10 Top Double Majors With a Public Administration Degree

Public administration degrees prepare students to make an impact locally through planning policy and helping enact measures to provide for members of their communities.

Beyond community organizing efforts, a public administration degree can prepare graduates for a variety of careers involving organization and setting policies, both in the public and private sectors.

Public Administration Double Majors

Although public administration is a valid degree, for more specialized work it might be a good idea to pursue a double major program to include more concentrated education.

Political Science

One of the best double majors for public administration is political science. Public administration graduates often work in or with various stages of government to craft and enact policy. With a political science double major, graduates will have a deeper understanding of how government structures work and the processes that go into writing policy.

Sociology

Whether a public administrator works in the public or private sectors, they will be working with and on behalf of people. Sociology is a field of study that focuses on the societal factors that influence people and their actions. With a better understanding of how people interact and work together, organizing, writing, and implementing public policy will be easier. Especially when working with social justice initiatives, having a deeper understanding of demographics and the societal pressures that people face is invaluable.

Social Work

Like sociology, social work has a focus on the people who will be affected by the decisions of public administrators. Unlike sociology, social work has a narrower target of individuals and families compared to large demographics. When trying to enact change in a community, it's important to understand the group structures, but it's also a valuable skill to be able to reach out and communicate with people on an individual level.

Public Health

Public policy decisions, especially in a post-pandemic world, are often centered around public health. Learning more about the factors that can impact health provides a good background for people looking to work with governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to establish new policies to keep communities safe. Public health is different from healthcare since it is more about education to promote health as opposed to administering direct healthcare.

Economics

Governments and NGOs all exist within the same economy and crafting public policy needs to reflect that. Economics is broken into two main studies: micro and macroeconomics. These two systems look at regional and global economic systems and how they can impact people of different communities. This double major will prepare graduates to look outside of their direct location to see how monetary connections around the world can impact different communities.

Finance

Like economics, finance gives public administrators a deeper understanding of measuring past monetary performance. For people working in public administration, there are plenty of budget-related tasks that need to be understood, especially with fundraising and grants. Knowing how to analyze past financial performance and use that information for future planning is a valuable skill.

Accounting

Day-to-day bookkeeping is required for nearly any business or organization, and this is especially true for small governments and organizations that work with them. Knowing how to track money is important for a variety of professions, but especially one that must deal with properly tracking funds to maintain nonprofit status. Therefore, double majoring in accounting is a great idea for public admin majors.

Healthcare Management

Healthcare management provides graduates with the skills needed to run the administration team of a hospital or other medical facility. For public administrators who work with medical organizations and policy, having an educational background in healthcare management will give additional skills that a public administration degree won't cover.

Human Resources Management

A degree in human resources management provides a variety of skills regarding managing people and creating a beneficial work environment for workers in multiple industries. Public administrators can benefit from HR skills when it comes to coordinating the people working in governmental offices or nonprofit teams.

Business Administration

Although many public administrators work in the public sector, some work in private sector roles. Additionally, the skills taught in a business administration degree program about running an effective organization can be applied to profit and non-profit organizations. Ultimately a public administrator can use the skills of running a business in any policy application that they work with.

What Is a Double Major?

A double major is a degree program that results in a single degree, with two areas of study given equal priority. Many students choose a major and a minor in their degree, with the minor having fewer credit hours and courses. A double major treats both degrees as if they are equal. In some cases, the classes from the alternate major are used to satisfy the elective requirements of the other degree.

Most double-major programs take the same amount of time to complete as a single major, even if individual credit loads are increased.

Double Major vs. Dual Degree

One common alternative to a double major is a dual degree program. Unlike a double major, a dual degree results in two unique degrees. These degrees can come from different colleges of study within a university and can also be at different degree levels, such as a master's and a bachelor's degree.

Because these degrees are different programs, scheduling conflicts and differing degree levels can lead to a longer time in college which can increase expenses and delay starting your career.

FAQs About Double Majoring With Public Administration

Double majoring in public administration and another field of study often raises questions. Before starting any degree plan, make sure you find answers to your questions about the field of study and how you'll achieve your educational goals.

Can You Double Major With Public Administration?

Yes, you can double major with a public administration degree. Many public administration graduates will want to expand their knowledge with a double major to prepare them for more detailed projects or to have a wider skill set that they can bring to their organization.

Is a Double Major With Public Administration Worth It?

Double majoring is worth it because of the expanded career opportunities that come from an increased skill set. Although it isn't required to work in public administration, a double major can put you ahead of some other applicants.

What Are the Benefits of Double Majoring With Public Administration?

The main benefits of a double major in public administration are the expanded knowledge base and skill set that comes from additional coursework. This increase in knowledge and skills can lead to promotions, career advancement, and higher pay.

Will a Double Major With Public Administration Improve My Career Outlook?

It can improve your career outlook to have a double major. Employers see a double major as a reflection of hard work and dedication, but it also indicates a broader knowledge set that can be beneficial.