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Studies & Degrees in Local Government Administration

Local government administration is the part of public administration that deals with municipalities, cities, counties, districts and other authorities below the national level. These bodies run the services people use every day, such as water, waste collection, local roads, public transport, planning and housing, and social services. The subject teaches how such organisations are structured, financed and managed, and how they relate to citizens and to regional and national government.

Students combine public management with law, politics and economics. Typical courses cover public finance and budgeting, administrative and municipal law, human resource management, strategic planning, policy analysis and evaluation, urban and regional development, citizen participation and ethics in public service. Programmes differ in emphasis: the Public Administration diploma at Camosun College in Canada, for example, focuses on management skills rather than policy, with an emphasis on strategic planning, financial management, leadership, communication and negotiation.

Qualifications and levels

Few institutions offer a degree called local government administration. The subject is usually studied within public administration, public management or governance, at several levels:

  • Diplomas: the Public Administration diploma at Camosun College lasts 2 years, can be studied full time or part time and includes a co-op or internship option.
  • Bachelor's degrees: the University of Lusaka in Zambia lists a four-year Bachelor of Science in Public Administration, and the University of Colorado Denver a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration.
  • Master's degrees: the Master of Public Administration (MPA) is the standard professional degree; the University of Lusaka lists it with a duration of 24 months. At Bocconi University in Milan, the MSc in Economics and Management of Government and International Organizations lasts two years, is taught in English and has 120 credits (CFU). In Spain, the Máster en Políticas Sociales y Acción Comunitaria of the Escola de l'IGOP has 60 ECTS credits.
  • Short postgraduate courses: the University of Colorado Denver offers a Graduate Certificate in Local Government for people who want the specialisation without a full master's.

Where to study it

SpainExchange lists seven active schools for this subject, one in each of seven countries: Canada, Italy, Nigeria, Spain, the United States, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Local government is organised differently in every country, so the choice of where to study matters: a programme mainly prepares for the administrative system of its own country.

In Nigeria, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife has a Department of Local Government and Development Studies within its Faculty of Administration, next to a separate Department of Public Administration. According to the university, its programme in Local Government Studies started in 1984 as a training programme funded by the Federal Government of Nigeria. In Zimbabwe, the Faculty of Social Sciences of Midlands State University includes a Department of Governance and Public Management.

In North America, the School of Public Affairs of the University of Colorado Denver teaches public administration from bachelor's to doctoral level and states that its bachelor's and master's degree programmes are also available online. Camosun College in Victoria, British Columbia, accepts international students on its diploma, which starts in September, January or May.

In Europe, Bocconi University addresses government at every level, from local to global, in a master's that trains students in policy analysis and evaluation, strategy design and project management. In Barcelona, the Escola de l'IGOP of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona teaches its master's in Spanish in a blended format. It is an official degree awarded by the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, organised with the universities of Girona, Lleida and Vic, and its subjects include local government, the analysis and evaluation of public policies and the co-production of public services.

Careers

Graduates work for town and city councils, county, provincial and regional authorities, public agencies and utilities, and for the non-profit organisations and consultancies that work with them. Entry-level posts are in administration, budgeting, human resources, planning or community services. With experience, graduates can move into department management or the top appointed post of a local authority.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics classes mayors, city managers and county administrators as chief executives of governments, who usually oversee budgets, programmes and the use of resources. It notes that mayors must be elected to office, whereas managers and administrators are typically appointed. In many countries, permanent posts in local government are filled through public competitions or civil service exams, so applicants should check the entry rules of the country where they want to work.

Frequently asked questions

Is local government administration a separate degree?

Rarely. It is usually a specialisation within public administration or governance. Examples are the Graduate Certificate in Local Government at the University of Colorado Denver and the Department of Local Government and Development Studies at Obafemi Awolowo University.

How long does it take to study?

It depends on the level. The diploma at Camosun College lasts 2 years, the bachelor's in public administration at the University of Lusaka 4 years, and master's programmes between one year (60 ECTS credits at the Escola de l'IGOP) and two years (Bocconi University).

Can I use the qualification in another country?

The management skills transfer, but local government law and structures are national. Ask the school what recognition the qualification has, and check the public employment rules of the country where you plan to work.