BA in Public Administration
The Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration prepares students to become effective and ethical leaders in government, nonprofit, and community organizations. The program provides a strong foundation in management, financial management and budgeting, innovation and decision-making, and public service motivation, equipping graduates with the skills needed to navigate complex organizational environments and to serve the public interest.
Students gain a comprehensive understanding of how public organizations function and how resources are managed responsibly. Training in financial management and public budgeting ensures that graduates can analyze revenues and expenditures, evaluate programs, and design strategies for fiscal accountability. Courses in management and organizational leadership develop competencies in supervising teams, managing change, and aligning operations with democratic values and institutional goals. The curriculum also emphasizes innovation and decision-making, teaching students to apply data-driven analysis, creative problem-solving, and strategic planning to address real-world challenges. Finally, a distinctive feature of the program is its focus on public service motivation, cultivating ethical awareness and a commitment to advancing equity, accountability, and community well-being.
Experiential learning is embedded throughout the program. Students complete internships or applied capstones with local governments, nonprofits, or agencies, allowing them to put classroom learning into practice. Elective pathways-such as nonprofit leadership, urban administration, or emergency management-offer opportunities for specialization.
Graduates are prepared for careers as program managers, budget and policy analysts, community engagement coordinators, nonprofit leaders, and administrative professionals across the public and nonprofit sectors. They also gain the foundation needed for advanced study in public administration, law, or related fields.
Graduates of the BA in PA will be able to:
- Management & Leadership
- Apply organizational theory and public management practices.
- Lead and motivate teams while managing change and fostering innovation.
- Financial Management & Budgeting
- Interpret and analyze public budgets and financial reports.
- Develop and manage budgets that ensure accountability and align with policy priorities.
- Innovation & Decision-Making
- Use data and evidence to inform administrative and policy decisions.
- Design and evaluate innovative solutions to public sector challenges.
- Public Service Motivation & Ethics
- Demonstrate commitment to equity, transparency, and accountability.
- Recognize and resolve ethical dilemmas in public service.
- Communication & Professional Skills
- Communicate clearly with diverse stakeholders in written, oral, and digital formats.
- Collaborate effectively across organizational and community contexts.
Marketable Skills
- Management and Leadership -Ability to supervise teams, coordinate projects, manage organizational change, and motivate employees in diverse workplace settings.
- Financial Management and Budgeting- Proficiency in preparing, analyzing, and managing budgets; ensuring fiscal accountability; and aligning resources with policy priorities and organizational goals.
- Decision-Making and Problem-Solving -Capacity to evaluate evidence, use data to guide policy and administrative choices, and develop innovative solutions to complex public sector challenges.
- Policy and Program Analysis - Skills in evaluating the effectiveness of public programs, assessing community needs, and applying evidence-based methods to improve outcomes.
- Ethics and Public Service Motivation - Commitment to equity, transparency, accountability, and professional integrity in serving the public interest.
- Communication -Strong written, oral, and digital communication skills for working with diverse stakeholders, presenting policy recommendations, and preparing reports.
Degree Plan
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Designated Core | ||
| Required: | ||
| MATH 1320 | Math for Social Sciences I | 3 |
| ECON 2304 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| Required Core | ||
| Required: | ||
| PAD 3355 | ||
| PAD 3356 | ||
| PAD 4353 | ||
| PAD 4354 | ||
| PAD 4355 | ||
| POLS 3350 | Intro to Public Administration | 3 |
| POLS 3300 | Research in Political Science | 3 |
| COMM 3323 | Comm & Org Leadership | 3 |
| Variable Core | ||
| Choose four (12 SCH Total) | ||
| POLS 3351 | The Public Policy Process | 3 |
| POLS 3353 | State and Local Administration | 3 |
| POLS 3354 | Internship | 3 |
| POLS 4356 | Non-Profit Organizations | 3 |
| POLS 4357 | ||
| POLS 4358 | Special Topics in Public Admin | 3 |
| POLS 4359 | Urban Planning | 3 |
| Select a Minor | ||
| Open Electives | ||
| Select additional hours to complete a total of 120 hours | ||
Degree Plan
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | ||
| RWS 1301 | Rhetoric & Composition I | 3 |
| HIST 1301 | History of U.S. to 1865 | 3 |
| MATH 1320 | Math for Social Sciences I (Designated Core) | 3 |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (non-Econ) | 3 | |
| UNIV 1301 | Seminar/Critical Inquiry | 3 |
| Semester 2 | ||
| RWS 1302 | Rhetoric & Composition 2 | 3 |
| HIST 1302 | History of U.S. Since 1865 | 3 |
| ECON 2304 | Principles of Microeconomics (Designated Core) | 3 |
| Creative Arts Core | 3 | |
| Language, Philosophy & Culture (core) | 3 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
| POLS 2310 | Introduction to Politics | 3 |
| Life and Physical Sciences | 3 | |
| COMM 1301 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| Minor or Elective course | 3 | |
| Elective (free or minor) | 3 | |
| Semester 4 | ||
| POLS 2311 | American Gover & Politics | 3 |
| Life & Physical Sciences | 3 | |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Elective (free or minor) | 3 | |
| Semester 5 | ||
| PAD 3356 | 3 | |
| PAD 3355 | 3 | |
| POLS 3350 | Intro to Public Administration | 3 |
| Course for Minor | 3 | |
| Elective (free or minor) | 3 | |
| Semester 6 | ||
| PAD 4353 | 3 | |
| PAD 4354 | 3 | |
| POLS 3300 | Research in Political Science | 3 |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Semester 7 | ||
| PAD 4355 | 3 | |
| COMM 3323 | Comm & Org Leadership | 3 |
| POLS 4356 | Non-Profit Organizations | 3 |
| POLS 3351 | The Public Policy Process | 3 |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Semester 8 | ||
| POLS 4359 | Urban Planning | 3 |
| Minor Course | 3 | |
| Elective (free) | 3 | |
| Elective (free) | 3 | |
| Elective (free) | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |