Public Administration Degree

The public administration program at University of Illinois at Chicago prepares students for careers as a budget analyst, city manager, county clerk, legislative support, lobbyist, non-profit manager, policy analyst, and more. The program focuses on serving as management in the executive arm of local, state, and federal government. Program courses include: roles of public administration, the management of public policy, executive-legislative relations, public budgetary processes and financial management, administrative law, professional ethics, and research methods. Get more details below including other Illinois colleges that offer public administration degrees.

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University of Illinois at Chicago

3333 Green Bay Road, North Chicago, IL

University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) is a public research university located in metro Chicago. UIC is one of the top 200 research-funded institutions in the world.  It has 15 academic colleges, and 13 inter-college programs or centers of study.

UIC offers a wide range of undergraduate majors and minors, and pre-professional degree programs. There are hundreds of choices for a course of study, spanning the arts and sciences, business, education, engineering, and more. Pre-professional programs prepare students for graduate work in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and law.

UIC boasts the largest College of Medicine in the United States. It also has a well-reputed College of Dentistry. UIC offers many masters and doctoral degree programs ranging from architecture and the arts, to business and the sciences, social work, and more.

The UIC faculty is highly acclaimed, with two MacArthur Genius Award winners, and several winners of awards, grants and fellowships from organizations such as the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the National Academy of Science, and the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Institutes of Health, and more.

History

The University of Illinois was founded in 1867, under the name of the Illinois Industrial University, as a land-grant institution established through the Morrill Act. The school opened in Urbana-Champaign in 1868.

A temporary, two-year branch of the university opened in 1946 at the Navy Pier Campus in Chicago. The primary purpose of this branch was to educate returning war veterans. Students and faculty at the two-year Navy Pier branch led a movement to establish a permanent four-year branch of the University of Illinois in Chicago.

In 1965, the Navy Pier branch was replaced by the Chicago Circle Campus, which offered a more comprehensive academic curriculum. In 1982, the University of Illinois at Chicago was formed through the consolidation of the University of Illinois' Medical Center Campus and the Chicago Circle Campus.

Academics

The academic calendar for the University of Illinois at Chicago follows the semester format, with fall and spring semesters and two shorter summer sessions.

Colleges and Schools

The University of Illinois at Chicago divides its academic units into colleges and programs, as follows:

Colleges:

• College of Applied Health Sciences
• College of Architecture & The Arts
• College of Business Administration
• College of Dentistry
• College of Education
• College of Engineering
• Graduate College
• Honors College
• College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
• College of Medicine
• College of Medicine at Chicago
• College of Nursing
• College of Pharmacy
• College of Public Health
• College of Social Work
• College of Urban Planning & Public Affairs

Inter-College Academic Programs:

• Cancer Center
• Center for Cardiovascular Research
• Center for Clinical and Translational Science
• Center for Structural Biology
• Council on Teacher Education
• Graduate Education in Medical Sciences
• Guaranteed Professional Program Admissions
• Moving Image Arts
• National Center for Excellence in Women's Health
• Neuroscience
• Office of International Affairs
• Office of Special Scholarship Programs
• Study Abroad Office

Student Life

UIC offers more than 200 student clubs, groups and organizations, including Greek fraternities and sororities. The student organizations represent a range of interests from academic, to religious, cultural, political and recreational. Student government offers opportunities for leadership.  Many student organizations host guest speakers and workshops, or offer internships and volunteer opportunities to help students network with others and develop to their furthest potential.

Student Services at UIC include Family Medical Centers and CampusCare for healthcare needs, Career Services, Counseling Service, a Children's Center, Disability Resources, Computing Services, Legal Services, and more.

While many students choose off-campus living to enjoy the excitement of city life in Chicago, there is also on-campus housing available. On-campus housing options offer easy access to fitness facilities, campus cafes, and many other dining and recreational services.

Traditions

The UIC school colors are red and blue, the athletic teams are called the "Flames," and the school mascot is a dragon named "Sparky."

