Government and Public Administration Bachelor's (B.S.) Degree Program

Program Overview

The Government and Public Administration Bachelor's program provides a comprehensive foundation in public sector administration, preparing students for diverse roles in government and non-profit organizations. It emphasizes experiential learning, interdisciplinary perspectives, and career advancement opportunities in the public domain. The program's curriculum includes core courses in public administration, home institution requirements, and elective options in related fields.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

Overview:

The Government and Public Administration Bachelor's program equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in diverse public sector roles. It emphasizes experiential learning, featuring individual and collaborative projects aligned with the curriculum.

Objectives:

• Provide a solid foundation in federal, state, and local government administration
• Prepare students for work in operational roles within the public and non-profit sectors
• Establish a foundation for pursuing advanced study in Public Administration or Policy, commonly required for career advancement in the public domain
• Offer interdisciplinary perspectives by incorporating insights from public health, social science, history, and other fields, fostering a broader understanding of public administration and policy.

Outline:

Courses & Objectives:

Program Requirements – Approximately 51 Hours

Public Administration Core – 12 Hours

• PAM I: Introduction to Public Administration
• PAM II: State and Local Government Administration
• PAM III: Public Budgeting and Finance
• PAM IV: Public Administration Capstone

Home Institution Requirements – 33 Hours

• Introduction to Economics or Microeconomics + Macroeconomics
• Introduction to Sociology
• Accounting I
• Introduction to Government or Comparative Government
• Introduction to Public Policy
• Analytics or Statistics for Economists or Applied Statistics
• Social Research Methods
• Human Resources Management
• Ethics
• Leadership
• Organizational Behavior

Electives – 6 Hours

Students select two additional courses in fields like criminal justice, sociology, economics, public health, or anthropology.

Sample Elective Courses:

• Introduction to Public Health
• Sociology of Sex and Gender
• Race and Ethnic Relations
• Criminology and Prevention
• Drugs and American Society
• Health Care in the US
• Environmental Policy
• National Resource Management
• Sustainability
• Non-profit Management
• City Planning
• Comparative Government

Careers:

Career Options:

• Social and Community Services Manager
• City Planning Manager
• Emergency Management Director
• Non-profit Director
• Human Resources Manager

Key Facts:

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects growth rates between 16% (social workers) and 18% (social and community services managers) between 2016 and 2026.
• Median salary for administrative services managers: $94,417 per year
• Median salary for city manager: $89,229 per year
• Over half of federal workers are nearing retirement age
• The nonprofit sector has grown by 20% over the last 10 years, compared to a growth rate of about 2-3% for the for-profit sector.