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School of Public Service and Justice
Public Administration · Organizational Leadership Studies
Welcome to CSUDH's Department of Public Administration.
Dr. Elena Kulikov, Department Chair | (310) 243-2615 | ekulikov@csudh.edu
CBAPP Student Success Center | (310) 243-3548 | Offices: II 1100 & 3400
Undergraduate student services and advisement.
Faculty Support & Faculty Office Hours | (310) 243-3548 | Offices: II 4524, 4526, 4200
Support regarding faculty office hours, contacting faculty, and classroom changes, etc.
The Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration is designed to provide professional preparation for public sector managers. The degree program requires:
The Bachelor of Science in Public Administration degree is a single-field major, which means that students are not required to complete a minor for graduation.
The Master of Public Administration (MPA) program is designed to provide high quality professional education for people entering or working in public service professions. The MPA program prepares students for careers as professional managers of public sector or nonprofit organizations, as well as for research, consulting and teaching careers. The MPA curriculum develops a theoretical foundation for the practice of effective public management in a wide range of public service functional areas at all levels of government. The MPA program is specifically designed to help students stay current and develop insights on current and practical topics.
Currently the MPA program provides on-campus and online delivery of an accredited MPA degree. The on-campus and online instruction permits busy working professionals to continue their career while completing the program. Students complete all their classes either on-campus or online while staying on their professional career track. Students have full interaction with classmates and faculty in the classroom or online.
The CBAPP MPA program is accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA), the professional association responsible for evaluating the quality of MPA degree programs. To learn more about the MPA program, please click here.
For additional information about the Department of Public Administration & Public Policy's degrees, concentrations, and minors, please click visit the CSUDH University Catalog.
One-sixth of the civilian work force in the United States is employed by local, state and federal governments. Career opportunities for Public Administration graduates range from law enforcement and human services to education and transportation. In the private sector, many companies actively promote community-oriented public service initiatives.
The undergraduate degree in Public Administration also provides a solid foundation for employment with nonprofit organizations, utility companies, private firms, and hospitals. The degrees also offers strong pre-law preparation for students interested in law school and careers in law.
The Master of Public Administration degree provides students with the educational background and and professional competencies needed to secure administrative/managerial positions in a variety of public sector and non-profit organizations, or in private firms with close ties to governments and public service, such as utilities or defense contractors.
The majority of MPA students at CSUDH are already employed by public, private, or non-profit agencies when they begin their graduate education, and use their master's degrees for professional advancement within their organizations. Other students with little or no work experience, or those with no managerial experience, use the MPA degree to obtain entry-level management or administrative positions. Many other students use the MPA degree as preparation for doctoral study and careers as professors and researchers.
Pi Alpha Alpha is a national honor society that recognizes the academic accomplishments of outstanding students in the field of public administration. The CSUDH Chapter of the Pi Alpha Alpha Honor Society was chartered in 1981 and has a membership of more than 100 students and alumni.
Courses are primarily taught in the new Innovation & Instruction Building located at the front of the CSUDH campus. The building has numerous open lounge seating areas, closed student study breakout rooms, new classrooms, the CBAPP Investment Lab, the Innovation Incubator for entrepreneurs and help with business start-up, the Student Success Center which provides student advisement services, and the EcoGrounds coffee shop. The campus is equipped with free Wi-Fi for students, and virtual and in-person technical support.