A Public Service Education: A Review of Undergraduate Programs With a Community and Service Focus

Public service education has been a continued area of research, specifically at the graduate level. At the undergraduate level, programs have focused primarily on public administration and public policy education. However, a growing number of undergraduate programs today underscore service and community in addition to the more traditional areas centered on the policy process and management of public organizations. Undergraduate programs now offer bachelor degrees or a major in public service with program missions that are distinct from process and management. This paper reviews the current trends of undergraduate public service programs and outlines the program missions, requirements, and structure that emphasize service and community as their core values. The paper contributes to the exploration of undergraduate public affairs education and provides an early review of programs that prioritize service and community over other values.