Public Affairs Degree: Essential Information
Bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree options in public affairs are widely available. What is a public affairs degree, exactly? Students in these programs gain knowledge of public relations and policy analysis, economics, political policy, and health planning. A Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs curriculum is interdisciplinary, emphasizing law, health concerns, environmental issues, policy analysis, and business administration for 120 credits. Direct experience is gained through internships. A high school diploma or General Education Development (GED) equivalent is necessary for admission, but dual major programs may have additional stipulations. Numerous concentrations within the field exist.
Master's degree students learn about data collection and analysis, human resources management, budgeting and cultural studies. These programs typically require around 36 credit hours to complete. These students have the option of specializing in areas like human resources administration and local public affairs. Applicants must have an acceptable grade point average and Graduate Records Examination (GRE) scores, and some public affairs degree programs require an internship and a completed thesis for graduation.
Doctoral degrees offered include a Ph.D. in public policy or public affairs. Classes are thesis and research-oriented, covering public administration, social work, theoretical influences, and criminal justice. While a relevant master's degree is usually required, some institutions admit students with a bachelor's degree only.
Graduate school students in Public Affairs can choose from a wide variety of concentrations. Examples from Indiana University - Bloomington and from SUNY Empire State include:
- International development: Promote economic growth, public health, and education, particularly in low-income countries.
- Community and economic development: Learn how to manage human and natural resources to improve quality of life.
- Urban planning: Help towns and cities make good decisions on education, transportation, and other subjects that impact quality of life.
- Public relations: Use communication tools and techniques to cultivate the desired image for an organization, group, or cause.
- Policy analysis: Apply research and analysis tools to decision making.
- Environmental policy & natural resources management: Combine policy expertise and knowledge of environmental or natural resource issues to impact decision making.
Depending on degree level, a public affairs degree opens up opportunities in public policy research, city management, budget analysis, and government relations.
Public Affairs Degree Options
Many universities offer online public affairs degree programs. Most public affairs programs offer bachelor's degrees and a graduate degree program. What a typical public affairs program covers will vary by degree level and concentration. The following sections cover degree requirements in more detail.
Bachelor's Degree in Public Affairs Course Overview
A bachelor of science in public affairs prepares the student for the interactive and communicative aspects of the field, covering topics like business communications, professional writing, and public speaking. As a public affairs major you will study:
- Macroeconomics
- World history
- Introduction to politics
- State and local government
- Social psychology
Master's Degree in Public Affairs Course Overview
At the master's level, students learn about the business elements of public affairs in-depth with courses like public financial management and organizational theory. Other public affairs and public management courses students take include:
- Legal issues in public affairs
- American culture and public policy
- Public affairs administration
- Analytic skills for policy analysis
- Research methods for public affairs
Doctoral Degree in Public Affairs Course Overview
The doctoral path provides students with research and investigative skills with classes in:
- Ethics and social justice in public affairs
- Strategic change and management
- Advanced research methods
- Advanced quantitative methods
- Pedagogy in public affairs
Public affairs degree programs give students a range of career options, though the options vary with the degree level.
Popular Career Options
Graduates of public affairs programs often go into public service, typically working for national, state, or local government. Some work in the private or non-profit sectors as public affairs consultants or public program directors. Bachelor's graduates frequently take on jobs as environmental planners, public health coordinators, or city managers. Master's degree holders may seek employment as a senior grant writer or a community service director. With a doctorate, individuals are eligible for postsecondary teaching and research roles. Other popular careers include:
- Public affairs specialist
- Director of public policy
- Budget analyst
- Professor of public affairs
- Public policy researcher
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Employment Outlook and Salary Information
According to PayScale.com, public affairs specialists earned a median salary of $62,824 as of January 2021. The same website reports a median salary of $58,275 in January 2021 for public policy analysts. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that post-secondary teachers earned a median salary of $79,540 in May 2019 while the median salary for a budget analyst was $76,540.
The outlook for many public affairs occupations is good. The BLS predicts employment for postsecondary teachers to grow at a rate of 9% during the 2019 to 2029 decade. Budget analyst employment is expected to increase 3% from 2019 to 2029. Opportunities for public affairs specialists are expected to grow 9% from 2019 through 2029. Employment for political scientists is expected to grow 6% from 2019 to 2029.
