B.S. in Public Administration
James Madison University
Key Information
Campus location
Harrisonburg, USA
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
4 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
USD 6,434 / per semester *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Request info
* in-state tuition fee | $15,076: out-of-state tuition fee. Additional fees may apply
Introduction
Public Administration majors at JMU graduate with powerful skills for understanding their community, country, and the world.
Students majoring in public administration take courses in U.S. politics and policy, public and nonprofit management, economics, and research methodology. Interested students may apply in their sophomore year to participate in the Fifth-Year Master of Public Administration degree program, which allows qualified students to earn an MPA degree with one additional year of study. Our vast network of alumni helps students transition to careers in government, consulting, policy advocacy, communications, and the non-profit sector.
We seek to enhance the quality of public policy and civic life at home and abroad by teaching students, conducting research, and collaborating with people inside and outside of the JMU community.
The major in public administration provides students with a general foundation in the nature of public policy, the public workplace and its political, legal and managerial environments. This major prepares students for professional employment and leadership in government and nonprofit organizations. The program consists of a core of courses offering general knowledge essential for understanding and working in the public arena. This core provides students with an appreciation of the political culture and economic environment of public work, measurement techniques and a basic understanding of the policy process.
Students are offered a choice between two concentration options: public policy or public management.
In the public policy concentration students acquire knowledge of the nature, dynamics, implementation, and substance of public policy and its analysis. Courses address:
- Policy processes.
- Techniques for analyzing policy options.
- The dynamics and substance of particular policy issues.
The public management concentration emphasizes management and management-related skills. Courses address:
- The legal environment of public work.
- Organization theories.
- Management theories and applications.
- Management best practices.
In addition, courses in both concentrations heighten students' critical, analytical, and communication skills through case studies, exercises, and the intensive writing requirement. The public policy concentration requires a senior seminar experience that seeks to bring policy theory and analytical skills to bear on a practical issue of public policy. Public management students must complete the dual capstone requirements of a public management seminar and an internship, requiring an integration of knowledge from both general studies and major studies by focusing students on specific cases and workplace applications.
Because the public administration major develops techniques and skills applicable to varied career paths in public service, students are encouraged to choose a complementary minor with a narrower, substantive focus. The minors recommended for students' consideration include criminal justice, environmental information systems, environmental management, environmental studies, family studies, gerontology, health information systems, nonprofit studies, political communication, substance abuse intervention, telecommunications, urban and regional studies, communication studies, conflict analysis and intervention, sociology, technical and scientific communication, economics, human resource development, computer science, public health and integrated science and technology.
Interested students may apply to participate in the Fifth Year Master of Public Administration degree program, which allows qualified students to earn an M.P.A. degree with one additional year of study. Students should apply for this program in their sophomore year. See the Graduate Catalog for more information.
Gallery
Program Outcome
The public administration program's courses provide students with knowledge of:
- The political culture of public work
- The economic environment of public work
- The legal environment of public work
- Organization theories
- Management theories
- Management best practices
- Policy processes
Admissions
Curriculum
Required Courses
- General Education 41 Credit Hours 1
- Quantitative requirement 3 Credit Hours 2,3
- Scientific Literacy requirement 3 Credit Hours 2
- University electives 33-34 Credit Hours
- Major requirements (listed below) 39-40 Credit Hours
Footnotes
1The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. The number of credit hours necessary to fulfill these requirements may vary.
2In addition to course work taken to fulfill General Education requirements.
3For this requirement, public policy and administration majors should take MATH 220, the prerequisite for POSC 295, a required core course in the major.
Major Requirements
Core Requirements
- POSC 225. U.S. Government [C4AE] Credits: 4.00
- ECON 200. Introduction to Macroeconomics [C4GE] Credits: 3.00
- PPA 200. Introduction to Public Policy Credits: 3.00
- PPA 265. Public Administration Credits: 3.00
- POSC 295. Research Methods Credits: 4.00 1
Footnote
1 The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. The number of credit hours necessary to fulfill these requirements may vary.
