Bachelor of Arts in Public and Nonprofit Administration/Minor in Public and Nonprofit Administration
The School of Public Affairs and Administration offers an undergraduate major and minor in public and nonprofit administration.
The bachelor of arts degree at Rutgers School of Public Affairs and
Administration (SPAA) is an interdisciplinary degree designed to bring
students to a deeper understanding of their roles as public servants--which, broadly defined, includes employees of government and
not-for-profit organizations, elected officials, members of boards and
communities at the local level, volunteers, and philanthropists, etc.--in the context of civic engagement.
The program provides students with
the substantive knowledge, analytical skills, and perspectives needed to
respond effectively and fairly to major contemporary social problems
with a particular focus on urban issues that affect our communities. It
is not an undergraduate degree solely in public administration or public
management. Rather, the curriculum is rooted in the concepts of civic
engagement and the common good and helps foster an understanding of the
spirit of service already evident among many students, suggesting a
broad array of career and professional pathways to public service.
Students majoring in public and nonprofit administration receive excellent preparation for further study in the graduate professional schools and careers in public service, policy, and management/administration.
The major requires 35 credits as follows (courses marked WI are writing-intensive courses):
1. Five 3-credit public service core courses (15 credits):
- 40:834:200 Introduction to Public Administration (3)
- 40:834:203 Introduction to Nonprofit Administration (3) (previously Government and Nonprofit Sector)
- 40:834:301 Ethical Public Service (WI) (3)
- 40:834:406 Public Service Organizations (3)
- 40:834:408 Leadership for the Service Professions (3)
2. Five credits in career exploration and service learning (5 credits):
- 40:834:429 Career Exploration in Public Service Seminar (1)
- 40:834:430 Service-Learning Internship I (4)
3. Five 3-credit elective courses (minimum of 15 credits):
- 40:834:201 Public Service as Responsible Citizenship (3)
- 40:834:302 United States and Global Urban Experience (3)
- 40:834:304 Technology and Public Service (3)
- 40:834:306 Grant Writing for Organizations (WI) (3)
- 40:834:402 The Arts and Culture of Public Service (3)
- 40:834:404 Philanthropy: Volunteerism, Fundraising, and Community Engagement (3) (previously Volunteerism and Philanthropy in Public Service)
(No more than 6 credits from the following):
- 40:834:330 Special Topics Course in Public Service (3)
- 40:834:331 Independent Study in Public Service (BA) (faculty approval required)
- 40:834:431 Service Learning Internship II (4)
4. Second Concentration:
The second concentration can be met through completion of any of the following:
- a second major (within the School of Arts and Sciences-Newark)
- a minor
- the Urban Teacher Education Program (UTEP)
- the Honors College Program
- a bachelor's-master's dual-degree program
Students enrolled in SPAA must complete their second concentration in the School of Arts and Sciences-Newark or the bachelor of science or bachelor of arts/master of public administration (B.S. or B.A./M.P.A.) dual-degree program offered by SPAA.
Public and Nonprofit Administration Minor Requirements
The minor in public and nonprofit administration program requires the completion of 18 credits with a grade of C or better, which include the following courses (courses marked WI are writing-intensive courses):
- 40:834:200 Introduction to Public Administration (3)
- 40:834:203 Introduction to Nonprofit Administration (3) (previously Government and Nonprofit Sector)
- 40:834 301 Ethical Public Service (WI) (3)
- 40:834:406 Public Service Organizations (3)
- 40:834:408 Leadership for the Service Professionals (3)
- three additional credits from public and nonprofit administration elective course offerings
School of Public Affairs and Administration 
