regulatory aspects of public administration, and urban planning. You will also study information management, organizational leadership studies, statesmanship, and federalism.
The research section of our online doctoral program in public administration consists of just 3 courses: quantitative research, qualitative research, and research methods. These courses are designed to help equip you with high-level research skills that are necessary for success in your capstone project: which is the next and final part of our Doctor of Public Administration.
Our doctorate in public administration online’s capstone consists of 4 sequential courses. In these courses, you will be challenged to recall and apply the lessons you learned in the core and research courses as you analyze a real-world issue and present a solution.
Potential Career Opportunities
- Academic program director
- Budget analyst
- City manager
- Civil rights specialist
- Elected official
- Foundation program officer
- Grants writer/administrator
- Higher education administration
- Legislative aide
- Lobbyist
- Management consultant
- Nonprofit manager/leader
- Policy analyst
- Professional researcher
- Public affairs officer
- Public agency manager
- Research scientist
- Sustainability consultant
- Teacher/professor
- Urban planner
Featured Courses
Degree Information
- This program falls under the Helms School of Government.
- View Graduate Government Course Guides (login required).
Degree Completion Plan
Not sure what to choose?
Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.
Tuition & Aid
Your success is our success, which is why we are committed to providing quality academics at an affordable tuition rate. While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have frozen tuition rates for the majority of our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for the past 9 years – and counting.
Doctoral Full Time | $595/Credit |
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Doctoral Part Time | $650/Credit |
Eligible current and former military service members and their spouses may qualify for a special rate of $300/credit hour (learn more).
Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
All Tuition & Fees
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Admission Information for the Doctor of Public Administration (DPA) Online Degree Program
Admission Requirements
- Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9596.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
- Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A regionally or nationally accredited master’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA* is required for admission in good standing.
- Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.
Please note: The Office of Graduate Admissions may request additional documentation when conducting admission reviews to evaluate a candidate’s record before a final admission decision can be made.
*A GPA of 2.8 is required for admission to the Executive Certificate in Law and Policy.
Preliminary Acceptance
If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:
- Be in your final term and planning to start your doctoral degree after the last day of class for your master’s degree.
- Complete a Master’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
- Submit an official transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show that you are within 6 credit hours of completion for a 30-48 credit hour master’s degree or within 9 credit hours of completion for a 49+ credit hour master’s degree.
- Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new doctoral degree.
Transcript Policies
Official College Transcript Policy
An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.
Admissions Office Contact Information
Liberty University Online Admissions Verification
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515
Ready to Apply?
Submit your application online or over the phone.
Military
Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.
Who May Qualify?
- Active Duty
- Reserve/National Guard
- Veterans/Retirees
- Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
Military Tuition Discount
We want to help you find the doctoral degree you want – at a price you’ve earned. As a thank-you for your military service, Liberty University offers eligible current and former service members like you or your spouse multiple pathways to earn a doctoral degree for only $300/credit hour. Find out how you can take advantage of this unique opportunity as you work toward your goal of reaching the pinnacle of your profession – for less.
Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is different between online PhD in Public Administration vs. Doctor of Public Administration?
The difference between a public administration PhD and a Doctor of Public Administration lies in the emphasis of each degree. PhD programs are typically more theoretical in nature than practical. PhD candidates are often attracted to careers in research and academia. If this sounds like you, our 100% online PhD in Public Administration may be the best fit for you!
On the other hand, the Doctor of Public Administration is primarily designed for practical application. This degree program can help you gain an advanced understanding of various corporate and political theories and teach you how to apply such theories to a number of real-world situations.
How will I benefit from completing the online Doctor of Public Administration (DPA) program?
The training you receive in this online DPA degree can help you to:
- Build an uncompromising code of personal ethics rooted in a Biblical worldview
- Conduct independent research that contributes to the public administration field
- Construct innovative change proposals to policies that address public needs and problems
- Synthesize a Christian model of statesmanship that incorporates a biblical worldview in public administration
Is Liberty University accredited?
Liberty University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
How long are the courses in this program, and what are the scheduling options like?
The Doctor of Public Administration is mostly offered in 8-week courses, with 8 different start dates each year and no set login times.
What expertise do the professors bring to the instruction of the online Doctorate in Public Administration program?
Our online doctorate in public administration is taught by expert professors with years of experience in the fields of public policy and administration.
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- Why Choose Liberty?
- What Will You Study?
- Tuition & Aid
- Admission Information
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