Public Administration
Otterbein's Public Administration Program prepares students for careers
in public and/or nonprofit organizations. The program is designed to
help students develop knowledge and skills in the discipline of public
administration, and to prepare public administrators who have an
awareness of the need to humanize public organizations and to pursue
policy analysis and implementation on behalf of the public good. This
program encourages students to value democratic processes and to
facilitate citizen collaboration in the solution and redressing of
social problems.
Public Administration Major and Minor
The Department of History and Political Science offers both a major (BA) and a minor in Public Administration.
The Public Administration major (BA) encompasses courses in key
public administration principles, human organization, motivation,
leadership, and budgeting and policy evaluation.
The Publication Administration Minor requires the completion of five courses (20 semester hours).
Consult the Otterbein University Catalog (see box at right) for the complete requirements for the major and minor.
Career Opportunities and Future Paths
A major in public administration will equip students with both
theoretical knowledge and practical skills in preparation for employment
in the public sector (government and non-profits). Such a program will
enriches and deepens students’ understanding of civic culture, civic
leadership, leadership resources available in doing the work of the
public in carrying out organizational and community responsibilities.
Otterbein is strategically located near the capital of Ohio;
consequently, Otterbein is well positioned to offer a major that
prepares students for careers in government and non-government
positions. With concentration of state and local government in Columbus,
Otterbein is strategically located to offer students internships that
will provide them with practical experience in their field of interest.
Otterbein (and the Department of History and Political Science) has a
long history of providing students with internships.
A number of our students have gone on to pursue a Master of Public
Administration (MPA). A major in public administration will strengthen
students for the transition to such graduate programs because they will
have been introduced to fundamental theories, principles and practices,
while pursuing their bachelor’s degrees at Otterbein.
Curriculum
The Public Administration major consists of four Foundation Courses,
three Public Policy courses, three elective courses in the areas of
Institutional and Legal Frameworks, Theoretical Explorations, and Human
Resources, as well as a senior-level internship and Practicum Capstone.
Foundation Courses
POLS 1000 - American National Government- 4 hrs
PADM 2000 - Introduction to Public Administration - 4 hrs
ECON 2100 - Principles of Microeconomics - 4 hrs
POLS 2300 - Methods of Research and Inquiry in Political Science - 4 hrs
Core in Public Policy
PADM 3000 - Public Policy - 4 hrs
PADM 3500 - Public Budgeting - 4 hrs
POLS 3100 - State and Local Government - 4 hrs
Capstone
PADM 4950 - Practicum Capstone - 4 hrs
For course options in elective areas, check the catalog