Public administration is a field of inquiry which entails the implementation of government policies in various organizations that interact with the general public. The discipline simply involves the overall management of public policies and programs. The fundamental objective of this field is to advance management of policies so as to ensure for smooth functioning of the government units.
It is the role of public administration to ensure that each and every segment of federal, local public and state services are carried out in the desired manner. The study of public administration is important in that, it enables people to understand better how to manage public policies in all facets of the government (Rhodes, 2000).
A bachelor’s degree in public administration or its equivalent is enough to guarantee a person an opportunity to serve as a public administrator in any organization. However, in order to qualify to be a public administrator in most senior posts in the government, one must possess a minimum of a master’s degree in public administration or business administration.
There is a need to improve the medium of study for public administration, considering the diverse scope of programs and activities entailed in the discipline. One way of achieving this goal is by establishing a separate discipline of public administration and graduate institutions of public policy. Creation of a separate discipline of public administration is likely to provide students with an opportunity to specialize in a specific subject.
Creation of graduate schools of public policy, on the other hand is likely to open doors for people to have access of basic knowledge on the theory and practice of public policy. This is much likely to improve the quality standards of the general study of public administration, thus helping to shape the accountability of the discipline.
Considering the rapidly evolving nature of responsibilities in the sector, there is a need for effective public administration skills. Effective administration of pubic affairs requires wide knowledge and experience in public policy, both of which can be realized through extensive study.
In this regard, it would be a good idea if all public administrators matriculated in a post graduate degree in public administration. Students who possess higher qualifications such a master’s degree in the field are likely to be more competent in administration assignments, compared to those equipped with their first degree alone (Cropf, 2008).
People in possession of a master’s degree are believed to have a wider experience in the discipline, and this facilitates stronger competence in accountability, in a manner which is certain to instill great changes in public administration and public policy. However, this requirement comes with many advantages to both the administrators and the public.
One major benefit of the idea to the students is that, they are readily assured of jobs whose salary ratings befit their status, once they are through with their studies. On the side of the general public, they would be assured of quality services in the highly-qualified administrators.
In some cases, the study of public administration is provided as a concentration in business administration and political science. This explains why a person having qualifications in either political science or business administration would fit for a job opportunity in the public administration. However, the fact that people with qualifications in any of these disciplines can work as administrators in public policy posts should not be taken to imply that the disciplines are similar.
Even though the three disciplines are aimed at serving the public, they are quite different from each other in numerous ways. One notable difference between public administration and the other two disciplines is that, the former serves as a concentration in the study of the other two.
References
Cropf, R. (2008). American public administration: public service for the 21st century (1st ed.) New York, NY: Pearson Longman.
Rhodes, R. (2000). Governance and public administration. Debating Governance, 54(6), 90.