Although the previous articles in The Scribe’s Guide for the Undecided have spotlighted undergraduate programs, public administration is a graduate program that serves as a direct continuation to College of Public Service studies.  

Those who strive to better the community, whether on a regional or federal level, may find that the public administration program fits those interests. People in this program have strong callings to public service, mending problems in bureaucratic structures such as inefficiency or equity issues and keeping pre-existing systems functional.  

According to Department Chair and Associate Professor Edin Mujkic, “Public administration is about keeping the ball bouncing.” 

The curriculum is designed to offer “all the skills that one person needs. [It] doesn’t matter what kind of organization they work in,” Mujkic said. Students are taught relevant, tangible skills including operating organizations, leadership, human resources, law administration, budgeting and ethics.  

The six required core classes for public administration include Introduction to Public Administration, Organizational Management Behavior, Economics and Public Finance, The Policy Process and Democracy, Ethics and Leadership, and Research and Analytic Methods.  

At the end of their schooling, students must either complete a master’s thesis or a capstone project. According to Mujkic, most students end up taking a one-semester capstone project where they pair with an agency of their choosing and do research that helps the agency resolve certain issues or obtain better results. 

The program offers lucrative internship possibilities. “We have a very good internship with NORAD and NORTHCOM … It’s a very good way to actually get a job in the federal government,” Mujkic said.  

Through the College of Public Service, students can earn both undergraduate and graduate certificates in the fields of Nonprofit Management, Religion and Nonprofits, Homeland Security and Emergency Management, National Security Intelligence, Nonprofit Management, and Public Management.  

Students in the public administration program are able to apply credits obtained through these certificates to their 12-15 required elective credit hours. This allows students to focus on areas of interest rather than taking whatever filler electives are available, although that is still an option.  

Since public administration cultivates a broad range of skills, students are able to obtain diverse jobs in public service. These span positions in Lockheed Martin or Booz Allen, the sheriff or fire department, clerk jobs or even CIA directors.  

According to Mujkic, almost all high-profile military leaders have a master’s in public administration. “It’s a very good degree to actually get a job, to actually make progress in your current job,” Mujkic said.  

Pi Alpha Alpha, the Global Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration, is a committee on campus that recognizes achievement in public affairs and administration. It serves as a way for members to connect and prepare for public service careers.  

Another way students can connect to other like-minded individuals is by opting for in-person classes, which are primarily seminar-based. These classes invite students to discuss practical applications and make connections. Many students in public administration are returning to school to earn their master’s after serving in special forces, which means they can offer resources and connections to less experienced students, according to Mujkic.  

Mujkic invites any interested students to send him an email or visit him in his office in ACAD 314, where he said he is more than happy to chat.  

Graphic by Olivia Davis.