Bachelor of Science (BS) in Public Administration

Overview

The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Public Administration, a 100% online program, is designed to help you meet the national need for knowledgeable public administrators who can assist state and local governments in balancing budgets, enacting effective laws, and accomplishing long-range goals. For those already employed, it provides an opportunity to improve administrative skills and enhance career prospects and mobility.

The public administration curriculum is comprehensive, covering public sector institutions, the central functional areas of modern administration, and a range of valuable and relevant analytical skills. It is designed to produce managers with an understanding of modern organizations, a sensitivity to political realities, a grasp of management methods, and a knowledge of the analytical tools needed to illuminate substantive issues.

We have created our bachelor’s in government with an area of specialization in public administration with you in mind. You'll gain an understanding of the development and administration of legal policies affecting local and state government; how to lead sustainable organizations and adapt to social change; and how faith-based values can help inform ethical decision-making in a professional work environment.

You'll also learn to recognize and make connections between government roles and faith-based values to help inform ethical decisions in a professional work environment. You will gain the strong foundational knowledge and skills needed to be a leader among public administrators. Our goal is to support you as both a student and a professional.

Course Format

100% Online

Per credit hour $250

Transfer Credits Up to 90

Credit Hours120

What will I study?

Public service administration majors will learn:

• The various functions of public service organizations
• Professional writing and public speaking
• How to lead and contribute positively to teams
• A respect for the common good
• Personal and professional ethics in public service

What type of job can I get?

• Financial administration
• Legislative
• Project management
• Directing social services
• Elected office
• Leadership and management roles in government and nonprofit organizations
• Community organizer
• Legislature
• Executive Branch agencies
• Community and nonprofit organizations
• Urban planning
• Health care administration
• Court administration
• Policy Analyst
• Grant Writer
• Program Coordinator
• Public Administration Officer
• Community Outreach Coordinator
• City Manager

Our grads get great jobs at places like...

• State and federal government
• Nonprofit agencies
• Small businesses
• City and county offices
• International organizations
• Manager in a Regulatory Agency
• Local Airport Manager
• Public Affairs Officer
• Analyst for a Legislative Committee
• Political offices
• State agencies
• School districts
• Town Manager
• Assistant City Manager or City Manager
• County Administrator
• Municipal or State Budget/Finance Officer
• Municipal or State Treasurer
• Commissioner of Public Safety
• Executive Administrative Assistant
• Auditor
• Program Review Officer
• School Finance and Administration Officer
• Officials in not-for-profit organizations
• Court Administrator
• University Administrative Services Director
• Equal Opportunity Administrator
• Human Resource Administrator

Student Learning Outcomes:

Students who complete the public administration baccalaureate degree should be able to:

• Demonstrate the overall perspective and the repertoire of knowledge, skills and abilities needed to acquire positions appropriate for baccalaureate graduates in modern administrative environments
• Understand basic survey research concepts and procedures, and use that knowledge to conduct simple surveys, and to read and understand survey research results Communicate effectively in writing
• Demonstrate sound reasoning in the analysis of administrative issues
• Understand widely used statistical concepts, and use that knowledge to read and understand statistical reports
• Understand basic accounting concepts and procedures, and use that knowledge to read basic accounting documents
• Understand the basic concepts of public program evaluation, and use that knowledge to read and understand program review documents
• Understand basic concepts and procedures of public budgeting and financial administration, and use that knowledge to understand budgets and financial documents
• Understand American public sector institutions at the national, state and local level, and use that knowledge to contextualize administrative issues and processes
• Understand basic concepts of cost-benefit analysis, and use that knowledge to read and understand cost-benefit analyses
• Understand basic human resource issues, and use that knowledge to contextualize administrative issues and processes (and stay out of trouble)
• Understand the basic content of administrative law, and use that knowledge to contextualize administrative issues and processes (and stay out of trouble)

Courses

Check out our robust and relevant public admin bachelor’s curriculum

To graduate from the online degree in public administration program, you must complete a total of 120 credit hours, including general education courses and elective courses. Additional required elective credit hours are selected with an advisor as needed to meet university graduation requirements.

