Online Public Administration Degree Educational Options
- Online Bachelors degree in Public Administration is a 4 year program intended to provide a broad base of skills for entry level public administration positions. The coursework and emphasis can vary with the school and any specialization chosen but will emphasize not only administrative skills but the strong communication skills any public administration career will require.
- Online Master’s Degree in Public Administration is a 2 year post graduate course of study where areas of specialization generally chosen an entrant into an online master degree in public administration program might come from a strict political science bachelor degree or a business administration degree. This graduate level program is intended to give the post graduate student the skills to accept higher level positions in government, politics or non profit organizations.
- Online Doctorate Degree in Public Administration is a 3 - 5 year course of study that will permit the successful graduate to research theories in political science and do scholarly research or even write policies for governments or teach public administration at the college level. This is the highest degree level awarded in the U.S.
Career Considerations for Public Administration Degree
Any successful public administration professional has two key strengths that make or break them. The first is administrative acumen and the second is strong communication skills. From politicians to city councilmen they all know the value of these two skills. Leaders and policy makers must often justify their proposals and decisions and elected officials must communicate with the public in persuasive language to get elected. Once they are in office then they must have the administrative skills and leadership skills to perform the job to the public’s satisfaction. A career in public service is not for everyone but it is highly rewarding.
Public Administration Career Salary Information
Salaries for the public administration professional will depend on which segment of public service they are in, non profit organizations, governmental policy makers, or even private industry. However the average salary for a city manager was around $92,799. This is one instance where salaries in public positions can compete with those of private industry.
Job Growth and Outlook for Public Administration Degree
Public administration degree holders who work for governmental agencies can expect a 6% increase in employment opportunities through the year 2016. However competition for these offices is expected to be high.