Public Administration, BS

The purpose of a public administration major is to prepare a student to understand public organizations and to utilize that knowledge to manage, plan, and administer public policy. The Public Administration major consists of six credits specific to The Peacock Professional Experience (“general education”), 15 credits of core courses, and 21 credits in an emphasis area for a total of 42 credits.

Students may select only one emphasis area with this major. Students may not double major in the area associated with the emphasis.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to describe/explain the roles and realities of public administration in society, as well as the context of public management and how it differs from private sector management.
Students will be able to explain the process and context of policy making at all levels of democratic government, as well as how policy and administrative process connect, and are able to identify common barriers to effective implementation.
Students will be able to select and use appropriate research methods and analytical tools for collecting and analyzing data, and use that data along with secondary research to inform decisions.
Students will be able to communicate effectively in writing/spoken format to a variety of audiences.
Students will be able to illustrate the value of diverse backgrounds and viewpoints in a democracy and can effectively incorporate citizen participation.

Specific Requirements in The Peacock Professional Experience

PS 100 - U.S. Government 3 Credit(s)
COMM 105 - Public Speaking 3 Credit(s)

Core Courses

PS 230 - State and Local Government 3 Credit(s)
PA 364 - Public Administration 3 Credit(s)
PA 430 - Cases in Public Administration 3 Credit(s)
SOC 334 - Introduction to Data Analysis in the Social Sciences 3 Credit(s)
PA 49801 - Senior Project 3 Credit(s)

Policy/Politics Emphasis

General Emphasis

Emergency Management Emphasis

Law Enforcement or Fire Science Emphasis:

The public administration core of 27 credits and emphasis of nine credits must be completed for a total of 36 semester credits.

These areas of emphasis are designed to build on relevant prior learning in law enforcement and fire science by adding management and social science perspectives to prepare a student to understand public organizations and to utilize that knowledge to manage, plan and administer public policy in the areas of police and fire science.

The public administration major with an emphasis in law enforcement or fire science is a unique program that is only available to those individuals who have completed related college courses, training in law enforcement or fire science, and/or who have extensive work experience in law enforcement or fire science. Eligibility for this emphasis is dependent upon documentation of completion of: an associate degree in a field related to law enforcement or fire science, a basic police recruit or fire science academy, or transfer or completion of 15 semester credits of related coursework. Eligibility may also be determined based on a combination of experiential learning and college credit. The minimum 15 semester credits of related credit count toward the 120 semester credits for degree completion as electives.

Law Enforcement or Fire Science Emphasis