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Postgraduate (MSc, MA, MBA and PhD) Programs in Public Administration
In most countries, especially developed ones, the government is by far the largest employer, with at least one third of the workforce working for some level of government. Despite this, in many countries a host of services once provided by government are now being handled (if at all) by non-profit/not-for-profit organisations. In fact, the role of non-profit/not-for-profit organisations in both the formulation and delivery of public services has expanded.
The role of private sector organisations has also expanded – via consulting, contracted service delivery, partnerships, and so on – in assisting governmental and non-profit/not-for-profit organisations. External consultants, for example, provide multiple services to government agencies, ranging from the auditing of programs to the analysis and design of administrative systems. As a result, a masters degree in public administration is by no means limited to current or future government employees.
Trends in public administration
Numerous substantial trends continue to drive this field, including – for government:
- Changing demographics (especially the ageing of the population)
- Globalised competition
- Spread of new information technologies, with consequent increases in citizen awareness and demands
- Increased labour mobility
- Increased fear of global epidemics
- Political backlash against taxes.
For non-profit/not-for-profit organisations:
- Government retrenchment; programs scaled back due to financial pressures
- Awareness of problems (due to internationalisation of news coverage)
- Increased wealth being funnelled to non-profits/not-for-profits
- New awareness of what non-profits/not-for-profits can do, based upon learning what non-profits/not-for-profits elsewhere are doing.
These lists could have been multiplied, particularly the one for trends affecting government.
Choosing a masters program
Many public administration programs are one year in length, although some do last for two years. The differences extend beyond simply their duration. Some public administration programs are resolutely domestic in focus whilst others are international. Some courses train students largely to work in government, others, in non-profits/not-for-profits. Some have a functional focus, offering tracks in budgeting and finance, for instance, whereas others focus on governmental units, eg local administration or industries, such as healthcare. In addition, some focus on administration whereas others focus on policy, although the latter are more commonly called Masters of Public Policy programs.
On top of this sort of breadth of course content and duration, many universities offer two programs, one for those with limited or no previous experience and one for those with substantial experience and this option can be very similar to MBA programs in Public Administration.
Increasingly, public administration programs offer the chance to do an international exchange program. For example, the Masters of Public Administration (MPH) at London School of Economics, exchanges with three foreign programs: Columbia in the US, Sciences Po in France, and Hertie in Germany.
Some programs require several years of experience, and of those that don’t, many require relevant coursework in social science or managerial fields (especially statistics and economics) and/or completing an internship during the program.
Public administration masters programs also look for:
- Demonstrated commitment to the public or non-profit/not-for-profit sector.
- A desire to take on leadership positions in public service.
- Internships in organisations, whether public or private, to learn about organisational dynamics.
MBA in Public Administration
An MBA in public administration provides graduates to work in high up positions in the workplace, particularly in non-profit and public service organisations. This MBA will explore management within the executive levels of government agencies as well as that within other major organisations, and it is designed to teach students about the principles of public administration, public policy and financial management.
While there are many specialised MBA programs in public administration available to study in the United States, in the UK and Europe it is usually an optional area of study that forms part of a more general MBA program.
PhD in Public Administration
Studying a PhD in public administration will give students the chance to delve into this fascinating area in even more detail. A PhD in Public Administration will take a minimum of 36 months to complete full time – and six years as a part-time program.
Some universities offer the option to study a PhD in the field as part of an integrated study program which enables the students to take some additional taught modules – the University of Birmingham’s Local Government and Public Policy PhD is one example of this. This PhD can be studied part time or full time, online or on campus. It provides students with the skills to become experts in the fields of public administration, policy and governance.
The University of Huddersfield Doctor of Public Administration is aimed at senior managers who work within local government or the public sector and is a four-year work-based research doctorate.
Meanwhile the University of Oxford offers a DPhil in Public Policy – a policy-focused research degree taught using an interdisciplinary approach.
Career oppportunities
Both governmental and non-profit/not-for-profit organisations increasingly employ business methods adapted from the for-profit sector, and want to recruit people with business training. However, they still attract people who are committed to trying to solve social problems and given that they generally pay substantially less than for-profit businesses, people motivated largely by financial rewards are unlikely to flock to them.
Non-profits/not-for-profit organisations, for instance, still look for those with an interest and skill set in traditional fields such as fundraising, lobbying,and program development. Now, however, they increasingly look for sophisticated marketers, budget analysts and entrepreneurs, people once found largely in the private sector.
Typical job titles
In government
- Consultant for community planning and development
- Policy advisor
- Economic consultant
- Program manager
- Public affairs specialist
- Community development organiser
- Research associate
- Public health advocate
- Budget analyst
Non-profit/not-for-profit
- Communications manager
- Program assistant
- Event co-ordinator
- Development manager
- Fund-raising associate
- Manager of volunteers
- Press secretary
- Lobbyist
Professional associations (UK and US)
- Local Government Association (UK)
- Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (UK)
- American Society for Public Administration (US)
- National Academy of Public Administration (US)
