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School of Public Administration

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SPA has received national recognition in the 2009 edition of America's Best Graduate Schools.

In the overall Public Affairs rankings, UNO ranked 27th nationally and tied for 15th place among public institutions.

• Information technology and management ranked sixth nationally among 15 similar programs and third nationally among public universities;

• Public management administration ranked 15th nationally and 10th among public universities;

• City management and urban policy ranked 13th nationally and 10th among public universities;

• Public finance and budgeting ranked 9th nationally and 7th among public universities;

• Nonprofit management ranked 18th nationally and 16th among public universities.

Click here to read the entire press release.

 

Make a Career from Giving Back

  • Would you like to lead community-based
    initiatives that invigorate urban neighborhoods?
  • Do you envision a future in which you play a
    key role in making your community safer?
  • Do you feel you have the critical skills
    necessary to shape public policy?

Today's public service professionals address and solve the critical issues confronting contemporary society. Working in the government, nonprofit, and private sectors, these individuals are the stewards of our democratic way of life. They have the courage to make tough decisions regarding the allocation of tax dollars and public resources while ensuring social equity and equality. Working within and outside America's borders, public service professionals plan and implement innovative, efficient, and effective strategies affecting a broad spectrum of constituencies ranging from the most vulnerable populations to those most affluent. They protect our natural resources, lead our armed forces, and operate shelters for the homeless.

An education from the School of Public Administration at the University of Nebraska at Omaha will prepare you for a career in the public service. With a strong foundation in academic theory and applied research, you will learn the tools of visionary and effective leadership. Hands-on experiential learning and internships will provide you with the insights to craft innovative solutions.

A degree in public administration, aviation, or urban studies prepares you to integrate understanding and insight to lead others. Hands-on training and internships will help you craft solutions.

UNO's highly ranked Master of Public Administration program is one of the largest in the country, enrolling 230 students. Courses are offered in Omaha, Lincoln, and on the Internet. The School's Ph.D. in Public Administration is one of the few offered in the Midwest.

Our nationally recognized Aviation Institute can also propel your career in the right direction. Whether your career is in consulting, management or the cockpit, you will receive the tools to play supporting role in the public aviation sector.

If you are driven to revitalize urban and metropolitan areas, the School offers a Master of Science in Urban Studies degree. With concentrations in Housing and Community Development, Transportation and Planning, the program offers chances to work with neighborhoods in the Omaha metropolitan area through internships and class projects.

Multiple Needs . . . Multiple Roles

Students of public administration go on to hold positions of influence in many private and public sectors, including government agencies, the non-profit sector and charitable foundations. Students and alumni successfully address many issues in their careers, including:

  • Youth violence
  • Community development and revitalization
  • Environmental preservation
  • AIDS and other public health threats
  • Hunger and nutrition
  • Poverty
  • Education
  • Human rights
  • Economic development
  • Emergency response planning
  • Dispute resolution and mediation

Taking It to the Net

As the School's mission grows ever more critical, our ability to reach a broader audience also grows more critical. Hence, the innovative move to the Internet. The School of Public Administration offered one of the first accredited, online MPA programs in the country. Now, students from across Nebraska and the United States have access to the school's nationally recognized faculty and coursework in public management and in aviation management.

Technology is not limited to the online program courses and degrees. Most faculty members in the School of Public Administration have incorporated technology into their courses. Students in the School of Public Administration are able to access most course materials and assignments via their course home page. The result is that students are able to better communicate with their instructors and classmates' course materials via the Internet. Students also have the opportunity to interact with nationally- and internationally-known guests over the Internet.

Faculty Strength

Supported by significant external funding, faculty members in the school are regarded as national and international scholars, with many receiving awards and recognition by scholarly and professional associations and societies. Two journals—Administrative Theory & Praxis and the Journal of Air Transportation are sponsored and housed in the School of Public Administration.

Degree Options

Major Partners

Community outreach activities are at the core of the School's identity. Recent funding has come from the U.S. Departments of Justice, Education, Health and Human Services, and Housing and Urban Development. The Aviation Institute receives funding to complete research and outreach projects through NASA Space Grant and EPSCoR, and has been recognized by NASA for its management and advocacy of space and research programs.

Students benefit from an extensive network of alumni and community partners. Your degree program can easily include an internship where you will gain real-world job experience and benefit from mentoring experience with professionals. Short-term job shadowing and mentoring opportunities are also available through the school's network of alumni.

Solid Accreditation

The Council on Aviation Accreditation accredits the Aviation Institute's undergraduate degree in aviation administration. The National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) has accredited the MPA program since 1980. The organization recognized the department as a "model P.A. program" and a "leader in distance education." The Ph.D program is small, and one of a few in the Great Plains.

For more information, please contact:

John Bartle, Ph.D.
Director and Professor
School of Public Administration
University of Nebraska at Omaha
6001 Dodge Street
Omaha NE 68182-2682
402.554.2625 or 800.858.8648 x2625 (Iowa or Nebraska only)
402.554.2682 (fax)
jbartle@mail.unomaha.edu

Click here to request information

 

last updated 5/15/2008 by Melanie Kiper