Public and Nonprofit Administration
Western Michigan University offers a major and two minors in public and nonprofit administration. Designed to prepare for entry-level professional careers in the public or nonprofit sector, the major also allows a choice between the public and nonprofit administration tracks.
This program will provide you with:
- A thorough academic exposure to the theory and practice of public service, with preparation in administrative, managerial, and programmatic functions of public and nonprofit organizations;
- Internship opportunities to apply your academic preparation into the professional practice at government and nonprofit agencies, potentially leading a future job; and
- Experiential learning through a capstone project that takes you to the practice of public service.
As a public and nonprofit administration student at WMU, you will be required to complete an internship or a capstone project focusing on applying your developing academic preparation to the practice of public service at public and nonprofit organizations.
You can also gain valuable networking and professional development opportunities through student organizations including Nonprofit Leadership Student Association and Phi Alpha Alpha chapter at the University. The experiential learning approach adopted throughout the coursework also allows you to network in the larger professional community outside of the University.
WMU graduates with a degree in public and nonprofit organization are pursuing careers in:
- Administrative services
- Community planning and development
- Education administration
- Emergency management
- Fiscal and public policy analysis
- Health care administration
- Human resources management
- Organizational management
- Program and public management
- Public relations and fund raising
- Social services administration
Among the organizations they work for are:
- City, county, state and federal government agencies
- Nonprofit organizations and foundations
- Hospitals, schools, colleges and universities
- Kalamazoo