Public Management Concentration Requirements
Required Concentration Courses
- ACTG 244. Accounting for Non-Business Majors Credits: 3.00
- MGT 365. Fundamentals of Human Resource Management Credits: 3.00
- PPA 381. Budgetary Process Credits: 3.00
- PPA 415. Legal Environment of Public Administration Credits: 3.00
Process, Issue and Application course (choose one)
- GEOG 215. Introduction to Geographic Information Science and Cartography Credits: 3.00
- GEOG 216. Earth Observation and GPS Credits: 3.00
- GEOG 344. Globalization and Development Credits: 3.00
- GEOG 345. Geography of Poverty Credits: 3.00
- NPS 300. Introduction to Nonprofits Credits: 3.00
- PPA 460. Regionalism and Urban Management Credits: 3.00
- PPA 461. Education and Social Policy Credits: 3.00
- PPA 462. Social Welfare and Local Government Policy Credits: 3.00
- PPA 469. Philanthropy and Volunteerism Credits: 3.00
- PPA 470. Nonprofit Management and Leadership Credits: 3.00
- PPA 471. Financial Management for Nonprofit Organizations Credits: 3.00
- PPA 472. Contract Management Credits: 3.00
- PPA 473. Economic and Community Development Credits: 3.00
- PPA 475. Grant Writing and Project Management Credits: 3.00
- PPA 483. Special Topics in Public Management Credits: 3.00
- PPA 484. Environmental Regulatory Policy and Politics Credits: 3.00
- SCOM 350. Organizational Communication Credits: 3.00
- Approved WRTC course (Consult the PPA coordinator.)
Required Capstone Courses
- PPA 420. Public Management Credits: 4.00 1
- PPA 496. Internship in Public Management Credits: 4.00 2
Footnotes
1 This course fulfills the College of Arts and Letters writing-intensive requirement for the major.
2 Students may substitute PPA 496W for either PPA 494 or PPA 496 with the approval of the PPA coordinator.
Public Policy Concentration Requirements
Required Course
- PPA 359. Policy Analysis Credits: 3.00
Choose two of the following:
- POSC 302. State & Local Gov Credits: 3.00
- POSC 351. Topics in American Politics Credits: 3.00
- POSC 368. Interest Groups, Lobbying and Public Policy Credits: 3.00
- POSC 380. The U.S. Presidency Credits: 3.00
- POSC 385. The U.S. Congress Credits: 3.00
- POSC 386. The U.S. Judiciary Credits: 3.00
- PPA 412. Seminar in Intergovernmental Relations Credits: 3.00
Choose three substantive policy electives from the following:
- POSC 347. Comparative Public Policy Credits: 3.00
- POSC 367. U.S. Immigration and Refugee Law Credits: 3.00
- POSC 391. Topics in Public Policy Credits: 3.00
- POSC 397. The Politics of International Economic Relations Credits: 3.00
- PPA 460. Regionalism and Urban Management Credits: 3.00
- PPA 461. Education and Social Policy Credits: 3.00
- PPA 462. Social Welfare and Local Government Policy Credits: 3.00
- PPA 482. Special Topics in Public Policy Credits: 3.00
- PPA 484. Environmental Regulatory Policy and Politics Credits: 3.00
- Approved ISAT course (Consult the PPA coordinator)
Senior Capstone
- PPA 492. Senior Seminar in Public Policy Credits: 4.00 3,4
Footnotes
3 This course fulfills the College of Arts and Letters writing-intensive requirement for the major.
4 Students should fulfill the senior capstone requirement for each major and minor separately. This means that senior experiences completed for one major or minor cannot normally be counted for another. Students who have questions about a particular situation should see the department head or appropriate department coordinator for clarification.
