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Welcome to Public Affairs! Program Background The Bachelor of Public Affairs (BPA) degree prepares students to become confident, ethical leaders in government agencies and nonprofit organizations. This degree equips students to effectively participate in policy making and service delivery by providing a thorough understanding of how public business is transacted in government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private consulting firms. The BPA is offered through Seattle University’s Institute of Public Service. As a Public Affairs major, you will: - Develop the perspectives, skills, and abilities necessary to make a difference in the public sector; - Learn about public policy, management and organizational leadership, financial controls, and research methods; - Choose a Policy Pathway of focused study in an area of particular interest, including Urban Affairs, Nonprofit Leadership, or a pathway of your own creation; and, - Undertake an internship experience to develop your professional repertoire, apply your classroom studies to the “real world,” and create networks and contacts for future employment. Why Choose the Bachelor of Public Affairs Degree? If you are interested in helping others and making positive change in the way public life is conducted, the Bachelor of Public Affairs degree is for you. The BPA coursework emphasizes what you need to know to undertake important and challenging responsibilities in the public and nonprofit arenas. The Policy Pathway enables you to tailor your BPA education even closer to your own interests and professional aspirations. The BPA major provides a balance between academic knowledge from the humanities and social sciences along with the insights and skills of a professional in the public service. When you graduate, you will be prepared to contribute to all sectors of society and levels of government, as well as for future graduate study. Joint Master of Public Administration Option The Institute of Public Service also offers a joint BPA/Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree option. As an undergraduate BPA student, you will take a number of graduate-level classes from the MPA curriculum. Students who pursue the joint degree option benefit from their work in the undergraduate major through a reduced, 36 graduate credit requirement for the MPA degree. This lessens by about one year the time necessary to obtain the MPA degree. All BPA students with a minimum 3.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA) are eligible to apply for the accelerated MPA degree. Students apply in their second-to-last or final quarter of undergraduate study. Please note that acceptance into the MPA program is competitive, and the BPA degree does not guarantee admission into the MPA program. What Can I Do with a Public Affairs Degree? The Bachelor of Public Affairs degree, as part of a liberal arts education at Seattle University, prepares students for a multitude of professional paths and a lifetime of learning. The focus of this major is on developing students for careers in public service including government and nonprofit organizations. Some of the career areas that this major helps prepares you for include: - City management - Education administration - Urban planning and design - Public health administration - Law enforcement - Legislative research, lobbying, analysis - Elected office - Political campaign management - Human resources - Economic development - And many more! How Do I Learn More? We are glad that you are interested in the Public Affairs major and welcome questions from prospective majors. Choosing your major is an important decision, and one not to be undertaken without careful thought, research, and personal introspection. Danielle Potter is happy to meet with you, talk over the phone or via email, and answer any questions you might have. Please contact her at potterd@seattleu.edu or call 206-296-6143. Department Links
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