Overview

The mission of the Department of Public Administration at Villanova University is to prepare undergraduate and graduate students for meaningful work in public service by providing them with the theoretical foundations and tools they need to become skilled, thoughtful, inclusive and ethical leaders in service to the common good. 

Courses expose students to an array of interdisciplinary approaches to the field, scholarly literature and practitioner trends, and place an emphasis on the development of critical thinking, professional writing and public speaking skills. Through coursework and departmental events, students gain first-hand knowledge of effective practices in the government and nonprofit sectors as well as experience in networking and professional development.

A distinguishing feature of the Public Administration undergraduate and graduate programs is the focus on ethical decision-making.  Undergraduate and graduate students are exposed to a range of effective practices in the field of public service as well as opportunities for networking and professional development.

Departments/programs/subject areas supported

Interdisciplinary with Political Science, Human Resoure Development, History, Theology, Theatre & Law

The Department of Public Administration is committed to preparing students to develop the skills they need to become ethical, creative, inclusive, and intelligent leaders in public service.  The Department offers courses and programs at both the undergraduate and Master's level, both on-campus and online.  

The Minor in Public Service and Administration is an interdisciplinary course of study, open to students from all Colleges, that prepares students to be responsibly engaged citizens and leaders in the field of public service.
Undergraduate students are exposed to a range of scholarly and practitioner viewpoints and encouraged to devise innovative and collaborative solutions in response to the challenging social, economic, political and cultural issues of our time. Students work in teams and independently in recommending actionable and data-driven responses that take into consideration insights from the public, private and nonprofit sectors.

Master of Public Administration (MPA) (online & on-campus)

Students may pursue a graduate certificate in conjunction with a Master of Public Administration (MPA) or as a standalone option. Certificate programs are offered in:

Graduate students pursuing a Master of Science in Human Resource Development or a Master in Public Administration at Villanova University through our partnership with Bisk (formerly known as University Alliance) are eligible for a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan through the William D. Ford Direct Loan Program. - https://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/enroll/finaid/process/ua_hrd.html

Resources Collected

NOTE: Electronic format is preferred for all Library holdings unless otherwise noted.

  • Scholarly monographs in electronic and print format
  • Subjects currently profiled to be considered for acquisition in conjunction with Political Science by the Library:
    Environmentalism. Green Movement (GE), Population Geography. Migration, urban population, rural population, (HB), Income and expenditure.  The budget., expenditure, public credit. Debts., Local finance (HJ), Community (HM), Terrorism (HV), General Legislative and Executive Papers (J), general political science (JA), political theory (JC), political institutions and public administration (JF), political institutions and public administration – North America (JJ), United States (JK), political Institutions and Public Administration.  Canada, Latin America, etc. (JL), political Institutions and Public Administration. Europe. (JN), Political institutions and public administration:  Asia.  Africa.  Australia (JQ), Local Government.  Municipal Government. (JS), Colonies and Colonialization (JV), International Relations (JZ), Law (General) (K) - Environmental, Military, Public Law, International Law, International Science Policy, Atomic Law, and Global Warming, Islamic Law (KBP), Law, England and Wales (KD), United States and Constitutional Law (KF), Latin America (General) (KG), South America (General) (KH), History of Law (KJ, KJE), Germany (KK), Asia (General) (KM), South Asia.  Southeast Asia.  East Asia –comparative law (KNC), Africa, History. Indigenous peoples (KQ), Australia (General) (KU), Law of Nations, Law of the Sea, Space Law (KZ, KZA, KZD), Oriental Languages and Literatures – Arabic (PJ), Military Science (U) - selected, Naval Science (V) – selected.
  • Academic Journals in electronic format (Peer reviewed preferred)

Resources and materials collected selectively or by request:

  • DVD’s, data sets, material in foreign languages

Resources not collected:

  • Textbooks
  • Law for professional support, not all essential case law, not specific states

Collaborations within the library

  • Business, Learning Commons

External collaborations