Career Opportunities
A successful career and a meaningful life is what it’s all about. Whether it’s an internship, a great first job or a top graduate school appointment, JMU Dukes make their dreams ignite. You will, too.
Here are current openings available to JMU students.
Jobs for JMU Students
Criminal Justice
- AML Financial Services Reg Compliance Consulting Intern - Summer 2023 at RSM US LLP
- AML Financial Services Reg Compliance Consulting Associate - Summer 2023 at RSM US LLP
- Enterprise Architect Manager at Chesterfield County Local Government
- Juvenile Justice Compliance Monitor at Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services
- THRIVE Family Specialist - Nashville at Youth Villages
- Foster Care Specialist - Chattanooga, TN at Youth Villages
- Family Intervention Specialist - Knoxville, TN at Youth Villages
- THRIVE Family Specialist - Columbia, TN at Youth Villages
- Family Service Worker - Nashville, TN at Youth Villages
- Recreation Leader I, Newhall Community Center - PTS at City of Santa Clarita
- (#R25295) Blended Case Manager / Salisbury Behavioral Health at RHA Health Services, LLC
- FOIA Compliance Officer at Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources
- (#R25225) Blended Case Manager / Salisbury Behavioral Health at RHA Health Services, LLC
- (#R25222) Blended Case Manager / Salisbury Behavioral Health at RHA Health Services, LLC
- (#R24492) Blended Case Manager / PAHrtners Deaf Services at RHA Health Services, LLC
- Family Intervention Specialist - Columbia, TN at Youth Villages
- Foster Care Specialist - Nashville, TN at Youth Villages
- Family Intervention Specialist - Nashville, TN at Youth Villages
- Family Intervention Specialist at Youth Villages
Government
- Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner at Hanover County Government
- Psychiatrist at Hanover County Government
- Entry Level Software Engineer - On Site at SRC, Inc
- Government Risk Strategy Consulting Associate - Winter 2023 at RSM US LLP
- Government Risk Strategy Consulting Associate - Summer 2023 at RSM US LLP
- Enterprise Architect Manager at Chesterfield County Local Government
- Systems Engineer (Entry-Level)- Chantilly, VA at Peraton
- Auditor 1 at Pennsylvania Auditor General
- Recent Graduate - Human Centered Design Specialist at Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- Health & Fitness Article Writer at Bodybuilding.com
- Administrative Secretary-General Government at Village of Schaumburg
- Project Manager: Technology Acquisition of Mail & Package Sorting Equipment(procure, set-up, test & distribute at MBA CSi
- Principal Planner at COUNTY OF FRANKLIN
- Honeywell opportunity - req369966 - Logistics - Secure Communications Specialist - 3 - FMT at Honeywell
- Finance Director at Baker Tilly
- Senior Information Systems Security Engineer (ISSE) at ENSCO, Inc.
