Academics

Penn State World Campus offers three public administration programs online

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The 2.1 million-member federal workforce is aging, including its leader corps. Nearly two-thirds of federal leaders will become retirement eligible in the next five years, according to a Partnership for Public Service report. Keeping government agencies running smoothly requires a pipeline of new leaders. Penn State Harrisburg is ready to help by making three public administration programs available online through Penn State’s World Campus to enable more professionals to prepare for career advancement in federal, state and local governments, and nonprofit organizations.

“Penn State Harrisburg has offered a master of public administration degree since 1972 and public administration graduate certificates since the mid-1990s to meet the educational needs of professionals working in Pennsylvania’s state Capitol and the surrounding region,” said Göktuğ Morçöl, professor of public policy and administration in Penn State Harrisburg’s School of Public Affairs. “By offering the certificate programs online, we are making it more convenient for state workers and other professionals to gain the knowledge and skills needed for career success.”

Morçöl, program coordinator for the policy analysis and evaluation certificate program, added, “There is growing interest in hiring professionals who have analytical skills in policymaking and the ability to generate and evaluate policies. This program can prepare students for employment in think tanks and other organizations.”

Also available online are certificate programs in public budgeting and financial management and public sector human resources management, in addition to the master of public administration degree.

“The Public Budgeting and Financial Management program was originally instituted to serve the capitol region,” said Odd Stalebrink, associate professor of public administration and program coordinator. “We wanted to make the certificate available online to give students who don’t live in this region the same opportunity as resident students to enhance their skills in government fiscal decision-making, financial management and accounting.”

Bing Ran, associate professor of public administration at Penn State Harrisburg, coordinates the public sector human resources management program. He said, “The program prepares students to manage personnel and human resources and labor relations, as well as deal with problem solving, planning and management of organizational change. Courses are team based, so students can interact with each other in group projects.”

Applications are now being accepted for Penn State’s online public administration certificate programs. For information, visit www.worldcampus.psu.edu/PublicAdmin13.

Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

Last Updated November 13, 2013

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