Interdisciplinary Studies - Public Administration 90-30, Bachelor

In addition to University Requirements:

• 30 units of Public Administration Specialization Requirements

• Completion of Computer Literacy, Communication Skills, and Science or Language Requirements

• Up to 9 units of specialization prefix courses may be used to satisfy Liberal Studies requirements; these same courses may also be used to satisfy specialization requirements.

• Elective courses, if needed, to reach an overall total of at least 120 units.

Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

Minimum Units for Completion	120
Major GPA	C
Highest Mathematics Required	MAT 114
Foreign Language	Optional
Fieldwork Experience/Internship	Optional
Some online/blended coursework	Required
AZ Transfer Students complete AGEC-A	Recommended
Progression Plan Link	View Progression Plan

Purpose Statement

The mission of the Public Administration and Justice Studies program is to prepare students to become effective and ethical managers in a variety of public service fields. As with other degrees in the Public Administration and Justice Studies program, the Interdisciplinary Studies, 90-30 degree focuses on experiential learning that links theory to issues that students are likely to encounter in the workplace. The Interdisciplinary Studies, 90-30 degree is ideal for students who have completed a number of credits at the community college or university level and are looking to finish their degree in a relatively short amount of time. The program's accelerated course format, as well as course offerings throughout the calendar year, allows students to achieve this goal.
 
Faculty in the Public Administration and Justice Studies program are experienced practitioners who promote rigorous academic standards and high expectations for student achievement. Rather than teaching students what to think, faculty focus on developing analytical skills in course structures that allow students to be active participants in the education process. The core courses in the Interdisciplinary Studies, 90-30 degree focus on ethics, leadership, public sector budgeting, public policy, research methods, and written communication skills. Courses offer theoretical perspectives as a foundation from which students can analyze and apply ideas to real-world situations.
 
Graduates of the program will be prepared to work in public, non-profit, and private sector organizations; the degree also serves as a platform for students who wish to pursue graduate degrees. For those students already working in the field, the Interdisciplinary Studies, 90-30 degree expands knowledge and skills, and allows for advancement in their careers. Graduates of the Public Administration and Justice Studies program will have developed abilities to be dynamic and ethical leaders who are prepared to face the challenges of rapidly changing organizational environments. Above all, they will be committed to effectively and competently serving the public good.

Student Learning Outcomes

Understand the importance of leadership in public sector organizations, and have the ability and knowledge to demonstrate and practice leadership concepts and skills learned in the Public Administration program throughout their careers.

• Incorporate and demonstrate an understanding of leadership concepts
• Demonstrate an understanding of how leadership concepts and models can be translated into tangible leadership skills that can be utilized in actual situations

Understand the paramount importance of ethics in public sector organizations, and how ethics impacts not only the performance of public agencies but also the perception within which they function.  They will also have the ability and knowledge to demonstrate and practice the ethical concepts and skills learned while in the PADM program.       

• Demonstrate an understanding of the issues involved in ethical dilemmas faced by public administrators
• Identify professional standards of conduct to which public administrator practitioners should subscribe

Demonstrate critical thinking by linking theoretical propositions and concepts in PADM course readings to the analysis of problems or situations.

• Link theoretical propositions and concepts in course readings to the analysis of problems or situation

Describe the budgeting process in the public sector

• Demonstrate an understanding of the stages of the public sector budget process
• Demonstrate an understanding of how public budgeting differs at the various levels of government (national, state and local)

Ability to communicate effectively in a professional and academic setting, demonstrating an ability to produce well written (Standard English) documents, befitting of a public sector professional.                   

• Create papers that have a clear organization and expression of ideas
• Create papers that identify course readings and/or outside sources and relate analysis to these course readings
• Write in a clear, concise, coherent and correct manner

Liberal Studies Requirement

• • Students with a completed AGEC from Arizona Community Colleges will have met the 35 units of liberal studies requirements.
  • Students with a completed IGETC from a California Community College will have met the 35 units of liberal studies requirements.
  • Up to 9 units of specialization prefix courses may be used to satisfy Liberal Studies requirements; these same courses may also be used to satisfy specialization requirements.

Major Requirements

• All coursework in the Specialization Areas must be upper-division and from Northern Arizona University. Substitutions and use of credit from other institutions are not allowed in the Specialization.

• Take the following 30 units with a Grade of "C" or better in each course:
  
  Public Administration Specialization

  • PADM 301, PADM 327, PADM 411, PADM 450 and (PADM 326 or POS 326) (15 units)
  • Junior-level writing, select one: PADM 302W, ENG 302W, ENG 305W (3 units)
  • Capstone: PADM 421C or PADM 408C (3 units)
  Select from the following (3 units)
  • PADM 355, PADM 356, POS 303, SOC 365
  Select from the following (6 units)
  • ANT 306, ANT 350
  • PADM 325 or POS 325
  • PADM 356, PADM 401, PADM 415
  If you choose PADM 415 here, you may not choose CST 477 for the Theory Requirement.
  
  If you have not yet met NAU's Global and/or U.S. Ethnic Diversity requirements, you must select:
  • ANT 306, which meets the Ethnic Diversity requirement
  • ANT 350, which meets the Global Diversity requirement

Interdisciplinary Studies Requirements

• Communication Requirements (6 units)
  
  Choose 6 units in the following two categories. 

  • Performance-based courses, select one from the following (3 units)

• • • CST 111, CST 311, CST 312, CST 314, CST 315, CST 318 (Performance-based courses are defined as having at least 51 percent of the evaluation of the student being based upon oral performance.)
    • Or advisor approved

• • Theory-based courses, select one from the following (3 units)

• • • COM 101, COM 200 
    • CST 151, CST 271, CST 321, CST 323, CST 361, CST 365, CST 424, CST 451, CST 465, CST 472, CST 475 , CST 477
    • Or advisor approved

• Please note that you cannot use CLEP or locally prepared exams to satisfy this requirement. Transfer credit used to satisfy this requirement must be approved by the program director.

• Foreign Language Requirement Option (19 units)

  • Foreign Language Requirement (16 units)
    • You must demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English that is equivalent to four terms of university coursework in the same language. You may satisfy this requirement by taking language courses or by testing out of all or part of it by taking CLEP, or other exams.
  AND
  • Computer Literacy (3 units)
    • This coursework must help you to understand, in general, the technical components of computers and information systems, how to solve problems using information systems technology, word processing, spreadsheet use, database management, graphic information software, website development, graphic design and use of statistical analysis software. Subject to advisor approval.
    • Select one from the following (3 units)
      • [BBA 293]
      • [ISM 120]

• • Select ISM 120 or BBA 293 (3 units)

• OR
  
  Science Requirement Option (18 units)

• Science Requirement, select from the following (12 units):

  • ANT 101, ANT 250
  • GSP 130, GSP 150
  • Courses with Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, Geology, Mathematics, Nutrition, Physical Science, Physics, Statistics prefixes. Please note that other courses must be approved by the program director.

• AND
  
  Computer Literacy (6 units)
  
  This coursework must help you to understand, in general, the technical components of computers and information systems, how to solve problems using information systems technology, word processing, spreadsheet use, database management, graphic information software, website development, graphic design and use of statistical analysis software. Subject to advisor approval.

  • Select ISM 120 or BBA 293 (3 units)
  • BBA 340 or Advisor Approved coursework including the CIS or CS prefix (3 units)

General Electives

• Additional coursework is required if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit.

  You may take these remaining courses from any of the academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. You may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or liberal studies requirements.
  
  We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you.

Additional Information

• Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.

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