Elective

Choose three (3) courses from the elective

ECON 101 Elementary Microeconomics Credit: 3.00

ECON102 Principles of Microeconomics Credit: 3.00

HRM 102 Introduction to HR Management Credit: 3.00

HRM 103 Introduction to Individual Behavior Credit: 3.00

HRM 104 Principles of Social Behavior & Group Dynamics Credit: 3.00

ICT 102 End User Computing Credit: 3.00

MKT 103 Introduction to Marketing Credit: 3.00

MGT 107 Responsible and Sustainable Management Principles Credit: 3.00

ENT 117 Introduction to Entrepreneurship Credit: 3.00

POL 111 Public Opinion and Electoral Behavior Credit: 3.00

OMG 171 Introduction to Operations Management Credit: 3.00

POL 112 Political Parties and Campaigns Credit: 3.00

POL 147 Political Psychology Credit: 3.00

POL 148 Interest Groups, Lobbying, and the Political Process Credit: 3.00

POL 152 Issues in Government and Politics Credit: 3.00

Choose two (2) courses from the elective

POL 345 American Federalism Credit: 3.00

PAD 268 Public Management Credit: 3.00

PAD 288 Substantive Policy Credit: 3.00

MGT 245 Principles of Management Credit: 3.00

MGT 291 Organizational Behavior & Theory Credit: 3.00

FIN 467 Nonprofit Financial Planning Credit: 3.00

GOVT 267 Governance in Space Credit: 3.00

TPL 312 Urban Planning Credit: 3.00

POL 346 Contemporary American Federalism Credit: 3.00

Choose two (2) courses from the elective

POL 320 Political Psychology Credit: 3.00

PAD 330 Responsible Innovation Credit: 3.00

PAD 498 Research Seminar in Political Science Credit: 3.00

PAD 384 Legislative Behavior Credit: 3.00

POL 321 American Security Policy Credit: 3.00

PAD 378 International Security Credit: 3.00

PAD 234 Responsible Innovation Credit: 3.00

PAD 456 Nonprofit Sector in Society Credit: 3.00

POL 322 The American Presidency Credit: 3.00

POL 345 Political Economy of Africa Credit: 3.00

POL 168 The World of Political Ideas Credit: 3.00

POL 190 American Political Thought Credit: 3.00

PAD 415 International Conflict Resolution Credit: 3.00

PAD 354 Revolutions & Social Movements Credit: 3.00

LAW 101 Constitutional Law Credit: 3.00

PAD 456 Civil Liberties Credit: 3.00

POL 312 Comparative Political Systems and Behaviors Credit: 3.00

PAD 478 Legal Issues in Social and Behavioral Studies Credit: 3.00

HMR 234 Human Resource Management Credit: 3.00

HRM 235 Leading Sustainable Organizations Credit: 3.00

ACCT 109 Fund Accounting and Budget Management Credit: 3.00

ACCT 110 Funding and Grant Writing Credit: 3.00

LDR 107 Strategic Leadership in Public Service Organizations Credit: 3.00

Minimum Credits Needed to Graduate – 120

Total credits needed at IIU will vary depending on credits transferred from other institutions and/or earned via credit for prior learning.

Admissions

Find out what you need to get into the public administration bachelor’s program

Apply to the online Bachelor of Public Administration program quickly and easily with our streamlined admission process. Review the admission requirements below and take the next step toward your professional goals.

To be eligible to earn your Bachelor of Public Administration online from IARSAC International University, you must:

• Submit a completed application and all supporting documents—including official transcripts from your high school and any postsecondary institutions attended—to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions by the stated document deadline
• Pay the nonrefundable application fee of $70 ($80 for international*)
• Be eligible to re-enter all colleges and/or universities previously attended

Freshmen

Freshmen must do the following to qualify for admission to IARSAC International University:

• Receive a diploma from an accredited high school

Transfer Students

Transfer students must meet these requirements:

• Be at least one full semester out of high school and eligible to return to all postsecondary institutions previously attended
• 14 or fewer credit hours: minimum 2.0 GPA in all transferable course work plus meet freshman admission standards
• 15-29 credit hours: minimum 2.5 GPA in all transferable course work
• 30 or more credit hours: minimum 2.25 GPA in all transferable course work