B.S. in Public Policy and Administration

University of Missouri - St. Louis

On campus living is currently optional, but quarantine seems to have made this year’s freshman class less ready for off campus living. We want to make sure that they have a support system in place, which they will have in the dorms.

The BSPPA degree is designed for students who are interested in working in government or nonprofit organizations, and who have a passion for making a positive impact on society. In this program, students gain understanding of public and nonprofit administration and policymaking in the United States. Students will develop skills for leading organizations, and will utilize those skills through an internship.

Students in the BSPPA can choose from three emphasis areas: public administration, nonprofit management, and public policy. The public administration emphasis area focuses explicitly on the administrative and leadership concerns of government organizations and prepares students to work and manage in the public sector. The nonprofit emphasis area focuses on concerns of organizations in the nonprofit sector, which constitutes a growing field of employment opportunities. Non-profit careers include education, health care, social services, civic leadership, veterans’ affairs, and advocacy, among others. In the public policy track, students work with a faculty advisor to develop a focus on a particular policy area in preparation for relevant jobs in the public, nonprofit or private sector.

Career Outlook

In the BS in Public Policy Administration, students develop practical skills and engage in internships that have helped our graduates find jobs in state and local government, and nonprofit organizations, including positions with the Department of Defense, Department of Veteran’s Affairs, City of Florissant, City of Chesterfield, the Small Business Administration, and the Department of Corrections. Many jobs in this field are projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2019), social and community service managers, administrative service managers, and fundraisers have median salaries of $56,950-$96,180 and projections for high employment growth.