Public Admin Bachelor's Degree Program Details
Public Administration Bachelor's Degree overview.
Tuition and fees
To apply
Applications Priority deadlines:
Spring: November 1
Summer: May 1
Fall: February 1
Comprehensive KU course catalog
KU grading and grades
KU School of Public Affairs & Administration
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of General Studies in Public Administration
Admissions criteria
The admissions requirements for the B.A./B.G.S. in Public Administration requires admission to the University of Kansas.
• Apply online.
• Submit an official transcript from each college you have attended.
• Read more about university transfer student admission requirements.
Curriculum and requirements
A degree in public administration requires the completion of:
· 27 credit hours, including three core PUAD courses and six major elective courses, all
junior-/senior-level courses (300-level and above at KU)
Core Courses (9 hours)
Course | Credit Hr. | KU Code |
Introduction to Public Administration
| 3 3 | PUAD 330/ PUAD 331 |
Quantitative Methods for Public Administration | 3 | PUAD 332 |
Hard Choices in Public Administration | 3 | PUAD 333 |
Elective Options
Students choose 18 credit hours total
Course | Credit Hr. | KU Code |
Bureaucracy, Public Administration, and the Private Sector | 3 | PUAD 431 |
Conducting the People's Business Ethically | 3 | PUAD 432 |
Metropolitics and Macroproblems | 3 | PUAD 433 |
Generating, Allocating and Managing Public Resources | 3 | PUAD 435 |
Managing People in Public Organizations | 3 | PUAD 436 |
Administration of Justice | 3 | PUAD 401 |
Diversity in Public Administration | 3 | PUAD 402 |
Foundations of the Nonprofit Sector | 3 | PUAD 403 |
Resource Development and Management in Nonprofit Organizations | 3 | PUAD 404 |
Managing Nonprofit Relationships | 3 | PUAD 405 |
Nonprofit Accountability: Public Needs and Public Values | 3 | PUAD 406 |
Introduction to Project Management | 3 | PUAD 407 |
Collaboration in Public Administration | 3 | PUAD 408 |
Concepts of Civil Society | 3 | PUAD 439 |
Public Service Leadership | 3 | PUAD 441 |
Internship in Public Service | 3 | SPAA 691 |
Research Experience in Public Administration | 3 | SPAA 692 |
Directed Readings | 3 | SPAA 693 |
Topics in Public Administration | 3 | PUAD 494 |
| Introduction to Law & Society | 3 | LWS 330 |
| The Pursuit of Rights: Law, Democracy & Power | 3 | LWS 333 |
| Sustainability and Society | 3 | UBPL 200 |
| Planning the Sustainable City | 3 | UBPL 300 |
Additionally, students must complete the university’s bachelor's degree requirements, including:
· Minimum of 120 total hours
· 45 hours at the junior-/senior-level (300-level and above)
· 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, completion of two courses of collegiate-level writing instruction, a science or field lab, and BA Quantitative Reasoning requirement. The Bachelor of General Studies requires the completion of a secondary area of study/approved minor with at least 18 credit hours, as well as completion of an approved career preparation course.
More information on each course is available in the course catalog.
The KU Edwards Campus also offers a minor in public administration. Visit our minors page to learn more.
Contact the academic success coach for more information.