A Public Administration major combines practice as well as theory, emphasizing management strategies, problem solving and leadership through critical thinking. Focus in this degree program will be on how students should be aware of how to utilize public resources in order to achieve a public purpose whether through public policy formulation, new program development, labor relations, or public finance. A bachelor degree in Public Administration will provide outstanding leadership skills and provide students the ability to be able to implement complex public programs and troubleshoot public and governmental issues successfully. Graduates with a Public Administration degree will be able to enter both private and public sector positions with the skills to work directly with and for government contracts or public works programs.

What Can I Do with a Degree in Public Administration?

A degree in Public Administration lends itself to a variety of government and non-government positions. Some examples of positions and career areas that can come from a bachelor degree in Public Administration are:

• Legislators
• Social Workers
• Auditors and Accountants
• City and Court Clerks
• Public Work Managers/Directors
• City Managers
• Child Support and Services
• Military Service
• Management- Public or Private

Career Outlook and Salary Information

The career outlook and salary one can earn with a Public Administration degree vary depending on the direction, type, and size of organization where they are employed. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, www.bls.gov, local government employs more than twice as many workers as are found in State government, with fire fighters and law enforcement officials being the largest occupations. In addition, the Department of Labor suggests that it is more common to find employer-provided benefits among State and local government employees than it is to find them among private sector workers.

Keep in mind that government budgets will affect the outlook for a career in Public Administration and as with most occupations, managers and director-level officials typically earn a higher rate of pay than other workers. In 2004, the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) reported the median annual salary, taking into account selected executive and managerial occupations in local government, to be $67,590.