Majors
in Public Administration are interested in setting goals and organizing
programs through appointed leaders which will better the quality of existing
public service in federal, state, or local government, city management
and urban planning, international organizations, non-profit institutions,
and government relations work in private firms.
REQUIRED
ABILITIES
To
best accomplish this, individuals must complement their existing interest
in governmental organization, the administrative, political, and ethical
implications thereof, contemporary issues, socio-cultural trends, and the
law with the following analytical, communication, and quantitative competencies*:
Analytical
Understanding laws / case histories
Isolating specific from
general
Planning / administering
programs
Reviewing / evaluating ideas
Translating theory into
action |
Communication
Speaking effectively / persuasively
Writing comprehensively
Simplifying complex data
Comparing / compiling research
Describing / evaluating
issues |
Quantitative
Collecting / organizing data
Analyzing data thoroughly
Developing research designs
Possessing computer/statistical
skills
Negotiating and budgeting
skills |
WHERE
IS THE WORK?
»
40% in Government sector of the economy
»
50% in the private, for-profit sector of the economy
»
5% self-employed with own professional businesses or practices
»
3% in the nonprofit sector
»
2% in educational institutions |
WHAT
IS THE WORK?
GENERAL
Reporter
Administrative Assistant
Research assistant
Economic development planner
News analyst / editor
Real estate agent
STATE,
LOCAL, NAT'L GOV;T.
Foreign service officer
Senior health planner
Public personnel specialist
Assistant city manager
Intergovernmental relations
officer
Civil preparedness officer
Election officer |
EDUCATION
Teacher
Admissions officer
Adult vocational counselor
Research assistant
Administrative Assistant
BUSINESS/INDUSTRY
Security consultant
Employment interviewer
Program manager
Research analyst
Public affairs officer
Financial adviser
Director, industrial relations
Purchasing agents |
PUBLIC
PARTIES/CIVIC GROUPS
Public opinion pollster
Congressional aide
Media elections analyst
Campaign consultant
Survey research consultant
LAW
Legislative analyst
Assistant public defender
Court administrator
Arbitrator
Legal investigator
Parole/Corrections/Probation
officers
Para legal research assistant
Police officer |
WHAT
ARE SOME RELATED OCCUPATIONS?
ADMINISTRATIVE
SERVICES and FACILITY MANAGERS
These competent workers are
found in private industry and government where the jobs are highly competitive.
Depending on the organization’s size, administrative services managers
are operations managers over such areas as,
• secretarial and reception
• administration
• payroll
• conference planning and
travel
• information and data processing
• mail
• materials scheduling /
distribution |
• printing and reproduction
• records management
• telecommunications management
• security
• parking
• personal property procurement,
supply, disposal |
Facility managers plan, design,
and manage facilities, calling into play knowledge in business practices,
architecture, psychology, and engineering.
BUDGET
ANALYSTS
Thirty-three percent of budget
analysts work in competitive local, state, or federal government positions.
They develop, analyze, and execute budgets for efficiency in nonprofit
and government organizations as well as for profit increases in the public
sector.
EDUCATION
ADMINISTRATORS
A master’s or doctoral degree
coupled with experience as a teacher or admissions counselor helps secure
the competitive jobs in higher education as well as in the more accessible
elementary and secondary school levels. These positions, however,
are more readily secured in private schools which are not subject to State
Certification.
EMPLOYMENT
INTERVIEWERS, PRIVATE OR PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT SERVICE
Most employers prefer college
degrees. The growth areas will be with companies which specialize
in the placement of temporary help. These personnel consultants,
human resources coordinators, personnel development specialists or employment
brokers, as they are known variously, evaluate both the needs of the company
and the skills of the prospective employee whether for permanent or temporary
placement.
GOVERNMENT
CHIEF EXECUTIVES AND LEGISLATORS
Ninety percent of government
chief executives and legislators can be found in local government where
they were elected to their short-term positions. As in the
private sector, these public managers are expected to organize programs,
oversee budgets, and appoint committees which will aid in realizing the
goals they have set.
HEALTH
SERVICES MANAGERS
These are the planners, directors,
coordinators, and supervisors who manage general healthcare facilities
or systems or specific departments or services within those systems. |
|
SALARIES
Because public administrator
salaries can span from very little (city council) to $400,000 (U.S. President),
individual job titles should be researched in the Occupational Outlook
Handbook or online at o*net
online.
Miscellaneous
Annual Median Wage Information:
Budget
Analysts: $52K National
Akron: Budget Analyst I: $43K, II: $52K, III:
$63.7K
Office/Administration
Services Mgrs: $56K
Operations
Research Managers: $52K
Education
Administration: $64K
Urban/Regional
Planners: $50K |
The
Council of State Governments
P.
O. Box 11910
Iron
Works Pike
Lexington,
KY 40578-1910
htt://www.statesnews.org
International
City Management Association 9ICMA)
777
North Capital N.E., Suite 500
Washington,
D.C. 20002
http://www.icma.org
National
Association of Counties
440
First Street, N.W., Suite 800
Washington,
D.C. 20001
http://www.naco.org
National
League of Cities
1301
Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington,
D.C. 20004
http://www.nlc.org
Study
Abroad Scholarships, Fellowships, and Postdoctoral Awards
http://scholarships.fatomei.com/scholar14.html
Federal
Grants
http://www.fedmoney.org/grants/0-scholarships.htm
Free
Scholarship Info
http://www.scholarships.com/
More
Free Information
http://www.college-scholarships.com/free_scholarship_searches.htm
Scholarships
for International Study
http://www.iefa.org/
|
