"When I was trying to decide on a major at UMA, I wanted a program that would both further develop my interests and be academically challenging. The Public Administration degree program definitely was a fit and helped me achieve a rewarding position working at the Maine State Legislature."
- Ann Yandian, '05
"Our Public Administration program offers a professional degree designed to prepare students for administrative careers in government and nonprofit organizations. For those already employed, it provides an opportunity for them to improve administrative skills and enhance career prospects and mobility."
- John Nickerson,
Professor of Political Science and Public Administration
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Degree Offered: B.S. and A.S.
Offered on the Augusta campus
Interested in a career in government or the nonprofit arena? The UMA Public Administration program has an excellent record of preparing students for successful careers. Positions acquired by recent graduates include Commissioner, Chief Deputy Secretary of State, Clerk of the Maine House of Representatives, town manager, sheriff, police chief, fire chief, and airport manager. Our graduates have responsible positions in a great variety of public and nonprofit organizations, and have made a significant contribution to the quality of public life in Maine.
UMA’s excellent Public Administration faculty has many decades of experience getting students ready for new or enhanced careers, and they have been supplemented by an outstanding group of Maine public officials who have offered courses in their areas of expertise.
The curriculum promotes an understanding of modern organizations, sensitivity to political realities, and knowledge of modern management methods. The Bachelor’s degree is offered in eight versions, which have been tailored to meet the diverse needs of the individuals who can benefit from a degree in this field:
- Six versions of the Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Administration are for students who are transferring a prior associate degree in one of the following fields: a health science, criminal justice or justice studies, fire science, social or human services, computer information systems, or public administration.
- Another version of the Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Administration is for students who are not transferring a prior associate degree in a relevant field (121 credit hours).
- The final version offered is a Post-Baccalaureate of Science Degree in Public Administration – a second bachelor’s degree for students who already have a bachelor’s degree in another field (30 credit hours).
For those already employed, the program provides an opportunity to improve administrative skills and enhance career prospects and mobility. To meet the needs of these working students, classes meet in the late afternoon and evening.
The UMA Public Administration Program is a member of the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration, and outstanding graduates are inducted into Pi Alpha Alpha, the national honors society for public administration. The program is aided by a distinguished advisory board, which includes the governor, members of congress, members of the state legislature, the former Maine Chief Justice, the Director of the Maine Municipal Association, and many others who have made significant contributions to public affairs and administration in the state.
SKILLS YOU'LL ACQUIRE
Program graduates acquire a broad knowledge of administrative environments, and employ a diverse set of professional skills, including critical thinking, planning, data gathering, record keeping, analyzing, evaluating, and persuasively communicating. Here is a more complete list of skills and abilities one can expect to acquire through the study of public administration:
| Communication | Research & Analysis |
|---|---|
| Understanding cultural differences Working as a team member Mediating/negotiating conflicts Assessing needs and interests Effectively justifying positions Speaking and writing persuasively | Designing effective research projects Measuring public opinion Analyzing quantitative and qualitative outcomes Evaluating policies and programs Maintaining information systems |
| Planning & Development | Quantitative & Financial |
| Making projections Organizing people, equipment and ideas Designing project and programs Raising funds Selecting optimal policies Understanding complex problems in context | Managing fiscal affairs Preparing budgets Creating and evaluating financial reports and statements Using techniques to enhance rational decision making (e.g. cost-effectiveness analysis) |
Careers You Can Seek
Here is a sampling of the wide range of career paths that public administration majors have pursued:
| Government & Public Service | Not-For-Profit |
|---|---|
| City/Town/County Manager Congressional Staff Member Finance Officer Court Administrator Police/Fire Department Administrator Urban State Policy Planner Social Security Claims Examiner Medicaid Fraud Investigator | Nursing Home Administrator Environmental Activist Consumer Credit Counselor Accessibility Advocate Fund Raiser Recreation Center Director Co-op Manager Community Organizer |
| Education & Research | Business |
| Grant Coordinator Equal Opportunity Administrator School Finance Administrator Manager of College Relations Public Opinion Analyst Higher Education Administrator Program Review Analyst | Human Resource Administrator Benefits and Staff Development Manager Public Affairs Officer Insurance Appeals Coordinator Newspaper Columnist/Reporter Customer Service Representative Management Consultant |
*Baccalaureate or Graduate level study is generally required for these occupations.