Associate of Arts Degree in Public Administration
60 Semester Units, 980.5-1010.5 Clock Hours

The Associate of Arts Degree in Public Administration is a comprehensive 18-month program designed for students seeking entry-level positions in public service and non-profit organizations. The program includes a robust general education component designed to provide a solid foundation for professional development. The curriculum enhances students’ critical thinking, communication, writing, and computer skills throughout the program. Graduates will have a broad understanding of public policy issues, societal concerns, public financing, budgeting, as well as fiscal and strategic management techniques. Graduates are expected to have developed the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities to attain and succeed in an administrative role in this high demand field.

The objectives of the AA in Public Administration include:

  • Introduction to and examination of the history, structure, current trends, and future of public administration and non-profit agencies

  • Discussion and debate of current trends with focus on urban development issues and strategies

  • Comparing and contrasting the structures, governance systems, and inter-relations of public agencies

  • Exploration of fundamental public administration, organizational behavior, and social theories

  • Review and investigation of public administrative laws, policies, practices, and procedures
    Summarization of personnel administration principles and practices

  • Demonstration of understanding of basic public finance principles

  • Application of critical thinking and analytical skills

  • Enhancement and application of critical thinking and analytical skills

  • Increase and enhancement of intellectual knowledge and personal growth

  • Fostering tolerance and understanding in diversity and issues of global concern

  • Increase effectiveness in communication and interpersonal relations

  • Fostering of student ability to become well-rounded citizens as persons, professionals, and community members through provision of a broad-based array of general education courses

  • Development, application, and enhancement of information technology skills
     

The field of public administration is changing at rapid pace as governments strive toward meeting the desires of its citizens whose increasing demands for socially responsible, accountable, and ethical administration. Governments, in turn, have responded with a rise in professionalism and increasing educational requirements of new hires, providing tremendous career opportunities for entry-level positions. The Associate Degree in Public Administration prepares students for employment in a full range of entry-level positions available in the public administration field including careers in local, state, and federal government, private sector organizations, non-profit organizations, as well as public interest sectors such as healthcare, social welfare, and community welfare.

This program serves as an excellent foundation for the B.S. degree in Public Administration
See the following matrix for program course listing:

Course No. Units Course Title

GE 100 3.0 Personal Health, Fitness, and Well-Being
GE 201 3.0 Mathematics
GE 205 3.0 Introduction to Sociology
GE 218 3.0 College English
GE 219 3.0 American Culture, Government and Politics
GE 220 3.0 Public Speaking
GE 223 3.0 Diversity, Culture, and Ethics
GE 230 3.0 Critical Thinking
GE 231 3.0 Introduction to Ecology
GE 231a 0.5 Ecology Lab
BC 116a 2.5 Introduction to Computers & Computer Applications
PA 200 3.0 Personnel Administration in the Public Sector I
PA 201 3.0 Introduction to Public Administration
PA 208 3.0 Administrative Law
PA 210 3.0 Governments & Intergovernmental Relations
PA 230 3.0 Communication Skills for the Administrator
PA 237 3.0 Financial Planning and Management in the Public Sector
PA 250 3.0 Understanding Public Policy
PA 260 3.0 Organizational Behavior & Leadership
PA 270* 3.0 Internship in Public Administration I
PA 271* 3.0 Seminar in Public Administration I
PA 280 3.0 Urban Economics

Students must elect either PA 270 or 271 to meet graduation requirements.