Public Administration Minor

The Public Administration minor provides a broad understanding of the political, managerial, and quantitative aspects of public agency functions and policy activities. Through participation in this minor, students have an opportunity to learn practical and analytical skills in preparing for a management career in federal, state, or local government, or to prepare for graduate study leading toward a Master’s Degree in Public Administration, Management, or Public Policy.

A maximum of 12 credits of overlap with other major requirements is permissible.

Program Learning Outcomes

Understanding Public Administration Concepts: Students will gain a thorough knowledge of public administration principles, including the roles and responsibilities of public administrators.
Management Skills: Students will develop management skills specific to the public sector, including the ability to manage public programs and lead public organizations effectively.
Policy Analysis: Students will be trained to analyze public policies critically, understanding their impacts on communities and the broader society.
Communication Skills: Students will enhance their ability to communicate theoretical concepts and empirical findings clearly, both in writing and verbally.
Research Competence: Students will demonstrate the ability to perform independent social science research, analyze evidence, and draw reasoned conclusions.
Civic Engagement: Students will learn to engage with the public and foster participatory governance.

Total Credits Required to Complete Minor: 21-22

Basic Requirements: (12 Credits)

PLSC 374 - Public Administration Credit(s): 3
PLSC 414 - American Public Policy Credit(s): 3

One course from:

ACCT 102 - Introduction to Financial Accounting Credit(s): 3
PLSC 495 - Political Affairs or Legal Affairs Internship Credit(s): As arranged

One course from the following:

PLSC 373 - Presidential Politics Credit(s): 3
PLSC 375 - Politics of Judicial Process Credit(s): 3
PLSC 415 - Legislative Process Credit(s): 3

One course on Political and Social Systems: (3 Credits)

AMST 262 - American Indian Law & Public Policy Credit(s): 4
or
HIST 262 - American Indian Law and Public Policy Credit(s): 4
AMST 200 - Race, Prisons and Policing Credit(s): 3
ANTH 313 - Global Health Issues Credit(s): 3
ECON 330 - Public Economics Credit(s): 3
ECON 340 - Environmental Economics Credit(s): 3
ECON 341 - Natural Resource Economics Credit(s): 3
ECON 345 - Economics of Sports Credit(s): 3
ECON 346 - Health Economics Credit(s): 3
ECON 350 - Law and Economics Credit(s): 3
MGMT 357 - Electronic Commerce Credit(s): 3
PHIL 359 - Social and Political Philosophy Credit(s): 3
PHIL 377 - Philosophy of Law Credit(s): 3
PLSC 372 - Community, State, and Regional Politics Credit(s): 3
PLSC 412 - American Social Welfare Policy Credit(s): 3
PSYC 268 - Health Psychology Credit(s): 3
PSYC 275 - Environmental Psychology Credit(s): 3
SOCL 102 - Introduction to Social Problems and Public Policy Credit(s): 3
SOCL 213 - Sociology of Medicine Credit(s): 3
SOCL 217 - Urban Sociology Credit(s): 3
SOCL 310 - Sociology of Law Credit(s): 3
SOCL 317 - Gender and Law Credit(s): 3
SOCL 318 - Environmental Sociology Credit(s): 3
SOCL 333 - Sociology of Education Credit(s): 3
SOCL 347 - Criminology and Juvenile Delinquency Credit(s): 3
SOCL 354 - Political Sociology Credit(s): 3

One Methodology course from: (3 Credits)

ECON 205 - Business and Economic Statistics Credit(s): 3
ECON 206 - Quantitative Methods Credit(s): 3
GEOG 278 - Statistics in Geography Credit(s): 3
GEOG 286 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Credit(s): 4
MATH 242 - Elements of Probability and Statistics Credit(s): 3
MATH 262 - Applied Statistics Credit(s): 3
MGMT 268 - Management Law & New Technologies Credit(s): 3
PLSC 251 - Modern Political Analysis Credit(s): 3
PSYC 250 - Introduction to Behavioral Statistics Credit(s): 3
PSYC 251 - Introduction to Behavioral Research Methods Credit(s): 3
SOCL 211 - Statistics for Social Research Credit(s): 3
SOCL 361 - Field Research Methods Credit(s): 3

One course on Management and Organization: (3 Credits)

ECON 240 - Introduction to Environmental Economics Credit(s): 3
ECON 322 - Managerial Economics Credit(s): 3
ECON 330 - Public Economics Credit(s): 3
ECON 370 - Industrial Organization Credit(s): 3
GEOG 201 - Introduction to Urban and Regional Planning Credit(s): 3
GEOG 300 - Environmentalism & Natural Resource Management Credit(s): 3
MGMT 263 - Business Law I Credit(s): 3
MGMT 300 - Organizational Behavior Credit(s): 3
MGMT 346 - Human Resource Management Credit(s): 3
MGMT 360 - Labor Relations Credit(s): 3
MGMT 364 - Cyber Law Credit(s):
MGMT 375 - Diversity in Organizations Credit(s): 3
PHIL 237 - Ethical Issues in Business Credit(s): 3
PSYC 265 - Introduction to Industrial and Organizational Psychology Credit(s): 3
SOCL 290 - Sociology of Work and Organizations Credit(s): 3