John Doggett
Education

John Doggett obtained his Masters, PhD. in Public Administration and his Juris Doctorate from Syracuse University from 1983 through 1986. He likely was enrolled in the joint degree program which is designed to help students obtain two degrees in a shorter amount of time that it would take to obtain the degrees through separate programs.

Juris Doctorate (JD) - a person can practice law and has a wide range of career opportunites. Liscenced attorneys are employed as corporate in house counsel, risk managers, legistative analysts, technology licensing officers, contract administrators and in a host of other positions.

Master of Public Administration (MPA) - prepares individuals for careers as managers and policy analysts in government agencies and organizations closely associated with the public sector.

The Department of Public Administration / Syracuse University College of Law offers a joint JD/MPA program - six semesters and one interim summer of course work.

Students will work to gain concrete skills/knowledge in policy analysis, analytical framework and skills with which to better analyze public policies/processes, and to determine best solutions for improvement. They will gain skills and knowledge in the area of program management so students can implement programs and put into practive the solutions defined as best through careful analysis. Also they will gain understanding in public sector and institutional context. All programs are designed to meet larger public policy/management goals must occur in a public (organizational, economic, sociental, political) context - and understanding of the dynamics at work in these settings is critical for successful implementation.

The JD/MPA joint degree program is a longstanding and popular joint degree that exists between the Department of Public Administration and Syracuse University College of Law. Students can prepare for a career that rests on the nexus of law and public administration with the JD/MPA degree. Students must apply and be admitted to both programs seperately and will complete the entire first year in the College of Law prior to matriculation into the MPA degree. Due to the calendar nature of the MPA program, this challenging joint degree, one of the oldest of its kind anywhere, can be completed in three years (the same time needed for a JD alone).

Career Opportunities
Completion of the JD/MPA program opens many doors to careers in the public sector. Knowledge of the law is vital to both appointed and elected officials at the federal, state and local levels of government. Likewise, knowledge of how government works - including how public policy is created and public dollars are appropriated and spent - is vital to the practice of law in public organizations.

Graduates with JD/MPA may have careers as attorneys in local, state or federal agencies and be administrators in the agencies.