Athletics

The UIC "Flames" athletic teams have won numerous championships and compete in 18 intercollegiate sports, including:

Men's Sports:

• Baseball
• Basketball
• Cross Country & Track and Field
• Gymnastics
• Soccer
• Swimming and Diving
• Tennis

Women's Sports:

• Basketball
• Cross Country & Track and Field
• Golf
• Gymnastics
• Softball
• Swimming and Diving
• Tennis
• Volleyball

Satellite Campuses

The University of Illinois at Chicago is situated on one campus of 240 acres, which is divided into three parts: Westside Campus, Eastside Campus and South Campus. UIC has more than 100 buildings scattered among each area or division of its campus.  Students can travel around the three campus divisions easily by using the Intra-campus Bus Service.

Community Life

Since 1993, UIC has run a "Great Cities Commitment" program that involves UIC faculty, students and staff in partnering with government organizations, businesses and community to address community concerns.  Community projects have involved healthcare, education, affordable housing, economic development and transportation.  The mission of the program is to improve the quality of life for residents of Chicago and neighboring communities through urban research.

The UC Campus is in the heart of metro Chicago, minutes away from restaurants, shopping, Chicago's lakefront and music concerts and events at millennium Park. Many art and science museums also are accessible via convenient transportation.

Students Enrolled in the Public Administration Program

Get more details below regarding enrollment, academics, and school demographics. University of Illinois at Chicago has offered the following academic levels for students:

• Master's Degree
• Doctorate Degree

Students by Academic Level (2019)

Students by Gender (2019)

Students by Race (2019)

Source: IPEDS Survey 2012-2020: Data obtained from the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data may vary depending on school and academic year.

Career Options for Graduates

Chief Executives

Description

Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, chief executives employment is expected to shrink at a rate of -1.2% from 2014 to 2024

Salary & Wages

• Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 13
  • Average Hourly Rate: $90.63
  • Average Annual Salary: $188500
• Gary, IN Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 400
  • Average Hourly Rate: $65.81
  • Average Annual Salary: $136870
• Lake County-Kenosha County, IL-WI Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 1
  • Average Hourly Rate: $92.23
  • Average Annual Salary: $191850

General and Operations Managers

Description

Plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations. Duties and responsibilities include formulating policies, managing daily operations, and planning the use of materials and human resources, but are too diverse and general in nature to be classified in any one functional area of management or administration, such as personnel, purchasing, or administrative services.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, general and operations managers employment is expected to grow at a rate of 7.1% from 2014 to 2024

Salary & Wages

• Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 68
  • Average Hourly Rate: $58.83
  • Average Annual Salary: $122360
• Gary, IN Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 3
  • Average Hourly Rate: $48.30
  • Average Annual Salary: $100460
• Lake County-Kenosha County, IL-WI Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 7
  • Average Hourly Rate: $62.28
  • Average Annual Salary: $129540

Legislators

Description

Develop, introduce or enact laws and statutes at the local, tribal, State, or Federal level. Includes only workers in elected positions.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, legislators employment is expected to shrink at a rate of -0.7% from 2014 to 2024

Salary & Wages

• Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 1
  • Average Annual Salary: $52660
• Gary, IN Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 210
  • Average Annual Salary: $31250
• Lake County-Kenosha County, IL-WI Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 190
  • Average Annual Salary: $39250

Transportation Managers

Description

Plan, direct, or coordinate the transportation operations within an organization or the activities of organizations that provide transportation services.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, transportation managers employment is expected to grow at a rate of 2.2% from 2014 to 2024

Salary & Wages

• Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division
  • Average Hourly Rate: $41.05
  • Average Annual Salary: $85380
• Gary, IN Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 240
  • Average Hourly Rate: $35.79
  • Average Annual Salary: $74440
• Lake County-Kenosha County, IL-WI Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 560
  • Average Hourly Rate: $57.55
  • Average Annual Salary: $119710

Source: Job descriptions, estimated salary and wages, and projected job growth are taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).