Department

Faculty in Public Administration Department

Department of Public Administration

The Department of Public Administration houses three programs – a BS in Criminal Justice Administration (currently the third largest major on campus), a BS in Public Administration, and a Master of Public Administration (MPA) accredited by NASPAA (the global standard for public affairs education). Together, these programs serve almost 2,000 students, 14 full-time faculty, and many part-time lecturer faculty. The Department runs two Institutes (the Public Policy Institute and the South Bay Economics Institute) and collaborates with regional organizations in our field on research projects, student and alumni events, and internships.

Dr. Elena Kulikov, Department Chair  |    (310) 243-2615  |   ekulikov@csudh.edu

View Faculty Office Hours here.

Degree Programs

Undergraduate Degrees

  • Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration
  • Bachelor of Science in Public Administration

Undergraduate Public Administration Concentrations

  • Administrative Management
  • Criminal Justice Administration
  • Health Services Administration
  • Public Financial Management
  • Public Personnel Administration

Minors

  • Criminal Justice Administration
  • Public Administration

Graduate Degree

  • Master of Public Administration - On-campus & Online

Graduate Concentrations

  • Public Management
  • Criminal Justice Policy and Administration
  • Healthcare Administration
  • Public and Non-Profit Management

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration

The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration is designed to provide professional preparation for private, public and nonprofit sector professionals in the fields of national and local law enforcement, law, corrections, juvenile justice, homeland security, and intelligence analysis. The degree program requires:

  1. Completion of two lower division required courses common to all students in the Department of Public Administration & Public Policy;
  2. Completion of a set of upper division core courses common to all Criminal Justice Administration students; and
  3. Four elective courses.

The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration degree is a single-field major, which means that students are not required to complete a minor for graduation.

To learn more about the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration degree's roadmap, please click here.

Bachelor of Science in Public Administration

The Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration is designed to provide professional preparation for public sector managers. The degree program requires:

  1. Completion of core courses of public administration & public policy students;
  2. A concentration;
  3. Two additional courses for breadth.

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. 

Master of Public Administration

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 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.

Careers & Opportunities

One-sixth of the civilian work force in the United States is employed by local, state and federal governments. Career opportunities for Criminal Justice Administration and 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 degrees in Criminal Justice Administration and Public Administration also provide 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. 

Student Associations

Criminal Justice Administration

Alpha Phi Sigma is a national honor society that recognizes the academic accomplishments of outstanding students in the field of criminal justice. For information about the CSUDH Chapter of the Alpha Phi Sigma Honor Society, please click here.

Public Administration

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. For further information, please click here.

Facilities

Computing & Communication Facilities

Courses are taught mostly in the Social and Behavioral Sciences Building. The building has several computer labs with computers connected to the Internet. Every classroom in the building has a direct connection to the Internet, allowing in-class demonstration and experimentation during all information system class sessions.