Public Administration

What Is Public Administration

Public administration entails civil servants implementing a specified policy within the confines of a government executive framework. Public administrators ensure that every facet of federal, state, and local public services are offered and executed to help pave the way for the future. A secondary educational degree in public administration will equip the student with enough academic knowledge to pursue jobs in both government, private, and non-profit organizations. An education between each pursuit will provide a competitive edge for the individual who obtains the necessary skills to complete the job. Some public administrators will move around to various sectors throughout their career. For instance, entry-level public administrators may begin in a non-profit organization, while others may transfer to a government branch. A public administration degree or its equivalent will provide greater flexibility in order to change career titles. Some of these careers include positions in healthcare, federal emergency agencies, international relief associations, and animal welfare organizations.

Undergraduates can expect to enter the workforce in rapidly evolving and maturing governmental and non-governmental institutions, although opportunities may become limited for those without higher education. Stronger competitive candidates will possess a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration. These degree programs emphasize public finance problem solving, program development, policy formation, human resources, public relations, leadership, management, and critical thinking skills. Higher level positions are offered to candidates who obtain a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree. Depending on the degree program, most students can finish within a few years. Students will learn to grasp the underlying principles of analytical, conceptual, and practical applications. The curriculum may include: grant writing, policy construction, human resource and financial management. Doctoral candidates may bring changes to public policy and public administration through social reform. Students who pursue a doctoral degree usually have a number of years of work experience in public administration. These higher-echelon candidates will be expected to provide an even greater depth of research.

Public administrators can execute a wide array of career choices in the government sector, including policy ad visor, budget analyst, city manager, city planner, and executive assistant. Most of these positions require a master’s degree or higher in business or public administration. Additionally, candidates with an undergraduate degree may pursue jobs in social services that may include supervisory, managerial, and directional positions, depending on past work experiences and displayed competencies. Others may find refuge in special interest groups, religious, political, trades, or other various associations. For instance, association executives execute a variety of duties, depending on their positions and overall size of the organization. Association executives advance policy agendas and establish goals to maintain their membership. Public administration salaries range from about $20,000 to $175,000, depending on the level of education and work experience acquired throughout a candidate’s career.