Professionalism in Public Administration: Problems, Perspectives, and the Role of ASPA.

Since the founding of the earliest graduate programs in public administration in the early 1920s, a debate has periodically erupted over whether public administration is or is not capable of becoming a "profession." At different times this debate has focused on various facets of the field resulting in systematic and thorough analyses and critiques of public administration theory, education, training, practice, and ethics. Although this exercise has served to enlighten, the answer to the issue, whether or not public administration can be professionalized, remains uncertain. Yet, despite this uncertainty, the field, through its primary "professional" association, the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) and other activities, continues to compile the various accouterments associated with most professions; namely, "professional" schools, an accrediting organization, occupational associations, journals, professional honors and awards, even professional standards and ethics.