Department of Public Administration

The Department of Public Administration offers a variety of degrees, minors and a certificate providing students with a broad understanding of public and nonprofit management. The public sector is vast and includes over 20 million employees, and the nonprofit sector has expanded to nearly half that number as governments transition the provision of services through nonprofit organizations. The Department prepares students for professional careers in public service at the city, county, state and federal levels. Currently the public sector in the United States includes over 87,000 governments, of which the federal government is but one. The Bachelor of Arts or Science degrees with a major in Public Administration enable students to attain entry level positions in government and other nonprofit organizations. Those seeking senior management and executive positions are strongly encouraged to pursue the Master of Public Administration (MPA) or Master of Nonprofit Management (MNM). Students with interests that go beyond the Masters level may also pursue a Ph.D. in Public Affairs.

There are numerous public and nonprofit employment opportunities with jobs available in nearly every area of specialization. For instance, public servants include engineers, accountants, fire fighters, police, physicians, nurses, botanists, chemists, nutritionists, project managers, community planners, city and county administrators, social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, policy analysts, grant writers, contract managers, quality assurance managers and evaluators. The range of employment opportunities is extraordinary and includes a variety of management and staff positions in environmental protection, homeland security, human resources, nonprofit management, urban planning, economic development, policy and administration and emergency management, among others. The salaries are generally competitive with private industry, despite common misconceptions to the contrary. Employment in the public and nonprofit sector provides graduates with the opportunity to “make a difference” in their communities on a national, state or local level.