Public service refers to activities and jobs that are organized in a way that benefits the people of a particular community or society. This can include utilities, education, health care and public transportation that are backed by the local, state or federal government. Public service can also mean those jobs that are not based on making a profit, such as police officers and fire fighters.
It is true that popular appreciation of and respect for government service has declined over the last 50 years, and that the U.S. public sector has grown significantly smaller as a proportion of the overall population than it has in most other advanced countries. However, the government still does a lot of important work.
In fact, a recent Pew Research Center survey found that most Americans think the federal government does a good job responding to natural disasters, setting standards for workplace safety, managing food and medicine safety, protecting citizens from terrorism, and keeping their records secure. Moreover, many federal employees are living from pay check to pay check and live in the same communities as the rest of the country.
If you want to make positive mission-focused contributions to the country, the world and your fellow citizens, consider a career in public service. In addition to your academic credentials, most graduate programs in public service are looking for students who care deeply about the issues they focus on, such as equity, sustainability, justice, reliable research or child development.