Public Administration Studies and Careers

People work in administrative management at all levels of government and can have a variety of jobs:

• City or County Manager
• Administrative Officer
• Management Analyst
• Safety Officer
• Computer Specialist
• Security Specialist
• Computer Programmer
• Systems Analyst

But remember: the higher your level of education, the better your salary and job prospects will be.

• Personnel Administration
• Industrial Relations
• Personnel Management Specialist
• Labor Management Relations Specialist
• Position Classification Specialist
• Field Examiner
• Employee Development Specialist
• Industrial Relations Specialist
• Labor-Management Relations
• Mediator
• Employee Relations Specialists
• Contractor Industrial Relations Specialist

• Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Inspector
• Customs Inspector
• Border Patrol Agent
• Consumer Safety Inspector
• Consumer Protection Specialist
• General Investigator
• Criminal Investigator
• Deputy U.S. Marshall
• Immigration Inspector
• Special Agent
• Patent Examiner
• Internal Security Inspector
• Tax Law Specialist

• Recreation Specialist
• Social Science Analyst
• Corrections Officer
• Probation Officer
• Social Worker

The amount of education you pursue depends on your goals. A bachelor's degree in public administration will prepare you for entry-level jobs. A master's degree in public administration will prepare you for a leadership or managerial career in federal, state or local government, as well as in non-profit and private organizations.

Bachelor's programs in public administration provide training for students who want to find entry-level positions in federal agencies, or who would like to increase their likelihood of being promoted in a private company. In addition, bachelor's degrees are a requirement for students who want to pursue a master's in public administration.

Master's degrees in public administration are available at four-year colleges and universities. The Master of Public Administration is a program designed to develop the insights and skills needed to plan and help formulate policy, and to organize, manage and implement programs and operations. In seeking to develop these general competencies, studies deal with the political, social, economic and legal context of public administration, and offer broad-based training in management, organizational behavior, research methods, policy analysis, personnel and budgeting.

If one of the fields of public administration appeals to you, decide what level of education you need and find the right school to help you meet your career goals.

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