Public Administration

Admissions: 1-877-UMA-1234 ext. 3465 or (207) 621-3465
Advising Center: 1-877-UMA-1234 ext. 3149 or (207) 621-3149
Coordinator: David Leach (207) 621-3317 david.leach@maine.edu
Website: www.uma.edu/academics/programs/public-administration/

Intro/Overview

The UMA Public Administration Program has prepared many students for successful careers in government and nonprofit organizations. Historically, the great bulk of program graduates have acquired jobs or received promotions when they completed their degree, and many of the others continued their education at the graduate level. They have pursued careers in a number of states, but have had particular success in Maine. At the state level, positions have included Chief Deputy Secretary of State, Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection, Chief of the Maine State Police, and Clerk of the Maine House of Representatives and Chief of Staff for the Maine Governor. At the local level, positions have included Town Manager, Sherriff, Police Chief, Fire Chief and Airport Manager. Graduates have responsible positions in a great variety of public and nonprofit organizations, and have made a significant contribution to the quality of public life in Maine.

The full-time faculty has many decades of experience getting students ready for new or enhanced careers. In addition, many Maine officials have offered courses in the program, including Dan Wathen, the former Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, Dawn Gallagher, the former Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection, Bill Bridgeo, the City Manager of Augusta Maine, Jared Mills, the Police Chief of Augusta Maine, and Rebecca Wyke, the former UMA President and Chief Financial Officer of the University of Maine System.

The UMA Public Administration Program is a member of the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration (formerly the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration), and outstanding graduates have been inducted into Pi Alpha Alpha, the national honors society for public administration.

There are three versions of the Bachelor of Science in Public Administration degree, reflecting the diverse needs of the individuals who can benefit from the knowledge that a modern administration degree provides:

The Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Administration for students who are transferring a prior associate degree in one of the following fields:
- Health Science (Nursing, Med Lab Science, Dental Hygiene, etc.)
- Criminal Justice or Justice Studies
- Fire Science
- Social or Human Services
- Computer Technology
- Paralegal Studies
The Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Administration for students who are not transferring a prior associate degree in a relevant field
The Post-Baccalaureate of Science Degree in Public Administration - a second bachelor’s degree for students who already have a bachelor’s degree in another field

There is also an Associate of Science in Public Administration, and there is a Minor in Public Administration for students who want to add administrative knowledge and skills to a degree in another field. See “Programs” at the bottom of this page for specific degree and minor requirements.

Program Objectives

This degree program prepares students for administrative careers in government and nonprofit organizations. For those already employed, it provides an opportunity to improve administrative skills and enhance career prospects and mobility. The curriculum is designed to promote an understanding of modern organizations, a sensitivity to political realities, and a knowledge of modern management methods. It covers public sector institutions, the central functional areas of modern administration, and a range of valuable analytical tools.

Learning Outcomes

This program is designed to produce graduates who can

communicate effectively, both orally and in writing,
use sound reasoning in the analysis of administrative issues,
understand American public sector institutions at the national, state and local level, and use that knowledge to contextualize administrative issues and processes,
understand basic human resource issues, and use that knowledge to contextualize administrative issues and processes,
understand the basic content of administrative law, and use that knowledge to contextualize administrative issues and processes,
understand basic concepts and procedures of public budgeting and financial administration, and use that knowledge to understand budgets and financial documents,
understand basic accounting concepts and procedures, and use that knowledge to read basic accounting documents,
understand widely used statistical procedures, and use that knowledge to read and understand basic statistical reports,
understand basic survey research concepts and procedures, and use that knowledge to conduct simple surveys, and to read and understand survey research results,
understand basic concepts of geographical information systems, and use that knowledge prepare, read and understand mapped information,
understand the basics of grant writing, and use that knowledge prepare grant proposals,
demonstrate the overall perspective and repertoire of knowledge, skills and abilities needed to acquire positions appropriate for bachelor’s degree graduates in modern administrative environments.

Admissions Requirements (see UMA general requirements)

Credit for Prior Learning

Students may receive credit for relevant knowledge acquired prior to admission through a variety of standardized tests and challenge examinations. For details, contact the program coordinator.

Graduation Requirements

Upon successful completion of coursework detailed below (with an overall grade point average of at least 2.00, and a grade point average in political science courses of at least 2.00), the student will be awarded a degree in Public Administration.

Career Opportunities

UMA’s Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration is designed to prepare people for administrative careers in government and non-profit organizations. For those already employed in public service, it provides opportunities to improve administrative skills and to enhance career prospects and mobility. The curriculum is comprehensive, covering public sector institutions, the central functional areas of modern administration, and a range of valuable and relevant analytical skills. It is designed to produce managers with an understanding of large scale organizations, a sensitivity to political realities, a grasp of management methods, and a knowledge of the tools needed to illuminate substantive issues. Graduates will be capable of assuming a wide variety of positions, including Town Manager, Higher Education Administrator, Nursing Home Administrator, Court Administrator, Public Affairs Officer, Legislative Staffer, and Community Organizer.

Transferable Skills & Competencies

Program graduates have broad knowledge of administrative environments, and employ a diverse set of professional skills, including critical thinking, planning, data gathering, record keeping, analyzing, evaluating, and persuasively communicating. Here is a more complete list of skills and abilities one can expect to acquire through the study of public administration:

Communication

Understanding cultural differences
Working as a team member
Mediating/negotiating conflicts
Writing reports and policies
Effectively justifying positions
Speaking and writing persuasively

Research and Analysis

Designing effective research projects
Measuring public opinion
Analyzing quantitative and qualitative outcomes
Evaluating policies and programs
Maintaining information systems

Planning and Development

Making projections
Organizing people, equipment and ideas
Designing project and programs
Raising funds
Selecting optimal policies
Understanding complex problems in context

Quantitative and Financial

Managing fiscal affairs
Preparing budgets
Creating and evaluating financial reports and statements
Using techniques to enhance rational decision making (e.g. statistical analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis, program assessment)

Careers

Here is a sampling of the wide range of career paths that public administration majors have pursued:

Government and Public Service

City/Town/County Manager
Legislative Staff Member
Finance Officer
Court Administrator
Police/Fire Department Administrator
Airport Manager
Urban State Policy Planner
Social Security Claims Examiner
Medicaid Fraud Investigator

Education and Research

Grant Coordinator
Equal Opportunity Administrator
School Finance Administrator
Manager of College Relations
Public Opinion Analyst
Higher Education Administrator
Program Review Analyst

Not-for-Profit

Nursing Home Administrator
Environmental Activist
Consumer Credit Counselor
Accessibility Advocate
Fund Raiser
Recreation Center Director
Co-op Manager
Community Organizer

Business

Human Resource Administrator
Benefits and Staff Development Manager
Public Affairs Officer
Insurance Appeals Coordinator
Newspaper Columnist/Reporter
Customer Service Representative
Management Consultant

Programs

Associate of Science

Public Administration, AS

Bachelor of Science

Minor

Public Administration Minor