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THE
MAJOR
The Public Policy and Administration major is a department within the
College of Arts &
Letters.
Admission and Progression Standards for this major:
Click on the link to learn more about the admission and progression standards of this major: http://www.jmu.edu/advising/snapshots/SSPPA.shtml
Description
of Major:
Department. The major in public policy and administration provides students with a general
foundation in the nature of public policy, the public workplace and its political and legal
environments. This major prepares students for professional employment and leadership in
government and nonprofit organizations. The program provides specialized training in management
and management-related skills. Students in the program gain knowledge in: the political culture of
public work, the economic environment of public work, the legal environment of public work,
organization and management theories, management best practices and the policy processes. In
addition, the public policy and administration major heightens students critical, analytical and
communication skills through case studies and exercises. The dual capstone requirement, a public
management seminar and an internship, demands integration of knowledge from both general studies
and major studies by focusing students on specific cases and workplace applications. The Political
Science Department also offers a major and minor in Political Science, a major in International Affairs
and a minor in Political Communication.
Tell
me more about this field of study.
Public Policy and Administration typically involves the management and coordination of day-to-day operations of a public agency, including hiring, delegating responsibilities, and preparing the annual budget. For example, the elected officials of a community decide what services a community will provide while the public administrator decides how best to deliver these services. Administrators are not only concerned with the day-to-day responsibilities of running government, but they must also plan for the future. Administrators and policy makers must be prepared to deal with changing federal and state regulations and tax rates, as well as population and demographic shifts. Moreover, they need to be prepared for changes in businesses and industries that can dramatically effect public service demands.
Tell
me more about specializations in this field.
Public policy administrators work in numerous settings, such as, the military, the White House, Yellowstone Park, the state capital, and the community center down the street. Individuals in this field can specialize in local, state or federal government or in a community or non-profit agency. Public policy administrators working in federal agencies and departments, for example, they may manage processes to collect taxes, arm the military, conduct foreign policy, perform scientific research, tabulate the census, support the arts or administer Social Security benefits. Administrators at the state government level are charged, among other things, to establish local government systems. Through local governments, states provide for police, education, recreation programs, waste management, roads, jails, prisons, and other services to citizens.
What
common major or minor combinations from other departments
complement this major?
Since the public policy and administration major is of broad application, students are encouraged to
choose a complementary minor with a narrower, applied focus. The minors recommended for students
consideration include Communication Studies, Computer Science, Conflict Analysis and Intervention,
Criminal Justice, Economics, Environmental Information Systems, Environmental Management,
Environmental Studies, Family Studies, Gerontology, Health Communication, Human Resource Development, Human Services, Integrated Science and Technology, Nonprofit Studies, Political Communication, Substance Abuse Intervention, Sociology, Technical and Scientific Communication, Telecommunications, Urban and Regional Studies or Women's Studies.
CHARACTERISTICS
OF SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS
Naturally, success in our program comes more easily to those students with a keen interest in political and government systems. Students who show initiative and get involved in leadership roles in student government or student organizations may find Public Policy and Administration appealing.
CAREERS
Many graduates choose typical career paths associated with this major. However, some graduates choose unrelated careers that utilize skills and experiences developed during their years in college. Keep in mind, that some fields will require graduate study or further training. The listing below offers examples of possible career paths and is not meant to be comprehensive.
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