The public administration program is designed to provide graduates with the necessary knowledge and skills for planning, implementing and evaluating public programs. This knowledge will help organizations be more effectively prepared to deal with local and global diversity. As students learn to think critically and analytically about public policy they will better understand the dynamics in their own communities and how to be more effective citizens and public officials.

Graduates of the programs will be able to work in settings such as local and state government, nonprofit organizations and private sector businesses.

The program is designed for students who have earned an associate's degree or equivalent hours and are looking to complete the final two years necessary for a bachelor's degree.

The Curriculum
The public administration degree consists of 27 credit hours (9 courses) in junior/senior-level PUAD courses:

Core courses: Three courses (9 credit hours)
PUAD 330 Introduction to Public Administration
PUAD 332 Quantitative Methods for Public Administration
PUAD 333 Hard Choices in Public Administration
Elective courses in PUAD: 6 courses (18 credit hours)

View PUAD elective courses and course descriptions

In addition to the courses in the major, students need to complete the university's requirements for a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of General Studies. These bachelor degree requirements include a minimum of 124 total hours, including 45 hours at the junior/senior level and completion of the general education requirements in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
                                                   
The Bachelor of Arts requires proficiency in one foreign language through the fourth level. The Bachelor of General Studies requires completion of a junior/senior concentration or approved minor.