Undergraduate Minors

Minor in Public Administration

The minor in public administration provides students with the skills and knowledge necessary for success and advancement in public and nonprofit organizations. Useful for a wide variety of majors, the minor can open the door to exciting careers in public service.

Students minoring in public administration are required to complete the following 21 credits:

• PA 270: Public Administration
• PA 307: Local Politics and Administration
  or PLS 203: State Politics
• PA 360: Volunteerism and the Nonprofit Sector
• PA 375: Public Budgeting and Finance Administration
• PA 376: Public Personnel Policy and Administration
• PA 420: Organization Theory and Dynamics
• PA 495: Public Policy (Capstone)

Minor in Nonprofit Administration

What do neighborhood associations, local development corporations, children and youth groups, religious organizations, museums, advocacy and support groups, chambers of commerce, and community clinics have in common? They are all nonprofit organizations that carry out important public service missions in health, recreation, culture, education, religion, or philanthropy. Thousands of large and small nonprofit organizations in Michigan employ people to work in program and event planning, grant writing, fundraising, public relations, program evaluation, and marketing.

The minor in nonprofit management provides students with knowledge and skills useful in understanding and participating in the work of the nonprofit sector. The minor in nonprofit administration consists of 21 credits. The required courses are:

• PA 270 - Public Administration
• PA 335 - Grant Writing
• PA 360 - Volunteerism and the Nonprofit Sector
• PA 420 - Organization Theory
• PA 490 - Internship

Two courses can be selected from the following:

• PA 311 - Public Sector Information Technology
• PA 376 - Public Personnel Policy and Administration
• PA 491 - Internship II
• PA 439 - Community Analysis
• MGT 355 - The Diversified Work Force
• MKT 350 - Marketing Management
• SS 390 - Leadership Dynamics
• SW 453 - Case Management

Minor in Planning

The professional field of planning is a dynamic and growing discipline that is concerned with improving the quality of community living by developing community plans, programs, and projects that make cities and towns more livable. Professional planners create a better living environment by planning, designing, and ultimately building better cities, towns, and urban regions. This process is undertaken with the assistance of public, private, and community organizations.

A minor in city and regional planning provides career opportunities in public, private, and nonprofit organizations, including such agencies as city planning offices, state and county transportation bureaus, United Way agencies, park and recreation organizations, neighborhood associations, Federal offices, private architecture and planning establishments, utility companies, and many other types of organizations.

Students who minor in planning are required to complete the following courses for 26 credits):

• GPY 307 Introduction to Computer Mapping/Geographic Information Systems
• GPY 309 Introduction to City and Regional Planning
• GPY 310 Land Use Planning
• GPY 407 Advanced GIS
• GPY 410 Landscape Analysis
• PA 307 Local Politics and Administration
• PA 439 Community Analysis
• SS 324 Urbanization