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B.A. in Public Administration
Studying public administration helps students become more effective participants in a democratic society, both as makers of public policy and as individuals affected by those policies. Students receive instruction in such subjects as personnel administration, budget preparation, public relations, and techniques of management appropriate to the administration of public policy.
Public administration graduates are prepared for careers in government at the city, county, state, national, and international levels, as well as employment in nonprofit organizations. Participation in the Public Administration Internship Program gives students practical experience and introduces useful contacts for securing employment.
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
Total units required for major: 36 (all courses are 3 units)
Required lower division core courses (6 units)
PLSI 1 - Modern Politics
PLSI 90 - Methods of Analysis
NOTE: These courses must be completed before, or concurrently with, enrollment in the first 6 units of upper division major courses.
Required upper division core courses (15 units)
PLSI 150 - Public Policy Making
PLSI 181 - Public Administration
PLSI 182 - Administrative Analysis: Management and Organization
PLSI 184 - Public Budgeting and Economic Policy
PLSI 185 - Public Personnel Management
Two of the following courses (6 units total):
PLSI 110 - History of Political Thought to Machiavelli
PLSI 111 - History of Political Thought Since Machiavelli
PLSI 114 - American Political Thought
PLSI 170 - Constitutional Law and Federal Structure
One of the following courses (3 units):
PLSI 160 - State and Local Government
PLSI 163 - Municipal Government
PLSI 169T - Seminar in Metropolitan Government and Politics
Finally, two of the following courses (6 units):
PLSI 183 - Comparative Administration
PLSI 187 - Internship in Public Administration
PLSI 188T - Topics in Public Administration
PLSI 189T - Seminar in Public Administration
PLSI 190 - Independent Study
PLSI 191 - Directed Readings
Remaining 18 units (6 courses) must be selected from the political science upper division (level 100 or higher) courses offered in the catalogue (not including PLSI 101, PLSI 102, or PLSI 187).
NOTE: Credit / No Credit grading is not permitted in the public administration major. Also, no course used to satisfy a General Education requirement may be used to satisfy a political science major requirement.
For majors in need of processing all of this information, or simply tracking your progress through the major, check out the four-year degree road map.
MINOR REQUIREMENTS
Total units required for minor: 21
All students desiring a minor in public administration must take these three courses (9 units total):
PLSI 1 - Modern Politics
PLSI 181 - Public Administration
PLSI 182 - Administrative Analysis: Management and Organization
One course from the following upper division courses (3 units):
PLSI 110 - History of Political Thought to Machiavelli
PLSI 111 - History of Political Thought Since Machiavelli
PLSI 114 - American Political Thought
PLSI 150 - Public Policy Making
PLSI 151 - Political Participation and Political Parties
PLSI 170 - Constitutional Law and the Federal Structure
Two of the following upper division courses (6 units):
PLSI 183 - Comparative Administration
PLSI 184 - Public Budgeting and Economic Policy
PLSI 185 - Public Personnel Management
PLSI 189T - Seminar in Public Administration
Finally, students desiring a minor in public administration must take one 3 unit course in anthropology, economics, english, geography, history, philosophy, psychology, or sociology.