Careers Options for an Associate's Degree in Public Administration
A career in public administration encompasses a number of different skills and responsibilities, including planning, organizational management, budgeting, research, critical thinking, problem-solving and fundraising. An associates degree in public administration can prepare students for a number of different career paths.
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Social Service Careers
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Public administration graduates may choose to seek employment in the social or human services fields, as administrative professionals, investigate caseworkers or in roles related to policy development and implementation. These individuals may choose to specialize in specific areas or social services programs, such as child or adult welfare, health and aging, mental health, substance abuse treatment, victim advocacy, youth development or public assistance programs.
Careers in Government
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A large number of public administration graduates choose to seek careers in their local or state government. These individuals may potentially be employed in public safety positions, such as safety inspectors or law enforcement administration, in support positions to city managers, urban planners, upper-level administration or elected officials, as part of a policy or program development team or as human resources professionals.
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Non-Profit Careers
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There are many roles within the non-profit sector that are suitable for someone with an educational background in public administration, including fundraising, public relations, financial oversight, event planning, policy development, organizational management, media relations, research, marketing, human resources, community education and outreach and administrative support positions.
Management Careers
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A career in management requires strong leadership skills, and public administration graduates may seek positions in organizational management or program management in the private or public sector. Management professionals may be employed by government agencies, small businesses, non-profit organizations, health care facilities or educational institutions. Depending on their management level, they may be responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations of the organization as a whole or a specific division within the organization.
Consulting Careers
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Consultants perform many tasks including budgeting and financial analysis, conducting research related to public relations or marketing, shaping organizational policy, program development and implementation, problem-solving and critical thinking and the oversight of managerial or leadership programs. Consultants may work with government organizations, private businesses, health care organizations or non-profit entities, and their primary function is to direct these organizations towards an operational framework that is most beneficial to their mission and goals.
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References
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