Undergraduate Public Affairs Education: Building the Next Generation of Public and Nonprofit Administrators

Public affairs and nonprofit program administrators and directors interested in (or tasked with) implementing undergraduate programs require a resource where they can find information for recruiting and retaining the next wave of public and nonprofit workers. While similar to graduate public affairs programs, undergraduate programs may differ in curriculum design, recruitment targets, learning outcomes, and community engagement opportunities. Universities may have different motivations in creating an undergraduate program, from a need to generate additional resources, a clearer pathway to master’s education, or offering complete degrees in themselves that prepare students for employment in the public or nonprofit sector. This book is the first of its kind to offer concrete, experienced guidance, tips, and general best practices in public affairs and nonprofit undergraduate education from those who have "been there", with chapters written by current and former program administrators and directors. Exploring the variety of programs that are offered in public and nonprofit affairs/administration, the different degree components and specializations, types of experiential learning, different assessment and outcome practices, the value of accelerated degree programs, the current place of accreditation, and the appropriate resources available for program directors and administrators, this book will be of interest to faculty and advanced graduate students that will be teaching/developing curruicula in public and nonprofit degree programs that have undergraduate students.