Public Administration
2004-2006 Undergraduate Catalog | Catalogs

The study of public administration is the study of the skills, the art, and the science of administration of programs in the public sector. The undergraduate program is designed to provide both an interdisciplinary education and an introduction to professions in the public and nonprofit sectors. The program includes education in the essential areas of American government and political systems, economics, statistical analysis, and computer utilization. Students are introduced to the practice of public administration; to public policy analysis, formation, and implementation; to the skills of planning, communication, decision making, and organizational management; and to the issues and problems that face public administrators in the various applied fields of government and nonprofit administration.

Students in the program benefit from the diverse resources and distinctive public administration context of the Chicago metropolitan area as well as from their analysis and exploration of historical and contemporary case studies of national relevance. Students also benefit from instructors who are experienced and practicing public administrators and leaders in the government and nonprofit sectors. Most courses are offered in the evenings and on weekends to accommodate students who work full-time.

Undergraduates majoring in public administration will be exposed to the basic theories, professional skills, sociopolitical contexts, and ethics that undergird the practice of sound, effective, and efficient administration of the public sector. A degree in public administration provides students with the ability to work in a variety of employment sectors, such as government agencies, interest groups, the private sector that deals with government regulations, and nonprofit organizations.

Major in Public Administration leading to a BA degree

In addition to the general education requirements for the bachelor of arts degree, the program requires a minimum of 42 semester hours, including an internship, with a grade of C or higher in each course. The BA degree with a major in public administration is not a terminal professional degree; it prepares students for graduate and other advanced education. All students take a series of core requirements and concentration courses. Concentration courses are selected with the advisor and may be chosen from public administration, political science, sociology, or other appropriate areas.