121 Credit Hours

The Bachelor of Science in Public Administration is a professional degree designed to prepare students for administrative careers in government and nonprofit organizations. For those already employed, it provides an opportunity to improve administrative skills and enhance career prospects and mobility.

The public administration curriculum is comprehensive, covering public sector institutions, the central functional areas of modern administration, and a range of valuable and relevant analytical skills. It is designed to produce managers with an understanding of modern organizations, a sensitivity to political realities, a grasp of management methods, and a knowledge of the analytical tools needed to illuminate substantive issues. See the checksheet for a list of the course and degree requirements.

Examples of Positions for which Graduates Would Qualify:

Town Manager
Assistant City Manager or City Manager
County Administrator
Municipal or State Budget/Finance Officer
Municipal or State Treasurer
Commissioner of Public Safety
Executive Administrative Assistant
Auditor
Program Review Officer
School Finance and Administration Officer
Officials in not-for-profit organizations
Court Administrator
University Administrative Services Director
Equal Opportunity Administrator
Human Resource Administrator
Public Affairs Officer
Officials in a District Attorney’s Office (who do not require a law degree)
Analyst for a Legislative Committee
Manager in a Regulatory Agency
Local Airport Manager

Student Learning Outcomes:

Students who complete the public administration baccalaureate degree should be able to:

  • Communicate effectively in writing
  • Communicate effectively orally
  • Demonstrate sound reasoning in the analysis of administrative issues
  • Understand widely used statistical concepts, and use that knowledge to read and understand statistical reports
  • Understand basic survey research concepts and procedures, and use that knowledge to conduct simple surveys, and to read and understand   survey research results
  • Understand basic concepts and procedures of public budgeting and financial administration, and use that knowledge to understand budgets and financial documents
  • Understand basic concepts of cost-benefit analysis, and use that knowledge to read and understand cost-benefit analyses
  • Understand basic accounting concepts and procedures, and use that knowledge to read basic accounting documents
  • Understand basic human resource issues, and use that knowledge to contextualize administrative issues and processes (and stay out of trouble)
  • Understand the basic content of administrative law, and use that knowledge to contextualize administrative issues and processes (and stay out of trouble)
  • Understand the basic concepts of public program evaluation, and use that knowledge to read and understand program review documents
  • Understand American public sector institutions at the national, state and local level, and use that knowledge to contextualize administrative issues and processes
  • Demonstrate the overall perspective and the repertoire of knowledge, skills and abilities needed to acquire positions appropriate for baccalaureate graduates in modern administrative environments

For additional information, contact:

David Leach, Program Coordinator
david.leach@maine.edu

Ms. Terry Lawson
207.621.3288