Careers in Public Careers in Public AdministrationAdministration

Public AdministrationPublic Administration

Ralph S. Brower, Ph.D.Ralph S. Brower, Ph.D.

Askew School of Public Administration Askew School of Public Administration and Policyand Policy

Florida State UniversityFlorida State University

Definition for Public Definition for Public AdministrationAdministration

Public administration is concerned with the Public administration is concerned with the management of public programs. Public management of public programs. Public administrators work at all levels of administrators work at all levels of government, both at home and abroad; other government, both at home and abroad; other public administrators manage nonprofit public administrators manage nonprofit organizations, associations, and interest organizations, associations, and interest groups of all kinds.groups of all kinds.

Activities in which publicActivities in which publicadministrators engage:administrators engage:

Local Government Local Government AdministrationAdministration

Leadership and Leadership and Strategic ManagementStrategic Management

Human Resource Human Resource ManagementManagement

Public Financial Public Financial ManagementManagement

Civic and Nonprofit Civic and Nonprofit LeadershipLeadership

Policy Analysis and Policy Analysis and EvaluationEvaluation

Emergency Emergency Management and Management and Homeland SecurityHomeland Security

International International DevelopmentDevelopment

Organizations that employ public administrators

Federal, state, and local government agencies

International governmental organizations, such as the United Nations, World Bank, and NATO

Local and national nonprofit organizations, such as the Red Cross, Boys and Girls Clubs, and Second Harvest Food Bank

International nongovernmental organizations, such as World Vision, Save the Children, and Amnesty International

Professional associations, such as labor unions, Florida Optometric Association, and Florida Health Care Association

Graduate training needed to Graduate training needed to becomebecomea public administratora public administrator

Master of Public Administration: Master of Public Administration: approximately 42-45 credit hours; orapproximately 42-45 credit hours; or

Master of Public Policy: approximately Master of Public Policy: approximately 33-39 credit hours; or33-39 credit hours; or

Ph.D. in Public Administration – but only Ph.D. in Public Administration – but only for academic, technical, or consulting for academic, technical, or consulting positions: approximately 45-48 credit positions: approximately 45-48 credit hours beyond the mastershours beyond the masters

Certifications or additional Certifications or additional trainingtraining

Additional certificates or training are Additional certificates or training are not requirednot required, , however, additional certificates may help job placement in however, additional certificates may help job placement in some fields;some fields;

For example, the Askew School offers certificates in:For example, the Askew School offers certificates in:

• Financial Management (18 credit hours)Financial Management (18 credit hours)• Human Resource Management (18 credit hours)Human Resource Management (18 credit hours)• Health Services Administration (15 credit hours)Health Services Administration (15 credit hours)• General Public Administration (18 credit hours)General Public Administration (18 credit hours)• Emergency Management (15 credit hours)Emergency Management (15 credit hours)• Civic and Nonprofit Leadership (18 credit hours)Civic and Nonprofit Leadership (18 credit hours)

Employment opportunities Employment opportunities for public administratorsfor public administrators

Students with backgrounds in psychology Students with backgrounds in psychology have especially important roles to play as:have especially important roles to play as:• Human resource managers;Human resource managers;• Human service counselors, such as for youth Human service counselors, such as for youth

services, community mental health, criminal services, community mental health, criminal justice, disabilities, and substance abuse;justice, disabilities, and substance abuse;

• Specialists in disaster-related stress and Specialists in disaster-related stress and trauma for emergency management. trauma for emergency management.

– Demand in recent years for entry-level Demand in recent years for entry-level professionals:professionals:

– Human service nonprofits: continuous demandHuman service nonprofits: continuous demand– Local governments: continuous demandLocal governments: continuous demand– State agencies (Florida): decreasing demandState agencies (Florida): decreasing demand– Federal agencies: high demand in many fieldsFederal agencies: high demand in many fields

Salaries public Salaries public administrators earnadministrators earn

Government agencies:Government agencies:• Starting: $30-35KStarting: $30-35K• Top Executives: $100-250KTop Executives: $100-250K

Nonprofit managers:Nonprofit managers:• Starting: $25-35KStarting: $25-35K• Top Executives: $100-$700KTop Executives: $100-$700K

Association managersAssociation managers• Starting: $35KStarting: $35K• Top Executives: $100-$700KTop Executives: $100-$700K

University professors (Ph.D. required): $50-$180KUniversity professors (Ph.D. required): $50-$180K

Flexibility in work conditions Flexibility in work conditions for public administratorsfor public administrators

Some jobs offer shift optionsSome jobs offer shift options

Maternity/paternity leave in most government jobsMaternity/paternity leave in most government jobs

Discretion in clothing, so long as it’s professionalDiscretion in clothing, so long as it’s professional

Some flexible hours permitted in some workplacesSome flexible hours permitted in some workplaces

Work from home (telecommuting) arrangements Work from home (telecommuting) arrangements possible in some jobs possible in some jobs

Some choices for job relocation to other Some choices for job relocation to other communitiescommunities

Skills and experiences Skills and experiences undergradsundergrads should should have if interested in public have if interested in public administrationadministration

Most programs of study have no prerequisite course Most programs of study have no prerequisite course requirements, although courses in government and requirements, although courses in government and research methods are helpful;research methods are helpful;

To be competitive for better graduate programs in To be competitive for better graduate programs in public administration you will need:public administration you will need:• Minimum 3.0 upper division GPA (some programs higher, a

few lower);• GRE scores (scores vary by program; Askew School

requires a test score, but no minimum);• Community service, campus organizations and leadership

are desirable but not required;• Three (3) letters of recommendation from professionals

and professors who know you.

Admission requirements vary across programs.Admission requirements vary across programs.

Most rewarding aspects of Most rewarding aspects of being a public administratorbeing a public administrator

Making a difference in citizens’ livesMaking a difference in citizens’ lives

Making a difference for your communityMaking a difference for your community

Psychologically fulfillingPsychologically fulfilling

Creating public trust in government and civil societyCreating public trust in government and civil society

Interacting with people whose ideas and values are different Interacting with people whose ideas and values are different than your ownthan your own

Confronting challenging problems and learning new thingsConfronting challenging problems and learning new things

Helping create and implement new public policiesHelping create and implement new public policies

Biggest drawbacks of being Biggest drawbacks of being a public administratora public administrator

Your work is always in the public eye (transparency)Your work is always in the public eye (transparency)

Some public problems don’t have practical solutionsSome public problems don’t have practical solutions

Having to deal Having to deal sometimessometimes with unpleasant people with unpleasant people

Can’t always control the “face” or the timing of problems you Can’t always control the “face” or the timing of problems you have to deal withhave to deal with

Additional information aboutAdditional information aboutbeing a public administratorbeing a public administrator

Many graduate programs offer joint degrees or other Many graduate programs offer joint degrees or other special programs; examples from the Askew School: special programs; examples from the Askew School: MPA/JD - with College of LawMPA/JD - with College of Law MPA/MSC - with College of Criminology and Criminal JusticeMPA/MSC - with College of Criminology and Criminal Justice MPA/MSP - with Department of Urban and Regional MPA/MSP - with Department of Urban and Regional

PlanningPlanning MPA/MSW – with College of Social WorkMPA/MSW – with College of Social Work

Five year combined BA/BS and MPAFive year combined BA/BS and MPA

Website recommendations for those Website recommendations for those interested in public administration interested in public administration

The Askew School of Public Administration and Policy: The Askew School of Public Administration and Policy: http://askew.fsu.eduhttp://askew.fsu.edu

Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration:

http://www.naspaa.org/