Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs

Individuals who wish to devote their professional careers to serving the public by managing government, nonprofit or other community organizations will develop their skills and expand their knowledge base with a Bachelor of Science degree in public affairs. The mission of the program is to educate professionals in public and nonprofit management who intend to enhance the public welfare through a life of service.

The applied mission of the BS in public administration program is to prepare students interested in careers in the public and nonprofit sectors with the necessary competencies to be successful in management or public service careers. Graduates should have a firm understanding of financial, human resource and organizational concepts that will be directly applicable at professional levels in public and non-profit organizations.

Careers in Public Affairs

The BS in public affairs is intended for individuals planning to manage and drive policy in the arenas of government and nonprofit organizations. These generalist managers must synthesize many forms of knowledge derived from government, economics, sociology and other fields, and must apply that knowledge creatively to meet the varied and multiple challenges of public service. The ability to understand the substance of policy and program issues, grasp the administrative, political and ethical implications, and then effectively address the issues define the worth of contemporary managers.

The public affairs program promotes acquisition of knowledge and skills essential to the tasks of identification, analysis, design implementation, supervision, evaluation, communication and other key functions that are integral components of management careers in federal, state and local governments; criminal justice; social service; education; community development; arts and other non-profit organizations; and business firms.

The BS curriculum emphasizes the integration and application of theory to practice and prepares individuals to ultimately assume senior staff, managerial and leadership roles in public agencies, nonprofit organizations, consulting firms and businesses significantly affected by public policies.

The University’s Career Center is an important resource for students pursuing their career. Licensed counselors are available to provide strategies for mastering job interviews, writing professional cover letters and resumes and help students connect with campus recruiters, among other services.

Public Affairs at UT Dallas

Public affairs is an interdisciplinary program that integrates the traditions of public and nonprofit management with the challenges of maintaining and building institutions of governance in a complex society.

The UT Dallas program offers students the opportunity to learn from and interact with some of the nation’s leading academic and public sector experts.