Department of Political Science
Public Administration Program
"Constitute government how you please, infinitely the greater part of it must depend upon the exercise of the powers which are left at large to the prudence and uprightness of ministers of state."
-Edmund Burke
One out of three persons in the United States receives a direct benefit from the government. All of us receive some benefit, whether it is through the defense of the nation or a claim to equality before the law. There has been such a great expansion of the role of government that it is now hard to imagine an area of our lives in which government is not involved. The government is involved in public education and community services. The nation has military, economic and technical establishments around the world. Society has demanded a public response to energy needs, poverty, unemployment, pollution, discrimination, transportation needs, housing requirements, health hazards and the challenges of outer space. As G. Stahl says, "Government is a more conscious, a more ever-present feature of life everywhere than it has ever been before. There is simply more to do collectively, and there is consequently more government." To accomplish all of the tasks requires more professionally prepared and dedicated people.
The main goal of the Public Administration Program is to provide a background for students who will be seeking employment with the local, state or federal government and with non-profit agencies.
Why minor in Public Administration?
Government Employment
The courses in areas such as public personnel and the budgetary process provide skills that are needed when working for the government.
Employment Skills
Many of the courses teach skills needed in different executive positions. Courses such as Public Personnel teach management skills that are applicable in any management positions that require knowledge of how to manage people. The course in the budgetary process can be useful to anyone making budgetary decisions. The courses are also important for people, such as lawyers, who will be dealing with government officials.
Knowing How Government Works
Since the courses deal with the basic skills needed by government officials, they are also useful for any citizen wanting to become more knowledgeable about how government works and how to accomplish more when dealing with the local, state or federal government. They also provide a deeper understanding of problems such as difficult budgetary decisions and the decline of urban services.
Requirements
Semester Hours
I. Required Courses
POLS-101 American Government and Politics.............................................................3
POLS-205 Introduction to Public Administration...........................................................3
II. Electives (Departmental)
Select 12 semester hours from the following list:
POLS-304 State and Local Government........................................................................3
POLS-310 Public Personnel Administration..................................................................3
POLS-311 Governmental Budgeting...............................................................................3
POLS-315 Urban Administration.....................................................................................3
POLS-324 American Public Policy..................................................................................3
POLS-425 Politics of Federal Bureaucracy....................................................................3
POLS-426 Seminar and Internship in Public Administration I.......................................4
POLS-427 Seminar and Internship in Public Administration II......................................4
MINIMUM REQUIRED FOR MINOR.................................................................................18
USEFUL INFORMATION FOR GOVERNMENT JOB SEEKERS
Federal Level
U.S. Office of Personnel Management
Newark Area Office
Federal Building
970 Broad Street
Newark, NJ 07102
Tel: 645-3673
Many Federal agencies have their offices in
Newark or New York City. Some examples:
United States Secret Service
60 Evergreen Place
East Orange, NJ 07019
Tel: 645-2334
United States Marshals
Federal Square
Newark, NJ 07102
Tel: 645-2408
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and United States Customs
Airport International Plaza
U.S. Hwy No. 1
Newark, NJ 07102
Tel: 645-6059
Drug Enforcement
Administration
Federal Building
970 Broad Street, Room 806
Newark, NJ 07102
Tel: 645-6060