Public Administration

The UMA Public Administration Program is a member of the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration.

The excellent full-time faculty has extensive experience preparing students for careers in the public and nonprofit sectors.

The outstanding part-time faculty includes Dan Wathen, the former Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, and Dawn Gallagher, the former Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection. Many other Maine officials and administrators have offered courses in the program.

The program is aided by a distinguished advisory board, which includes Governor John Baldacci, Congressman Mike Michaud, former Congressman Tom Allen, Maine State Senators Libby Mitchell and Bill Diamond, former Maine Chief Justice Dan Wathen, Maine Municipal Association Director Chris Lockwood, and many others who have made significant contributions to public administration in the state.

Graduates have taken a variety of very responsible jobs in Maine state and local government. These include state commissioners, the Clerk of the Maine House, town managers, sherriffs and many others.

Most classes are small and meet in the evening to serve the interests of working students.
Costs are modest, and financial aid is available to both full-time and part-time students.

Transfer Students are welcome.

The Public Administration Degree Options

UMA offers an Associate of Science Degree and nine versions of the Bachelor of Science Degree, which have been tailored to meet the needs of students with particular backgrounds and interests.

• Bachelor of Science in Public Administration
• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Public Administration
• Post Baccalaureate in Public Administration (an existing degree in any academic field plus 30 credit hours in Public Administration)

Six 2+2 programs, in which students with an Associate Degree in one of the fields identified below can earn a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration with 60 or 61 additional credit hours of coursework:

• An associate degree in a health science field plus 60 credit hours
• An associate degree in Criminal Justice (or Justice Studies) plus 60 credit hours
• An associate degree in Fire Science plus 61 credit hours
• An associate degree in Computer Information Systems plus 60 credit hours
• An associate degree in Social Services plus 60 credit hours
• An associate degree in Public Administration plus 60 additional credit hours