Public Administration


The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences offers a BA and a BGS, as well as a MA/MUP, a MPA, a MPA/JD, and a PhD degree in public administration on KU's Edwards Campus in Overland Park. The public administration major gives students the knowledge necessary to understand how government programs are initiated and carried out. It emphasizes leadership, exploration of diverse problems in a diverse world, how public policy is made and implemented, and how programs are created and services are delivered.

Public Administration Department website

Sample of Related Skills

  • Demonstrate broad understanding of public affairs, policy development, policy analysis, economic analysis, management skills, and organization theory and their applications to public service  

     
  • Explain to stakeholders key public issues both orally and in writing and detail their impact on the public at large  

     
  • Use an ethical framework to analyze an ethical dilemma within the political context of a government institution  

     
  • Distinguish the interactive roles that government organizations play in the business and non-profit sectors in planning and delivering public serves  

     
  • Apply leadership theories and techniques in managing and governing a public organization  

     
  • Define ethical leadership and evaluate its importance in contemporary government and public administration  

     
  • Explain how public policy is formulated and implemented  

Popular Career Paths

Local/State Government: Typically involves working with various departments of state government and can include counties, townships, and school districts.

Federal Government: Typically involves working within various federal departments and agencies.

Non-Profit: Typically involves working with local and national non-profit agencies/foundations and can include charitable organizations, research organizations, and educational institutions.

Private Sector: Can involve working in consulting firms, association management firms and other businesses in a variety of areas including personnel management, budget analysis, and public relations.

International Relations: Involves working with US government agencies and international non-profit organizations to inform and enhance relations between countries through foreign diplomacy, intelligence, policy, and law. 

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Jobs to Consider

Places to Seek Employment

  • Chambers of Commerce
  • Colleges and Universities
  • Consulting Firms
  • Educational Organizations
  • Federal Government Agencies
  • International Relief Agencies
  • Local Government Departments
  • Non-Profit Organizations
  • Political Parties
  • Public Interest Groups
  • Research Institutes & Foundations
  • State Government Departments
  • Think Tanks
  • Trade and Professional Organizations 

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