The BYU-Hawaii School of Business, using courses from its own curriculum and other departments, recently started a new public management minor that is open to all students.
"We're very excited about the launch of the new public management minor," said Dr. Clayton Hubner, Dean of the School of Business. "This provides an opportunity for BYU-Hawaii students to add a minor to their course of study that will enable them to improve their job prospects upon graduation
Hubner explained the new initiative, which has been under development for several years, has value "in improving the marketability of all of our students who are interested in working for governmental organizations or NGOs [non-governmental organizations] in their home countries."
"They should really be excited about this. Not only does the minor have an impact on their career prospects, but the subject matter covered within the minor is really interesting. Dr. Brian Houghton was hired specifically this school year to help start this minor. I think this reflects the commitment of the university's leadership to enhance the learning experience and marketability of our students. If you look at the very small number of faculty FTEs [full-time employee positions] that have been approved, adding one to support public management is very significant."
Houghton, an expert on policy analysis who did counter-terrorism work for the government for the past 15 years, described the discipline — which is also called public administration — as "the fusion between business management and the running of governments. It gives students a better understanding of what's going on in government, teaches them how to make decisions and analyze policies, and how to work with and manage people."
He explained the minor requires six classes for 18 credit hours. "A lot of the classes fall within political science and business, plus a few from other parts of the university. I think the ideal candidate for this program is someone who wants to make a difference — someone who wants to tackle problems that effect a lot of people or have a large government role."
He also noted the new minor has three core courses — one each in the fields of political science, public management and public policy. "Then we tell them to take three other electives — one from an analytic or quantitative group, another from a list of management classes, and the remaining one from courses on how governments are run."
"No more than six credit hours in the minor can be used toward a student's major," he continued, adding while some social science majors might logically gravitate to the public management program, any major is welcome.
"For example, this is absolutely valid for our international students. When they go back home they could get a job within government where they would make a difference. The whole idea is returnability, whether you're returning to Provo or Pakistan. What we talk about in the classes is pertinent to local, regional and national governments, regardless of what country you're from. The principles are the same."
Hubner pointed out that even "a business major who adds a public management minor only enhances his or her entrée to that particular segment. The training they've received in business disciplines becomes sharpened and more targeted toward government and NGOs by adding this particular minor."
"I'm a firm believer in minors," Houghton said. "They help students to get out and learn new disciplines that give them a more well rounded education."
"We're one of the few universities in the United States to offer a minor in public management. More and more schools are offering this as a graduate program. For example, BYU in Provo discontinued their minor in public management...and is pushing interested students into the graduate-level degree. We're trying to provide students at the undergraduate level some of the same knowledge and skills that they might get at a graduate level."
Houghton added the BYU-Hawaii minor might also help our students who are interested in pursuing graduate-level studies in the discipline.
"I was thrilled with the opportunity to come here. I left a career working with the government in the very interesting topic of counter-terrorism, because I firmly believe in the essence of returnability. I am so impressed with the students here and the mission of the university. This minor will help them not just return home, but return home and be able to get a career. That is really what sold me to come here."
Students interested in the public management minor should contact their academic advisor.
(Photos by Mike Foley)