New degree program prepares leaders

Looking to the future to provide students with the skills and education to lead and serve in society, University of Houston-Clear Lake announced the addition of the Bachelor of Science in Public Service Leadership to its degree roster. The program gained acceptance by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board earlier in the spring with classes for the program beginning this fall.

“The largest employer in the United States is the government,” says program coordinator and Lecturer in Public Service Leadership Vicki Chadwick. “What better career preparation than a generalist degree that will prepare students for a professional career in leadership and management in the public sector?

“UH-Clear Lake’s public service leadership degree provides students with a sound theoretical framework and an interdisciplinary orientation within a positive learning environment.”

Among the classes that students in the program will complete include Urban Sociology, Social Conflict and Mediation, Strategic Planning and Organizational Communication. Chadwick points out that many of the classes in the program are available online.

Graduates of the program will be prepared for careers in politics, government, law and the civil service arena. Specifically, Chadwick believes that graduates will fill such positions as teachers, administrators and directors in public service, fire fighters, emergency management professionals, budget analysts and urban planners as well as serve in multiple positions at the city, state, federal and global level.

“Students in public service leadership are the public officials of tomorrow,” explains Chadwick. “They aspire to make our communities, however large or small, better than before their arrival.

“They are committed to doing that while upholding the rule of law, stewarding public resources and treating everyone equally and with fairness.”

Chadwick adds that one of the most common questions asked refers to the difference between the public service leadership program and a public administration program. To that she offers several differences.

“Employers in the public sector state their biggest challenge today is to find qualified people with a solid work ethic and strong people skills. Often professionals sit around a board or conference table unable to collaborate, reach consensus or work through conflict mediation and resolution.

“The public service leadership degree offers a combination of leadership, management and strong people skills for multi-tier positions on the career ladder in government and non-profit positions in public service today.”

Associate Dean for the School of Human Sciences and Humanities Howard Eisner agrees.

“By adding this degree, we are educating our future community leaders and providing them with the basics on how to take our organizations to the next level of success.”

For more information about the Bachelor of Science in Public Service Leadership, visit http://hsh.uhcl.edu/programs and select public service leadership, call the Academic Advising Office, 281-283-3333, or call Chadwick, 409-256-7225.

Top of page

Usablenet Assistive is a UsableNet product. Usablenet Assistive Main Page.