University of Delaware - Program in Urban Affairs and Public Policy - Overview
Graduate Candidates Find More than Fifty Research Centers at the University of Delaware in Newark
The University of Delaware (UD), in Newark, is a state-assisted, privately governed institute of higher learning that offers a broad range of programs that include 39 doctoral and 79 master's programs through seven colleges and in cooperation with over 50 research centers. There are approximately 3,500 graduate students enrolled throughout the university's seven Colleges: Health and Sciences; Engineering; Education and Public Policy; Earth, Ocean, and Environment; Arts and Sciences; Business and Economics; and Agriculture and Natural Resources.
The School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy Offers Graduate Programs that Help Students Make a Difference
The university's School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy is a unit within the College of Education and Public Policy. The school is known for its commitment to practical experience and outstanding opportunities for research assistantships and internship placements. The school's M.A., M.P.A., and Ph.D. programs offer students several specializations or concentrations that enable them to better tailor their programs to their needs and interests and make a difference in the world.
The Master of Arts in Urban Affairs and Public Policy Program Integrates Research, Public Service, and Academics
The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Urban Affairs and Public Policy program integrates research, public service, and academics, combining practice and theory to create an outstanding program where students achieve a deep understanding of communities and the policies that affect them. Concentrations include community development and nonprofit leadership; energy, environment, and equity; historic preservation; and urban regional planning. Additionally, students may design specializations that align with faculty expertise and the student's interests. Some examples of individually designed specializations include housing, international and comparative policy analysis, and social policy.
The Master of Public Administration Program Prepares Leaders for Careers in Nonprofit or Public Management
The Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) program is geared toward students seeking professions in government, nonprofit organizations and private sectors. It is professional degree for individuals whose aspirations are for careers in nonprofit or public management. This 42-credit program takes an average of two years of full-time scholarship; however, many students opt for part-time study. Furthermore, UD offers a Career Enhancement Option, which is designed for professionals who are working and have a minimum of five years of experience in the field. Students who participate in this option are able to complete the M.P.A. program on an accelerated part-time basis is a little over three years.
The Ph.D. in Urban Affairs and Public Policy Offers Three Specializations
The Ph.D. in Urban Affairs and Public Policy is research-oriented and geared toward applicants who have experience in the field and wish to pursue graduate studies, as well as applicants who have recently completed master's-level programs in social science, environmental policy, and public or urban affairs. Ph.D. students can choose from three areas of specialization: governance planning and management; social and urban policy; and technology, environment, and society. Specialization choices help determine the students' eventual choices of research centers and internships. Research centers at the university include the Center for Energy and Environmental Policy, the Center for Applied Demography and Survey Research, and the Center for Community Research and Service.
Admissions Guidelines for the School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy Graduate Programs
To ensure full financial aid consideration, applications for admission to a full-time graduate program in the School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy should be submitted by February 1. Applications for the M.P.A. Career Enhancement Option should be submitted by April 15.
Students must submit a graduate admission application (available online), one copy of official transcripts of all graduate and undergraduate work, GRE scores, three letters of recommendation, a statement of objectives and interests, resume, School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy Supplementary Information Form, TOEFL scores (if applicable), and a nonrefundable application fee of $60. Students should send application materials to: Office of Graduate Studies; University of Delaware; 234 Hullihen Hall; Newark, DE 19716.