About Public Administration

PASA: the Public Administration Student AssociationFounded in 1992, the Department of Public Administration is located in the College of Health and Public Service. The Department began with the master of public administration (MPA) that traces its origins to 1961 where its predecessor was established in the Department of Political Science. The PhD program began in the 1970s as a specialization in political science. In 2004, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating board approved moving the specialization to the Department of Public Administration as a stand-alone degree. In 2017, the department added an undergraduate degree in Nonprofit Leadership Studies and in 2018 an undergraduate degree in Urban Policy and Planning was established.

Today the department serves about 170 graduate students while it launches two new undergraduate majors. Student-centered education is a hallmark of this dedicated faculty who take personal interest in every student's progress from the first day they enter and beyond graduation to their professional career. Our alumni are some of the most loyal and active across UNT programs and throughout the nation and we are very proud of their many accomplishments.

Our current students are also active across campus and the professional world with extensive student-centric programming and networking events. Our nonprofit student association has monthly networking events, annual fundraising campaigns, and one of the most active professional advisory boards on campus. The Public Administration Student Association (PASA) is the student association for MPA students. They hold monthly social, networking, and professional development activities. They also host the student chapter of the International City/County Management Association. These students participate in both state and national conferences. Finally, our Phd student association is active in professional scholarly conferences and they host monthly presentations and guest scholars.

We strive to provide a vibrant educational experience that integrates a dedicated faculty and staff with engaged students who explore the possibilities and opportunities to better our communities and world so we may transmit that to others today and to future generations.