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Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Administration
120 Semester Units, 1940.5-2000.5 Clock Hours

The Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Administration is a comprehensive 36-month program designed to prepare students for successful executive careers in fields including not only local, state, and federal government, but also private sector employment such as non-profits, corporations, healthcare, and community service. Graduates will have experienced a robust general education component and will have amassed a broad understanding of public policy issues, best practices and approaches in the field of public administration, applying critical thinking, reasoning, communication, and computer skills throughout the duration of the program. The program emphasizes advanced topics in public administration including personnel administration, labor relations, risk management, ethics and diversity, economics, finance, strategic planning, policy analysis, community relations, and urban planning and development. Graduates are expected to have successfully developed the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities to be effective in addressing the myriad of challenges facing the modern public administrator.

The objectives of the BS in Public Administration include:

  • Summarization of public administration arenas and governmental responses to societal needs

  • Discussion and debate of current public administration issues, procedures, and strategies

  • Development and application of management and leadership skills

  • Identifying and understanding the need for interagency cooperation and information sharing to prevent tragedies

  • Comprehensive investigation of the formulation, adoption, implementation, and evaluation of public policy and programs

  • Application of problem-solving skills to concepts of planning, implementing, and evaluating public programs

  • Discussion and debate of current trends with focus on urban development issues and strategies

  • Summarization of personnel administration principles and practices

  • Introduction to and examination of the history, structure, current trends, and future of public administration and non-profit agencies

  • Comparing and contrasting the structures, governance systems, and inter-relations of public agencies

  • Exploration of fundamental public administration, organizational behavior, and social theories
    Review and investigation of public administrative laws, policies, practices, and procedures

  • Enhancement and application of public finance skills
    Development and application of grant management skills

  • Demonstration of understanding of basic public finance principles

  • Application and enhancement and application critical thinking and analytical skills

  • Increase and enhancement of intellectual knowledge and personal growth

  • Fostering tolerance and understanding in diversity and issues of global concern

  • Foster development of team building and student collaboration skills

  • Increase effectiveness in communication and interpersonal relations

  • Fostering of student ability to become well-rounded citizens as persons, professionals, and community members through provision of a broad-based array of general education courses

  • Development, application, and enhancement of information technology skills

The field of public administration is changing very fast, providing tremendous career opportunities for entry-level positions. The Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Administration will prepare students for successful careers in local, state, and federal government, healthcare, non-profit, and corporate sectors. Graduates may assume roles as administrators, managers, and leaders in such areas as human resource/personnel, finance and budget analysts, policy analysts, corporate training, city managers, city planners, program coordinators, and consultants.

See the following matrix for program course listing:

Course No. Units Course Title

GE 100 3.0 Personal Health, Fitness, and Well-Being
GE 201 3.0 Mathematics
GE 205 3.0 Introduction to Sociology
GE 218 3.0 College English
GE 219 3.0 American Culture, Government and Politics
GE 220 3.0 Public Speaking
GE 223 3.0 Diversity, Culture, and Ethics
GE 230 3.0 Critical Thinking
GE 231 3.0 Introduction to Ecology
GE 231a 0.5 Ecology Lab
GE 307 3.0 Introduction to Economics
GE 400 3.0 Science, Technology, and Society
GE 410 3.0 Mass Media and Society
BC 116a 2.5 Introduction to Computers & Computer Applications
PA 200 3.0 Personnel Administration in the Public Sector I
PA 201 3.0 Introduction to Public Administration
PA 208 3.0 Administrative Law
PA 210 3.0 Governments & Intergovernmental Relations
PA 230 3.0 Communication Skills for the Administrator
PA 237 3.0 Financial Planning and Management in the Public Sector
PA 250 3.0 Understanding Public Policy
PA 260 3.0 Organizational Behavior & Leadership
PA 270* 3.0 Internship in Public Administration I
PA 271* 3.0 Seminar in Public Administration I
PA 280 3.0 Urban Economics
PA 302 3.0 Planning and Development in the Urban Sector
PA 304 3.0 Ethics and Professional Responsibility in Public Service
PA 310 3.0 Language Diversity Strategies in Public Service
PA 333 3.0 Liability, & Risk Management Strategies
PA 350 3.0 Project Management
PA 365 3.0 Trends in Public Service
PA 380 3.0 Community & Public Relations
PA 400 3.0 Personnel Administration in the Public Sector II
PA 410 3.0 Public Policy Analysis & Program Evaluation
PA 430 3.0 Public Finance & Grant Administration
PA 440 3.0 Statistics & Research Methods in Social Sciences
PA 444 3.0 Capstone Venture in Public Administration
PA 445 3.0 Case Studies in Public Administration
PA 454 3.0 Strategic Planning and Managing Change
PA 460 3.0 Exploration of Public and Non-Profit Organizations
PA 470* 3.0 Internship in Public Administration II
PA 471* 3.0 Seminar in Public Administration II
CJ 420 3.0 Crisis Management & Emergency Preparedness

*Students must elect either PA 270 or 271 and either PA 470 or PA 471 to meet graduation requirements.