Public Administration
Degree: Bachelor of Arts
What is Public Administration?
Miami's program in public administration gives you the insight you need to work in a public agency. This major is for students interested in public service careers, including work for federal, state, or local government; city management; international organizations; nonprofit institutions; government relations in private firms; consulting firms; or post-graduate education in public administration, policy analysis, or law.
What are the features of Miami's program?
Broad exposure: The program combines social science preparation with skills in management and research.
Professional emphasis: You'll get a well-rounded liberal arts education along with courses that will help you apply professional practices in public administration.
Outstanding faculty: Several members of our expert faculty have received awards for outstanding teaching and in recognition of their scholarly research. Many also have experience working in government and politics and bring that experience to the classroom.
Study abroad: The Department of Political Science encourages students to study abroad. Students may choose to study abroad for a semester, a full academic year, or during the summer, and options are available in English and other languages. While some programs are recommended for students with majors in the Department of Political Science, choices are not limited to those programs. Miami is one of the few public universities with its own facility abroad, the John E. Dolibois European Center in Luxembourg. Its central location in Western Europe allows for faculty guided study trips throughout the continent.
High law school acceptance rates: Students of any major may be admitted to law school, but the biggest numbers, nearly a third, come from the Department of Political Science. Miami's pre-law advisers will help you plan your program and guide you through the law school admission and testing process. Our rate of acceptance to law schools is excellent and consistently above the national average, with students attending the top schools across the country, including New York University, Columbia University, University of Chicago, University of Michigan, and Northwestern University.
Are there special admission requirements?
There are no additional admission requirements for this program.
What courses would I take?
In your first two years, you'll complete liberal arts courses as well as introductory courses in public administration. Courses in the core and related requirements allow you to study topics such as policy analysis, urban policy and administration, public personnel administration, and public budgeting and financial administration
After your sophomore or junior year, you're encouraged to pursue an administrative internship. Students often work with their local governments or those in nearby cities, such as Hamilton, Middletown, or Cincinnati. In your junior and senior years, you focus on courses in the public administration major as well as related electives.
What can I do with this major?
Upon graduation, Public Administration majors generally do one of three things: work in the public sector, usually in entry-level management positions in federal, state, regional, or local governments; go on to graduate school, with public administration and public policy programs being the most common choice; or work in the private sector, often entering management trainee programs with large industrial or service companies or working with private consulting firms as researchers or nonprofit organizations in general administrative positions.
Who can I contact for more information?
For general information about Miami University, please contact:
Office of Admission
301 S. Campus Ave.
Miami University
Oxford, OH 45056-3434
513-529-2531 (v/t)
www.muohio.edu/requestinfo
For specific information on the Public Administration major, please contact:
Department of Political Science
218 Harrison Hall
Miami University
Oxford, OH 45056
513-529-2000
www.muohio.edu/politicalscience
