Bachelor of Arts [B.A] [Public Administration] From Saginaw Valley State University

The Public Administration major is designed to provide graduates with the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities for planning, implementing, evaluating, and leading public service organizations. Graduates of the program will be ideally suited to work in settings including local, state, and federal government, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and private sector businesses that contract with government. The public administration curriculum emphasizes practical skills and is designed to develop technical administrative skills and competencies in public budgeting and finance, public human resources management, and the planning and evaluation of public programs.

The study of politics is an examination of the processes and institutions through which humans create a common life. Ancient and modern political scientists have shown us that politics also is the study of the ideas, interests and expectations people bring to making decisions, and the obstacles they meet in their efforts to forge a common life that will be good for more than a few. This department in particular is concerned with issues of equality and justice. And we feel that it is important for citizens to understand the complexities of politics because governing rarely is a simplistic process.

The course offerings for this major reflect four traditional areas of political study: political theory, American political institutions, public policy, and international relations. Additionally, our program helps students understand the process of analyzing politics through exposure to research methods in the discipline.

A major in political science is appropriate background for students interested in careers in?law,?political work?for public or private organizations from the local to the national level,?journalism, and teaching. The major also can prepare students for graduate studies?in fields such as law, public policy, and political science; or for interdisciplinary studies such as the?Master of Arts degree in Administrative Science?offered by Saginaw Valley State University.