Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is Public Administration?
The Bachelor of Arts degree program in Public Administration provides students with a general foundation in the nature of the public workplace and its political and legal environments. This major prepares students for professional employment and leadership in government and nonprofit organizations. The program provides specialized training in management and management- related skills.

What is the difference between Business Administration verses Public Administration?
Figuratively, Business Administration represents preparing students for the Private Sector while Public Administration prepares students for a career in the Public Sector (i.e. Federal, State, Local government and Private Non Profit Entities, etc.). The primary difference is that managers in the private sector (i.e. Business Administration) direct their activities toward earning money (profit) for the company, while managers in public sector (i.e. government and non-profits….Public Administration) direct their effort toward generating some kind of social impact (i.e. high quality or effective service).

Within the Private Sector, it is a lot easier to measure effectiveness (profit) because one can generally look and measure dollars and cents. In the Public Sector, it is more ambiguous to measure success. This is because public managers have too measure intangibles such as “improve public health”, “makes a difference in the lives of disenfranchised citizens”, or “increase appreciation for the arts by citizens”. This intangible nature also makes it more difficult to gauge the performance of employees and public managers. Finally, the public managers often depend on volunteers and donors (in the Public Sector, i.e. United Way) who cannot be supervised and controlled in the same way a business manager (Private Sector) deals with employees.

What are the career opportunities?
The Public Administration major is beneficial for individuals planning a professional management career with national, state, or local governmental agencies. There is also a market for the managerial skills of public administration major in private and nonprofit agencies. The bachelor of art program in Public Administration is also appropriate for preparing students to enter law or graduate school. A Public Administration minor enhances employment in the public sector and provides academic support to a student’s major.

SUNO is located in the heart of New Orleans, the seat of various federal, state, and local offices. There are many internship and employment opportunities for Public Administration graduates in these agencies. SUNO is the only public institution of higher learning in New Orleans Metro area offering a degree program that enables graduates to master the art of efficient public resource management.

What kinds of courses will I take?
Majors must take courses in American government covering: political foundations, institutions and public policies, an introductory course in government and politics, and a course in public administration. Students also take courses focusing on state and local government, public management, public personnel, and finance. They take courses in economics, sociology, and complete the general education requirements of the university.

What are the internship opportunities?
Students have the option of completing an internship in the working world of public administration to supplement their coursework. Interns can work in offices of U.S. and state senators and representatives. Other interns can work for national, state, and local agencies including parish and city government agencies. Students work with their advisor and the Departmental Chair to coordinate an internship that suits their career goals.

Why major in Public Administration at SUNO?
Taxpayers are demanding greater accountability from elected officials and public administrators in the management of public policy and public resources. The call for efficiency and greater accountability in the public sector has become even more pronounced in Louisiana in general and the New Orleans metro area in particular, as a result of public policy failures following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. In fact, State and local officials were already facing serious accountability issues Pre-Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and the call for the reform has taken a more urgent tone following those two disasters.

The new Bachelor of Arts program in Public Administration at Southern University at New Orleans is specifically aimed at filing the gaps between public policy and official government practices by providing training to majors on efficient business practices that can be translate into better public sector management. The program seeks to produce graduates who not only understand the role and scope of the public service but are prepared to take up administrative positions where they will provide effective service to members of the community while maintaining the highest ethical standards. The Department of Public Administration has an accomplished faculty who are ready to provide an atmosphere that allows working professionals to complete their degree requirements with minimal interruption to their careers.