Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Public Affairs, with a Concentration in Community Development
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 (21 credits) Theory Courses (9 credits)
· 824:701 Theory and History of Community
Development (3)
824:703 Logic of Social Inquiry (3)
·
824:710 Planning, Markets, and Community
Development (3)
Methods Courses (12 credits)
824:702 Quantitative Methods I (3)
824:709 Quantitative Methods II (3)
824:714 Qualitative Research Methods (3)
One additional methods course offered under the public affairs program.
Nine graduate-level courses relevant to community development and/or the student's core research interests.
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.
The comprehensive or qualifying examination consists of two parts, a written exam and an oral defense of the student's dissertation proposal. Students take the written exam after completing the eight core course (the theory methods core, and research design course). The written exam is administered in two parts--community development theory and practice, and research design and methods--and serves to consolidate material from the core curriculum.
Upon passing the written examination, the student develops a dissertation proposal under the supervision of a faculty adviser, and defends the proposed project in an oral examination conducted by the members of his or her dissertation committee. The dissertation proposal defines the student's doctoral research. 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 committee 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 University-Camden Department of Public Policy and
Administration. One
member may be from another Rutgers University school or department, or from outside of Rutgers University. Exceptions to these requirements must be approved in
writing by the Ph.D. graduate director.
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 register for the required 15 dissertation
credit hours under the supervision of their committee.
Master of Science (M.S.) in Public Affairs, with a Concentration in Community Development
The curriculum for the master of science (M.S.) in public affairs
with a concentration in community development consists of the following
courses totaling 30 credits:
Core Curriculum (21 credits)
Theory Courses (9 credits)
· 824:701 Theory and History of Community
Development (3)
824:703 Logic of Social Inquiry (3)
·
824:710 Planning, Markets, and Community
Development (3)
Methods Courses (12 credits)
824:702 Quantitative Methods I (3)
824:714 Qualitative Research Methods (3)
Two additional methods course offered under the public affairs program. Those
students planning on applying to the Ph.D. program after completing the M.S. are
strongly advised to take 824:709 Quantitative Methods II as one of these two courses.
All elective courses in the Ph.D. curriculum are open to M.S. students.
Practical Experience (3 credits)
824:706 Practicum/Capstone (3)
Graduate School-Camden 
