Mission and Goals

Program Vision

The Doctor of Public Administration is designed to develop scholarly practitioners as leaders committed to improving the quality of life and environmental sustainability of the Southern California region. Students learn to consciously integrate and apply current theoretical, moral, and institutional perspectives that contribute to the disciplined analysis and professional resolution of administrative problems. In the DPA program, students should be able to:

  1. Actively contribute, both personally and professionally, to the quality of life and the sustainability of the environment in their communities.
  2. Respect and trust others, be tolerant and non-judgmental and believe in equity and the equalization of power in organizations, institutions, and communities.
  3. Appreciate diversity of ideas, backgrounds, and values, while actively seeking to understand others through open dialogue and discourse.
  4. Pursue lifelong personal growth for themselves and for all humankind.

Program Mission

The mission of the Doctor of Public Administration program is to develop scholarly practitioners as leaders committed to public service and improving the quality of life and sustainability of the Southern California region.

Program Values

The University of La Verne’s DPA program has built an educational environment that empowers students to become scholarly practitioners—dynamic individuals who can combine substantial knowledge and thoughtful understanding of theory with capable, practical management and leadership. The department continuously provides high-quality, student-oriented learning by seeking and fostering qualified, responsible, and dedicated faculty who believe in and can deliver its key values:

  1. Educational excellence.
  2. Professional and personal success for students.
  3. Relevant course work.

Program Objectives

Objective 1 Apply theory and research methods to the design and study of social and community problems.
Objective 2 Integrate concepts, logic, and research methodologies across the domains of public administration and policy theories.
Objective 3 Identify and understand the effects of social and environmental factors on institutions, with special attention to inequities faced by historically marginalized communities.
Objective 4 Identify the elements of public service and recognize opportunities to better communities through research, education, and service delivery.
Objective 5 Demonstrate skills in collaborative problem-solving processes and public policy implementation to integrate and generalize creative solutions to regional problems.