ABOUT US
The Department of Public Service and Administration at the Bush School of Government and Public Service offers a nationally recognized master’s degree program wherein students can specialize in Policy Analysis, Public Management, Nonprofit Management and (in the online executive program) Homeland Security. 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, Brookings Institution, United Way, US Department of Agriculture, US Senate, Ernst & Young, and the City of Austin, among others.
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 curriculum within the department is a blend of both the theoretical and the practical—providing students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for successful careers in public service Students can choose from a number of concentrations to focus their studies, including analytical methods; cybersecurity policy; education policy and management; energy, environment and technology policy and management; health policy and management; international nongovernmental organizations, homeland security and national defense; and state and local government policy and management. For students with specific interests, the curriculum also provides the flexibility to design individualized concentrations.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Bush School’s Department of Public Service and Administration is to inspire excellence in public service by:
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Preparing individuals for impactful careers as thoughtful, objective, effective, and ethical public servants
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Producing theoretical and applied research that addresses the critical issues of the day and advances the understanding of public service
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Engaging with the community to serve the changing needs of society locally, regionally, nationally, and globally
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Fostering an interdisciplinary environment that stresses the development of critical thinking skills and an appreciation for the benefits of diversity and inclusion