- Senior Principal Early Childhood Technical Assistance (TA) Specialist at SRI International
- Research Scientist - Peptide Chemist at SRI International
- Accountant at Navient
Policy
- Graduate Trainee at Smurfit Kappa North America
- Process Engineer - Supply Chain (Porterville, CA) at Walmart Corporate
- Stylist at ascena (Ann Taylor, LOFT & Lane Bryant)
- Communications Program Manager- Internal Communications at University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
- Operations Specialist at KEYENCE Corporation of America
- (#R25295) Blended Case Manager / Salisbury Behavioral Health at RHA Health Services, LLC
- (#R25225) Blended Case Manager / Salisbury Behavioral Health at RHA Health Services, LLC
- Climate and Energy Coordinator - Job ID 59125 at Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
- (#R23724) Residential Behavioral Health Setting Nurse / LPN / Salisbury Behavioral Health at RHA Health Services, LLC
- Physical Therapist at LifePoint Health Student Programs
- Director of Business Intelligence & Data Strategy at New York City: Department of Housing Preservation & Development
- Assistant Supervisor, LAR at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
- GRADUATE STUDENTS: Civil Health Strategy and Policy Senior Consultant (Master's) at Booz Allen Hamilton
- Audit Associate - Winter 2023 (Phoenix) at Grant Thornton
- Tax Policy Analyst at Virginia Department of Taxation
- Graduate Students-Policy Analytics Senior Consultant (Master's) at Booz Allen Hamilton
- Analyst I - Limited Term at City of Portland Bureau of Human Resources
- Senior Permit and Policy Consultant (Natural Resource Specialist 4) at Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
- Speech Language Pathologist (2023-2024 School Year) at Capital Region ESD 113
Internships for JMU Students
Law
- Compliance Analyst - Explorer Summer Intern Program - 2023 at Barclays
- Human Resources Intern at Sleep Number Corporation
- Marketing Media Intern at Sleep Number Corporation
- AML Financial Services Reg Compliance Consulting Intern - Summer 2023 at RSM US LLP
- Summer Sales Intern at Guidepoint
- Software Engineering Intern at BlackRock
- Software Engineering Summer Intern at Grammarly
- Intern - RF Optimization Engineer at DISH
- UX Designer / UX Researcher Intern - Summer 2023 Internship (Meraki) at Cisco
- Valuation and Modeling Intern - Summer 2023 (Denver) at Grant Thornton
- AT&T Supply Chain Undergrad Internships -Sourcing at AT&T
- AT&T Supply Chain Graduate Internships -Sourcing at AT&T
- 2023 Intern - National Security Consulting at Guidehouse
- Marketing Assistant (Internship) at Ben Glass Law
- Analyst Summer Intern at Rystad Energy
- Finance Analyst Intern at eBay
- Intern - Business Ops Analyst/Sourcing Specialist at DISH
- Environmental Intern (Target Class: Environmental Analyst 1) at State of Connecticut Executive Branch
- 2023 eCommerce Summer Internship at Reckitt
Criminal Justice
- AML Financial Services Reg Compliance Consulting Intern - Summer 2023 at RSM US LLP
- AutoZone Summer 2023 Internship Program at AutoZone, Inc.
- Hersheypark Leadership Development Intern Lvl 1 at Hershey Entertainment & Resorts
- MAST Center, Graduate Research Paid Internship at Child Trends
- 2023 Intern Research – Tech for Justice Senior Research Intern at IBM
- 2023 Intern Research – Tech for Justice Developer Research Intern at IBM
- Project Area Internships Fall 2022 at Policy Research Associates
- Interpretation and Education Members - Golden Gate National Recreation Area at American Conservation Experience
- NSA Summer Internship - Workforce Support (MD) at National Security Agency (NSA)
- Special Investigation Unit Summer Intern at CUNA Mutual Group
- Spring 2023 Legal Internship – Sustainable Food & Farming Program at Earthjustice
- District #29 Fairfax Probation & Parole Intern at Virginia Department of Corrections
- Texas Department of Criminal Justice Fall 2022 Internship at Texas Department of Criminal Justice
- Investigative Student Internship 2022-2023 at D. C. Government Office of Police Complaints
- Law Student Internship 2022-2023 at D. C. Government Office of Police Complaints
- Forensic Casework Intern at The Forensic Panel
Government
- Intern - Government Affairs (Summer 2023) at United Airlines
- Information Governance Advisor Summer Intern at USAA
- Compliance Analyst - Explorer Summer Intern Program - 2023 at Barclays
- Internal Audit Analyst - Explorer Summer Intern Program - 2023 at Barclays
- Internal Audit Analyst - Explorer Summer Intern Program - 2023 at Barclays
- State Advocacy Intern at BSA | The Software Alliance
- Digital Communications and Public Affairs Fellow at Monument Advocacy
- Systems Engineer Intern (Summer 2023) at Sierra Nevada Corporation
- Government Risk Strategy Consulting Intern - Summer 2023 at RSM US LLP
- Internal Audit Finance Intern at PetSmart
- Safety Intern - Kiewit Safety (Summer 2023) at Kiewit
- Digital Marketing & Social Media Internship at Georgia State Games
- Environmental Science and Engineering AmeriCorps Fellow at U.S. Dept. of Interior - Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
- 2023 Intern - National Security Consulting at Guidehouse
- Analyst Summer Intern at Rystad Energy
- Field Engineer Internship- Power Delivery- Bianchi- Nationwide, USA at Infrastructure & Energy Alternatives, Inc
- Field Engineer Internship- Heavy Civil- American Civil Constructors- Benicia, CA at Infrastructure & Energy Alternatives, Inc
- Software Engineer: Spring/Summer 2023 Co-Op or Internship (Full-Time) - San Diego, CA at Quartus Engineering
- Mechanical Design or Analysis Engineer: Spring/Summer 2023 Co-Op or Internship (Full Time) - San Diego, CA at Quartus Engineering
Policy
- Intern - Government Affairs (Summer 2023) at United Airlines
- Information Governance Advisor Summer Intern at USAA
- Compliance Analyst - Explorer Summer Intern Program - 2023 at Barclays
- Internal Audit Analyst - Explorer Summer Intern Program - 2023 at Barclays
- Internal Audit Analyst - Explorer Summer Intern Program - 2023 at Barclays
- State Advocacy Intern at BSA | The Software Alliance
- Digital Communications and Public Affairs Fellow at Monument Advocacy
- Systems Engineer Intern (Summer 2023) at Sierra Nevada Corporation
- Government Risk Strategy Consulting Intern - Summer 2023 at RSM US LLP
- Internal Audit Finance Intern at PetSmart
- Safety Intern - Kiewit Safety (Summer 2023) at Kiewit
- Digital Marketing & Social Media Internship at Georgia State Games
- Environmental Science and Engineering AmeriCorps Fellow at U.S. Dept. of Interior - Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
- 2023 Intern - National Security Consulting at Guidehouse
- Analyst Summer Intern at Rystad Energy
- Field Engineer Internship- Power Delivery- Bianchi- Nationwide, USA at Infrastructure & Energy Alternatives, Inc
- Field Engineer Internship- Heavy Civil- American Civil Constructors- Benicia, CA at Infrastructure & Energy Alternatives, Inc
- Software Engineer: Spring/Summer 2023 Co-Op or Internship (Full-Time) - San Diego, CA at Quartus Engineering
- Mechanical Design or Analysis Engineer: Spring/Summer 2023 Co-Op or Internship (Full Time) - San Diego, CA at Quartus Engineering
Scholarships and Funding
Madison awards more than 400 one- to four-year scholarships each year to incoming students. The primary criterion for merit-based scholarships is exceptional academic performance. Other selection criteria may include leadership, involvement, and career goals.
The Madison Scholarships Hub is the application center for all JMU Foundation scholarships at James Madison University. To access the Madison Scholarships Hub, log in to MyMadison. Under the Applicant tab, click on the Madison Scholarships Hub logo.
All students are encouraged to fill out the General Application in the Madison Scholarships Hub to be considered for various scholarship opportunities. Qualifications for the majority of our scholarships are based on the General Application information as well as information pulled directly from your admissions application.
Review the criteria carefully for any recommended scholarship opportunities you are presented with and if you meet the qualifications, click apply to submit the additional required information. Deadlines vary across departments so be sure to complete the General Application as soon as possible to receive full consideration. Some scholarship opportunities become available starting in the fall while others open later so be sure to check back in January, February and March.
Program Admission Requirements
Demonstrate your commitment and readiness to succeed in business school by taking the GMAT exam – the most widely used exam for admissions that measures your critical thinking and reasoning skills.
Download the GMAT mini quiz to get a flavour of the questions you’ll find in the exam.