Public Administration

The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Public Administration program is designed to meet the needs of employees of government and non-profit agencies and those desiring employment or advancement within these agencies. The program covers the history, present, and future of public administration. Courses include topics on public policy, finance, human resources, organizational behavior, and government.

Details

Field of Interest
Business, Entrepreneurialism and Management
Degree Type
Associate in Applied Science (AAS)
Academic Plan
Public Administration (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
3692
Total credits required
62-70
Catalog Year
2024-2025
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Notes

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.

What You'll Learn
  • Apply current technology to specific business tasks.
  • Explain how public policy is developed and implemented.
  • Compare and contrast careers in public service.
  • Explain organizational behavior in the public sector.
  • Explain the policies, rules, regulations, and ethics of public finance.
  • Explain the laws, procedures, and practices of human resources in the public sector.
  • Apply knowledge of the United States political history, process and practices to inform professional decision-making in the public sector.
  • Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with diverse audiences.

Successful completion of this degree may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based wages* for this degree. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.

Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants

$64,310

First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers

$59,190

Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive

$40,150

Social and Community Service Managers

$69,700

There are additional career opportunities associated with this degree that do not have occupational data available for Arizona at this time. These occupations are listed below:

  • Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other

* Career and wage information provided by Pipeline AZ using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources. Sources

Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:

  • Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Degree Progress Report Tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
  • The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
  • Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
  • Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.
  • Consult with your faculty mentor or academic advisor to determine educational requirements, including possible university transfer options, for your chosen career field.

Full-time Sequence

Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3
CIS114DE Excel Spreadsheet 3
PAD100 21st Century Public Policy and Service Critical course Gateway course 3
PAD170 Public Sector Organizational Behavior 3
RE Restricted Elective 3
FYE101 or
FYE103		 Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Strategies for College Success 1–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3
MA Mathematics Any approved general education course from the Mathematics area. 3-6

Recommended for transfer to a bachelor’s program:
+ MAT140 College Mathematics (5) OR
+ MAT141 College Mathematics (4) OR
+ MAT142 College Mathematics (3) OR
MAT145 College Mathematics with Review (5) OR
MAT146 College Mathematics with Review (6) OR
Higher level course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area (3-6) 3-6

 		3–6
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment L 0–3
PAD107 Public Finance Administration 3
PAD122 Public Sector Human Resources Management 3
POS110 American National Government SB 3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
RE Restricted Elective 3
COM100 or
COM230		 Introduction to Human Communication or Small Group Communication SB or SB 3
SG or
SQ		 Natural Sciences General or Natural Sciences Quantitative SG or SQ 4
SB Social & Behavioral Sciences SB 3
RE Restricted Elective 3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
RE Restricted Elective 3
HU Humanities, Fine Arts & Design HU 3
RE Restricted Elective 3
RE Restricted Elective 3
RE Restricted Elective 3

Restricted Electives

Students must choose twenty-one (21) industry/job specific elective credits from the list of Restricted Electives below and have them approved by the Department Chair. A student may choose no more than nine (9) credits within a discipline

A list of additional, alternative, or supplemental courses for this pathway map
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ACC111 Accounting Principles I 3
ACC112 or
ACC230		 Accounting Principles II or Uses of Accounting Information I 3
ACC212 or
ACC240		 Managerial Accounting or Uses of Accounting Information II 3
ECN211 Macroeconomic Principles SB 3
ECN212 Microeconomic Principles SB 3
GBS151 Introduction to Business 3
GBS205 Legal, Ethical, and Regulatory Issues in Business 3
GBS233 Business Communication L 3
MGT175 Business Organization and Management 3
MGT229 Management and Leadership I SB 3
POS221 Arizona Constitution 1
PSY101 Introduction to Psychology SB 3
SOC101 Introduction to Sociology SB 3
SOC212 Gender and Society C, SB 3
CIS+++++ Any CIS Computer Information Systems course(s) 1–9
HCC+++++ Any HCC Health Core Curriculum course(s) 1–9
HCR+++++ Any HCR Health Care Related course(s) 1–9
LET+++++ Any LET Law Enforcement Technology course(s) 1–9
PAD+++++ Any PAD Public Administration course(s) 1–9

Part-time Sequence

Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3
PAD100 21st Century Public Policy and Service Critical course Gateway course 3
FYE101 or
FYE103		 Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success 1–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CIS114DE Excel Spreadsheet 3
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment L 0–3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
PAD107 Public Finance Administration 3
PAD122 Public Sector Human Resources Management 3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
MA Mathematics Any approved general education course from the Mathematics area. 3-6

Recommended for transfer to a bachelor’s program:
+ MAT140 College Mathematics (5) OR
+ MAT141 College Mathematics (4) OR
+ MAT142 College Mathematics (3) OR
MAT145 College Mathematics with Review (5) OR
MAT146 College Mathematics with Review (6) OR
Higher level course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area (3-6) 3-6

 		3–6
PAD170 Public Sector Organizational Behavior 3

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
POS110 American National Government SB 3
COM100 or
COM230		 Introduction to Human Communication or Small Group Communication SB or SB 3

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
SB Social & Behavioral Sciences SB 3
RE Restricted Elective 3

Term 7

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
RE Restricted Elective 3
RE Restricted Elective 3

Term 8

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 8
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
HU Humanities, Fine Arts & Design HU 3
RE Restricted Elective 3

Term 9

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 9
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
RE Restricted Elective 3
RE Restricted Elective 3

Term 10

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 10
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
SG or
SQ		 Natural Sciences General or Natural Sciences Quantitative SG or SQ 4
RE Restricted Elective 3

Restricted Electives

Students must choose twenty-one (21) industry/job specific elective credits from the list of Restricted Electives below and have them approved by the Department Chair. A student may choose no more than nine (9) credits within a discipline

A list of additional, alternative, or supplemental courses for this pathway map
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ACC111 Accounting Principles I 3
ACC112 or
ACC230		 Accounting Principles II or Uses of Accounting Information I 3
ACC212 or
ACC240		 Managerial Accounting or Uses of Accounting Information II 3
ECN211 Macroeconomic Principles SB 3
ECN212 Microeconomic Principles SB 3
GBS151 Introduction to Business 3
GBS205 Legal, Ethical, and Regulatory Issues in Business 3
GBS233 Business Communication L 3
MGT175 Business Organization and Management 3
MGT229 Management and Leadership I SB 3
POS221 Arizona Constitution 1
PSY101 Introduction to Psychology SB 3
SOC101 Introduction to Sociology SB 3
SOC212 Gender and Society C, SB 3
CIS+++++ Any CIS Computer Information Systems course(s) 1–9
HCC+++++ Any HCC Health Core Curriculum course(s) 1–9
HCR+++++ Any HCR Health Care Related course(s) 1–9
LET+++++ Any LET Law Enforcement Technology course(s) 1–9
PAD+++++ Any PAD Public Administration course(s) 1–9
Course Area Key

Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.

Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.

  • C = Cultural Diversity in the US
  • FYC = First Year Composition
  • HU = Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design
  • L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
  • SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
  • SG = Natural Sciences General
  • SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative
Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.

Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.

View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm13?id=175942).

At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.

Previous Catalog Years

The pathway map presented above is for the current catalog year and is the intended pathway map for new students. All previous catalog years for this pathway map are available at the link below.

Previous catalog years for Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Public Administration