One of the great challenges facing mankind is to develop attitudes and techniques which permit people to live together happily and safely. As man invents more devices of communication, transportation and warfare and at the same time rapidly increases his numbers and concentrates them in larger and larger cities, the problems become more and more complex. The result is that the problems facing government at all levels, international, national, state and local, grow more challenging. Trained personnel of good moral character and high motivation are needed to meet these challenges. To train such personnel the Institute of Government Service has been organized at Brigham Young University.

The Institute of Government Service offers graduate training in public administration in three major areas: (1) International Affairs, (2) National Administration, and (3) State and Local Administration. Studies in the institute lead to the Master of Arts or Master of Science degree depending on the nature of the course work taken. The type of training given in the institute is inter-departmental in nature and attempts to widen the student’s knowledge and perspective so that he will be qualified to make decisions in areas where complicated and contradictory forces are at work. Courses are taken in a number of departments and are arranged to augment the student’s undergraduate training and to give him additional classes in areas in which he may have had little or no previous work.

To be admitted a student must possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university and meet the requirements of Brigham Young University for admission to graduate study. Students may be admitted from a variety of backgrounds. Those who have majored or minored in political science, economics, history, psychology, sociology, business, geography, languages, or engineering will generally possess good training. Entering students are required to have adequate preparation in such fields as national history, national government, and basic economics. If the student lacks such background, he is required to take lower division courses which will not be counted toward the master’s degree. Applications for admission should be addressed to the dean of the Graduate School at Brigham Young University.

Although the program of the Institute of Government Service is only three years old, its graduates have already been placed in a wide range of positions. Some have entered upon further study leading to the Ph.D. degree. Others have entered the foreign service, others the national government service, and others have chosen to work with state or local governments. A surprising number have entered business where their knowledge of government has been valuable in international trade, government contracting, governmental and business relations and personnel. Another group has found employment as teachers in junior colleges and high schools.

At the present time approximately 75 students are enrolled in the master’s degree program and consideration is being given to the further expansion of the number of options offered within the institute.

Stewart L. Grow

BYU Studies Publications