ABOUT US

The Department of Public Service and Administration (PSAA) develops principled leaders for the public and nonprofit sectors, providing students with the tools and knowledge they need for impactful public service careers. Students in PSAA develop the analytical, communication, and leadership skills needed to tackle complex challenges in the public and nonprofit sectors as thoughtful, objective, effective, and ethical public servants.

Students learn from some of the most distinguished scholars and practitioners in their fields. Faculty members at the Bush School can speak from personal experience about serving in state and local governments, partnering with international nongovernmental organizations, consulting for the federal government, working with leading nonprofits, and testifying before state and federal legislatures.

The PSAA Department offers the highly ranked and NASPAA (Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration) accredited Master of Public Service and Administration (MPSA) and Executive Master of Public Service and Administration (EMPSA) degree, as well as graduate certificates in Nonprofit Management, Public Management, Homeland Security, and Policy Analysis. Upon graduation, students leave the department well-positioned to enter public service careers in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. The department boasts an impressive 90 percent employment rate for students within six months after graduation. Previous graduates have gone on to serve at some of the highest levels of their fields, finding careers in the Texas Legislature, American Red Cross, Federal Bureau of Investigation, United Way, US Department of Agriculture, Texas Public Utilities Commission, and the City of Austin, among others.

Undergraduates in PSAA can pursue either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science in Public Service and Administration. These degrees equip students with a deep understanding of the intricate workings of the public and nonprofit sectors while developing the leadership and decision-making skills necessary for driving meaningful change and effective governance. The BA-PSAA degree should be particularly appealing to students interested in serving their communities (e.g., those planning to work for organizations such as the Texas Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, or the Red Cross). In contrast, the BS-PSAA degree should be particularly appealing to students interested in building better connections between science and public policy (e.g., those planning to work for organizations such as the Environmental Protection Agency, the Texas Education Agency, or the Sierra Club). Potential careers in the government and nonprofit sectors include public affairs specialists, grant writers, program assistants, project management specialists, parks supervisors, fundraisers, research assistants, budget analysts, management and administrative analysts, program analysts, or policy coordinators.

Undergraduates interested in public service careers can also develop expertise in key public service specialties by pursuing one of the four PSAA undergraduate minors: Public Management (PBMG), Public Policy Analysis (PPAN), Nonprofit Studies (NPST), or Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM). All students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in PSAA are encouraged to pursue one of these minors.

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Mission Statement

The mission of the Bush School’s Department of Public Service and Administration is to inspire excellence in public service by: