The College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs (CUPPA) was established in 1994 with the merger of the Urban Planning and Policy Program and the Graduate Program in Public Administration (GPPA). GPPA hosts a Masters in Public Administration (MPA) program and the only Ph.D. program in Public Administration in the state of Illinois.

The doctoral program in the Graduate Program in Public Administration is designed in accordance with the "Policy on Doctoral Education in Public Affairs/Administration" of the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs/Administration which states:

Doctoral programs in public administration should prepare students to undertake significant research in their subsequent careers, whether in government, academic life, or other settings: the capacity to do significant research, rather than access to a particular career setting, is the appropriate goal of doctoral training... Whether in governmental, academic or other career settings, holders of the doctorate add to the ranks of those who are able to generate and share knowledge of public administration and its related fields...

The goal of doctoral training is [to equip] individuals to add to knowledge of public administration and related fields through disciplined research. When practicing professionals undertake the doctorate they should recognize the need to demonstrate substantial research skills and to interact with a research faculty on a continuing basis as they design and execute their dissertation projects.

Current Offered Specializations:

• Public Management and Organizations
  All PhD students selecting this area of specialization are required to take PA 527, Public Management Theory
• Financial Management
  All PhD students selecting this area of specialization are required to take PA 554, Advanced Seminar in Financial Management.
• Science and Technology Policy
  All PhD students selecting this area of specialization are required to take PA 464, Technology and Innovation Theory and PA 466, Science, Technology and Public Policy.
• Survey Methods
  All PhD students selecting this area of specialization are required to take PA 578, Surveys, Public Opinion and Public Policy.