Public Policy and Administration (Major: Bachelor-Level)

The goal of the public policy and administration major is to prepare students for a diverse number of careers within or related to the public sector. The major invites students to critically evaluate their ability to influence democracy at the local, state, national and international level. Majors are exposed to different subfields and theories related to the study of public policy and administration. Upon graduation, students should have a practical understanding of public policy and administration and the skills required to effectively work in these areas. The major specifically seeks to fulfill the following six outcomes: Learn how to develop transformative policies through research and analysis. Learn how to navigate the administrative and policy arena by understanding overarching theories like, bureaucracy, the politics-administration dichotomy, the policy framework, the stages of policy-making, the 4 major paradigms of public administration, etc. Learn how to think critically and apply public administration and public policy theories in specialized areas such as the environment, education, family and social life, health and safety, justice, international affairs, communications, social awareness, economics, and human resources. Graduates of this program will be trained in how to remedy society's most pressing issues on the local, state, national and international level. Students will become proficient in various public management techniques such as; budgeting, leadership, ethical decision making, policy evaluation, cost-benefit analysis, collaborative governance, effective organizational communications, etc. Graduates will have the skills and knowledge to obtain entry level jobs in public policy and administration immediately after completing the program.Majors will take a number of core policy, administration, and political science classes and then choose either the policy or administration emphasis. Within each emphasis, students will select an area of specialization. In addition, students will select six credits of professional development. Finally, students will complete an internship and the capstone course related to the their emphasis.