Buchtel College of Arts & Sciences - Careers

Career Options for Public Administration and Urban Studies Majors

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Buchtel College of Arts & Sciences - Careers
Career Options for Public Administration and Urban Studies Majors

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	Communication	Quantitative
Understanding laws / case histories Isolating specific from general Planning / administering programs Reviewing / evaluating ideas Translating theory into action	Speaking effectively / persuasively Writing comprehensively Simplifying complex data Comparing / compiling research Describing / evaluating issues	Collecting / organizing data Analyzing data thoroughly Developing research designs Possessing computer/statistical skills Negotiating and budgeting skills

*Thanks to Miami University

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	EDUCATION	PUBLIC PARTIES/CIVIC GROUPS
Reporter Administrative Assistant Research assistant Economic development planner News analyst / editor Real estate agent	Teacher Admissions officer Adult vocational counselor Research assistant Administrative Assistant	Public opinion pollster Congressional aide Media elections analyst Campaign consultant Survey research consultant
STATE, LOCAL, NAT'L GOV'T.	BUSINESS/INDUSTRY	LAW
Foreign service officer Senior health planner Public personnel specialist Assistant city manager Intergovernmental relations officer Civil preparedness officer Election officer	Security consultant Employment interviewer Program manager Research analyst Public affairs officer Financial adviser Director, industrial relations Purchasing agents	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

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