Develop a broad understanding of the public administration and policy analysis fields. Writing in the American Journal of Public Administration, authors David Lowery and Gordon Whitaker noted that public administration emphasizes management and leadership in government. Think of a public administration program as the public sector equivalent of a master's in business administration. Policy analysis, meanwhile, focuses on economics and the analysis of government policy rather than management. The websites of the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration and the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management provide general overviews of the respective approaches to government policy and management.
Study goals and objectives of graduate programs in the public administration and policy analysis approaches at two or more universities. The NASPAA and APPAM websites provide listings of university programs that are accredited by the two associations.
Examine course requirements for public administration and policy analysis programs for differences and similarities. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, public administration programs include coursework in management, public administration principles, human resource management, public sector budgeting, administrative law, financial management and legislative-executive relations. Policy analysis programs develop strong research and analysis skills through courses in economics, statistics and research design, data analysis methods, policy and program evaluation, and specific policy areas, such as health care, development and education.
Note the extent of overlap between course requirements. Many programs in public administration and policy analysis recognize that effective public administrators can benefit from a basic understanding of policy analysis and that knowledge of government administration principles fosters more informed policy analysts. Both programs may include coursework in public policy processes, program evaluation, economics, government relations and the political environment in which policy is crafted.
Consider whether the programs you have examined emphasize analysis or management and leadership, the areas into which most courses in policy analysis and public administration fall. Policy analysis programs focus on analysis, but may include some issues of management and leadership. Public administration stresses leadership and management, but may include instruction in analysis issues.