Public Administration
Public administration is the implementation of government policy and also an academic discipline that studies this implementation and prepares civil servants for working in the public service. As a "field of inquiry with a diverse scope" whose fundamental goal is to "advance management and policies so that government can function". Some of the various definitions which have been offered for the term are: "the management of public programs"; the "translation of politics into the reality that citizens see every day"; and "the study of government decision making, the analysis of the policies themselves, the various inputs that have produced them, and the inputs necessary to produce alternative policies."
Public administration is "centrally concerned with the organization of government policies and programs as well as the behavior of officials (usually non-elected) formally responsible for their conduct". Many unelected public servants can be considered to be public administrators, including heads of city, county, regional, state and federal departments such as municipal budget directors, human resources (HR) administrators, city managers, census managers, state mental health directors, and cabinet secretaries. Public administrators are public servants working in public departments and agencies, at all levels of government.
In the United States, civil servants and academics such as Woodrow Wilson promoted civil service reform in the 1880s, moving public administration into academia. However, "until the mid-20th century and the dissemination of the German sociologist Max Weber's theory of bureaucracy" there was not "much interest in a theory of public administration". The field is multidisciplinary in character; one of the various proposals for public administration's sub-fields sets out six pillars, including human resources, organizational theory, policy analysis, statistics, budgeting, and ethics.
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Scholarships for Public Administration Majors
Ohio LSC Legislative FellowshipOhio Legislative Service Commission |
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award $42,000 |
deadline Varies |
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DescriptionThe Ohio LSC Legislative Fellowship is available to college seniors who wish to gain practical experience in the legislative process. Duties may include handling constituent inquiries, writing (newsletter articles, press releases, letters, speeches, etc.), and general administrative duties. View Scholarship Details |
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Truman Scholars ProgramHarry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation |
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award $30,000 |
deadline February 04, 2025 |
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DescriptionThe Truman Scholars Program is open to full - time students in their penultimate year of school who are interested in pursuing any graduate degree, other than the MBA, in a field that is likely to lead to a career in public service. View Scholarship Details |
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PIRG FellowshipNational Association of State Public Interest Research Groups |
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award $25,500 |
deadline Varies |
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DescriptionThe PIRG Fellowship is available to recent college graduates who are interested in the public interest movement. As a PIRG Fellow, you will build expertise on global warming, campaign reform, or another social problem. You will conduct research, make the case for solutions, act as a spokesperson to the media, build diverse coalitions, write... View Scholarship Details |
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Sturgis FellowshipUniversity of Arkansas |
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award $20,000 |
deadline February 01, 2025 |
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DescriptionThe Sturgis Fellowship is available to incoming freshmen who plan on majoring in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas. You must demonstrate exceptional academic performance to be considered for this renewable award. In addition, you must have a minimum 30 ACT/1320 SAT score and a minimum 3.8 GPA to be... View Scholarship Details |
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James Madison Graduate FellowshipJames Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation |
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award Up to $12,000 |
deadline March 08, 2025 |
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DescriptionThe James Madison Graduate Fellowship is available to students who are committed to teaching topics on the Constitution in grades seven through twelve. To be eligible for this renewable award, you must be pursuing a master's degree in education, American history, political science, or government. View Scholarship Details |
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Margaret Freeman Bowers FellowshipWellesley College, Graduate Financial Aid |
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award Up to $10,000 |
deadline Varies |
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DescriptionThe Margaret Freeman Bowers Fellowship is available to graduating seniors and alumnae of Wellesley College who plan on graduate study in social work, law, public policy or public administration. MBA candidates who plan on having a career in social services will also be considered. Preference will be given to students who demonstrate financial... View Scholarship Details |
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Mat-Su Health Foundation Vocational ScholarshipMat-Su Health Foundation |
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award Up to $5,000 |
deadline Varies |
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DescriptionThe Mat-Su Health Foundation Vocational Scholarship is available to students who have been a resident within the Mat-Su Borough of Alaska for a minimum of one year. To be considered for this award, you must be pursuing studies in health and human services at a vocational/technical school and be a U.S. citizen/permanent resident. View Scholarship Details |
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Jennifer Curtis Byler ScholarshipNational Stone, Sand and Gravel Association |
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award $5,000 |
deadline Varies |
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DescriptionThe Jennifer Curtis Byler Scholarship is available to students pursuing collegiate studies in public policy, government affairs, or related fields. You must the child of an employee in the aggregates industry to be eligible for this award. View Scholarship Details |
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Feinstein ScholarshipProvidence College |
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award Up to $5,000 |
deadline Varies |
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DescriptionThe Feinstein Scholarship is available to students majoring in public and community service studies at Providence College. You must demonstrate a significant contribution to community service, a proven record of community involvement and a strong academic record to be considered for this award. View Scholarship Details |
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APF Queen-Nellie Evans ScholarshipAmerican Psychological Foundation (APF) |
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award $4,000 |
deadline January 31, 2025 |
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DescriptionThe APF Queen-Nellie Evans Scholarship is available to underrepresented graduate students. Preference will be given to African American/Black students and students preparing for a career in academia, clinical service delivery, or public policy. Selection is based on academic merit, personal statement, and financial need. View Scholarship Details |
Public Administration Related Majors
- Social Work
- Public Administration and Social Services
- Public Policy Analysis
- Community Organization and Advocacy
- Youth Services/Administration
- International Policy Analysis
- Education Policy Analysis
- Human Services
- Health Policy Analysis
- Forensic Social Work
- Transportation and Infrastructure Planning/Studies
- Public Works Management