The curriculum for the doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) in public affairs with a concentration in community development consists of the following courses totaling 66 credits:
Core Curriculum (33 credits) Theory Courses (9 credits)
· 824:701 Theory and History of Community
Development (3)
824:704 Alternative Development Strategies for Distressed Cities (3)
·
824:710 Planning, Markets, and Community
Development (3)
Economic Development Course (choose one; 3 credits)
824:705 Regional Economic Development (3)
824:717 International Economic Development (3)*
International or Comparative Policy Course (choose one; 3 credits)
824:670 International Conflict and Conflict Resolution (3)
824:715 Poverty Alleviation Strategies (3)
824:716 International Negotiations (3)
824:717 International Economic Development (3)*
*Note: 824:717 can satisfy only one requirement.
Methods Courses (15 credits)
824:702 Quantitative Methods I (3)
824:703 Logic of Social Inquiry (3)
824:709 Quantitative Methods II (3)
824:713 Research Design (3)
824:714 Qualitative Research Methods (3)
Applied Research Course (3 credits):
824:706 Practicum in Community Development (3)
Elective
Courses (18 credits)
Six graduate-level courses relevant to community development and/or the student's core research interests, only three of which may be taken in the Rutgers University-Camden Department of Public Policy and Administration.
Comprehensive
Exam
The comprehensive or qualifying examination consists of two parts, a written exam and an oral defense of the student's dissertation proposal. The written exam is administered in two parts--community development theory and practice, and research design and methods--and serves to integrate and
consolidate the material from the core curriculum.
Upon passing the written examination, the student develops a dissertation proposal under the supervision of a faculty adviser, and executes an oral defense before his or her dissertation committee. The dissertation proposal defines the student's doctoral
project. It should contain the student's
rationale
for conducting the research, research hypotheses,
a preliminary literature review, a proposed research design, and work plan.
The faculty adviser serves as the chair of the student's dissertation
committee and works with the student to select the other members. Dissertation committees consist of not less than three
and not more than five faculty members. The
chair must be a tenured member of the Rutgers-Camden Department of Public Policy and
Administration. One
member may be from outside of Rutgers University. Exceptions to these requirements must be approved in
writing by the Ph.D. graduate director.
To complete the comprehensive exam, students must defend their dissertation proposals before their committees. Upon successful passage of both the written and oral parts of the qualifying exam,
students are promoted to doctoral candidacy. It is at this stage that students may begin to take dissertation
hours with the chair of their committees.Dissertation (15 credits)
The dissertation adviser and committee guide the student toward completion of the doctoral dissertation. Students are expected to identify a dissertation adviser as
soon as possible upon admission to the program, and by the time students take the written examination.
Master's of Science in Public Affairs with a Concentration in Community Development (en passant)
Students who complete the core coursework associated with the Ph.D., but who do not pass the comprehensive exam or successfully complete their dissertations, or leave the program for other reasons once coursework is completed, are eligible to apply for the M.S. in public affairs with a concentration in community development.
