Program Overview

B.A. in Public Administration

The Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration at the University of Miami provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges facing those in the public service, with special emphasis on administrative and managerial functions of government.

Curriculum Requirements

The curriculum for the B.A. in Public Administration includes the following requirements:

• Core Required Courses: 9 credits
  • POL 201: Introduction to American National Government
  • POL 319: Politics of the Administrative Process
  • POL 321: Introduction to Public Policy
• Politics, Social, Economic, and Legal: Choose 2 courses from the following: 6 credits
  • POL 315: American Presidency
  • POL 318: Economics for Politics and Public Administration
  • POL 320: Politics of Growth Management
  • POL 335: Democracy in Action: Local Government Simulation
  • POL 342: State Government and Politics
  • POL 343: Government in Metropolitan Areas
  • POL 393: Special Topics in Public Administration, Policy, and Law 1
  • POL 401: The Election
  • POL 526: Administrative Law
  • POL 531: Global Environmental Politics
  • POL 536: U.S. Health Care Crisis: Politics and Policies
  • POL 545: Environmental Policy Making
  • POL 548: Civic Participation and Democracy
  • POL 572: Government and Business
  • POL 596: Special Topics in Public Administration, Policy, and Law 1
• Analytical Tools and Communication Skills: Choose 2 courses from the following: 6 credits
  • POL 351: Public Opinion
  • POL 393: Special Topics in Public Administration, Policy, and Law 1
  • POL 510: Statistics for Politics and Public Administration 2
  • POL 517: Introductory Statistical Methods in Political Science
  • POL 518: Advanced Statistical Methods in Political Science
  • POL 519: Introduction to Game Theory for Political Science
  • POL 534: Applied Policy Analysis
  • POL 546: Public Policy Process and Implementation
  • POL 596: Special Topics in Public Administration, Policy, and Law 1
• Management of Public Organizations: Choose 2 courses from the following: 6 credits
  • POL 393: Special Topics in Public Administration, Policy, and Law 1
  • POL 501: Budget and Financial Management and Administration
  • POL 503: Organizational Dynamics and Management
  • POL 523: Problems in Public and Non-Profit Management
  • POL 524: Non-Profit Organizations: Law, Policy, and Management
  • POL 540: Human Resource Management in Public Service
  • POL 551: Productivity in the Public and Non-Profit Sectors
  • POL 555: Total Quality Public Service Management: Achieving High Performance Government
  • POL 556: Politics and Ethics
  • POL 557: Ethical and Managerial Issues in Government, Business, and Non-Profit Organizations
  • POL 558: From Electronic Government to Digital Governance
  • POL 596: Special Topics in Public Administration, Policy, and Law 1
• Comparative Governance: Choose 1 course from the following: 3 credits
  • POL 202: Introduction to Comparative Politics
  • POL 378: African Politics
  • POL 381: West European Politics (Previous Title: European Politics and Government)
  • POL 382: Government and Politics of the Federal Republic of Germany
  • POL 384: Russian Politics
  • POL 385: Politics and Society in Latin America
  • POL 387: Politics of the Middle East
  • POL 388: Politics of Israel
  • POL 393: Special Topics in Public Administration, Policy, and Law 1
  • POL 525: Comparative Public Policy and Administration
  • POL 569: LGBTI Politics
  • POL 571: Sex, Babies, and the State
  • POL 581: Comparative Political Economy of Post-Industrial Democracies
  • POL 582: International Development Policy
  • POL 584: Contemporary Latin American Politics
  • POL 588: Politics in China
  • POL 598: Special Topics in Comparative Politics
• General Education Requirements:
  • Written Communication Skills: WRS 105: First-Year Writing I, WRS 106: First-Year Writing II, or ENG 106: Writing About Literature and Culture
  • Quantitative Skills: MTH 108: Precalculus Mathematics II (or higher)
  • Areas of Knowledge: Arts and Humanities Cognate (9 credits), People & Society Cognate (9 credits), STEM Cognate (9 credits)
  • Additional Requirements: 9 credits
  • Language Requirement: 3 credits
  • Minor Requirement: 15 credits
  • Electives: 45 credits
• Total Credit Hours: 120

Mission

The Department of Political Science mission is to foster a community of scholars and students that encourages the quest for a deeper understanding of politics and develops a personal commitment to lifelong learning, intellectual growth, and civic responsibility.

Goals

Through the study of public administration, graduates will develop the skills and techniques necessary to serve as effective leaders and managers. They will be trained to effectively, efficiently, and equitably translate public policies into public programs and projects. Public administration coursework includes a comprehensive treatment of the broad political, social, economic, and legal environment that serves as the context for government administration. The program stresses theory, research, and practice. The program builds on arts and science foundations to develop analytical and communication skills and a deep understanding of the management of public organizations. The public administration program prepares students for a range of careers in public service and provides them with a solid foundation for additional education in graduate or professional schools.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate thorough knowledge of public administration concepts.
• Demonstrate the ability to perform social science research independently, analyze evidence and arguments critically, and draw reasoned conclusions.
• Demonstrate the ability to communicate theoretical concepts and empirical findings clearly.