Public Administration

Edward S. Ageno School of Business

The Public Administration Program

Since the 1960s, Golden Gate University has offered a public administration degree program of exceptional quality and academic rigor for the working student. Our program prepares you for a leadership role in the management of government and nonprofit agencies.

Golden Gate University offers the executive master of public administration (EMPA) entirely online through CyberCampus, which is an accredited member of the Association for Online Academic Excellence. The Roseville and Monterey Bay sites also offer a mixed-mode, cohort program for the EMPA, with some classes in person and some through CyberCampus. The Ageno School of Business is a member of the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA).

We believe that the professional practice of public management is an art as well as a science. Today's successful leaders in the public or nonprofit sector need intuition, creative problem-solving abilities and self-confidence, knowledge of the discipline, and communication and analytical skills. That's why we've developed a cutting-edge online curriculum that combines a theoretical and practical study of public administration. We'll provide you with an in-depth study of the concepts, history and issues in public administration, and train you on the skills and tools you'll need to become a successful contributor to this important field.

Through Golden Gate University's innovative curriculum, scholar/practitioner faculty you'll develop a comprehensive and practical set of skills to tackle the issues challenging government and the nonprofit sector in the 21st century.

About GGU Public Administration

Adult Learners

The public administration program at Golden Gate University is tailored to the working student. Our students are self-directed, accountable and responsible. Most students continue to practice their profession while pursuing their EMPA degree.

The online instruction is based upon a learner-centered model of education and involves a dynamic student/ teacher relationship. The faculty strives to create a learning environment that encourages informed inquiry, critical thinking, self-directed learning and personal accountability.

The faculty are selected for their scholastic and academic achievements, reputations as leaders in government, international and nonprofit organizations, professional experience in the subjects they teach, and demonstrated teaching ability. They bring expertise and enthusiasm to the online classroom. The faculty's academic training enables them to assist you in learning about the theories, strategies, and models that are used to guide, analyze and evaluate public management. Having years of professional experience, they help convey the actual conditions of managers in public and nonprofit organizations. By graduation, you'll have a comprehensive knowledge of government and how to effectively manage in public and nonprofit organizations. You'll also have the knowledge, skills and tools to make valuable career contributions to local, state and federal government and public service agencies, nonprofit organizations and international institutions.

Educational Goals

The goal of the public administration program is to provide you with the management, analytical and communication skills, problem-solving techniques and subject-based knowledge required to manage effectively complex organizations in the public and nonprofit sectors. In addition, the program provides you with a critical understanding of the major political, social, economic and environmental problems confronted by contemporary public and nonprofit organizations. A strong sense of professional commitment to the highest standards of ethical behavior as well as respect for the values upon which the profession of public administration is founded are important goals of the programs. Our students have earned a reputation of scholarship by publishing in refereed public administration journals, and some have won prestigious awards, such as the Presidential Management Fellowship.

Student Associations

We encourage you to join the American Society for Public Administration. Golden Gate University also has a chapter of the public administration honor society, Pi Alpha Alpha. These associations provide you with the opportunity to socialize and network with fellow students and professionals in the public administration field.