Public Administration, B.A.

Program Coordinator: Thad Hicks, Ph.D., CEM, MEP

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The primary focus of the Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration program is to produce informed, knowledgeable, and well-rounded leaders who are equipped to plan projects, help organizations achieve their goals, exercise integrity, and exceed expectations in both government and non-profit sectors. It also encourages the holistic development of cognitive, social, and interpersonal skills—as well as values and ethics analysis—with the ultimate goal of preparing public administration professionals, including policy advisors, budget analysts, city managers and planners, project managers, community service managers, and association executives to work with top-ranking officials propose, question, and analyze policies designed to improve public services and social programs. The curriculum of the Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration program builds upon an ethical foundation grounded in a biblical worldview that allows students to explore the financial, political, and sociological aspects of public policy.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of the Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration program, students should be able to:

• demonstrate a foundation of knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to succeed in public administration or to enter into graduate school;
• demonstrate understanding of the legal and political framework under which the public administration operates, and embrace the opportunity to seek specific advocacy measures of public administration while examining major assumptions about public administration, in general;
• become critical thinkers who can articulate—in both oral and written form—a comprehensive knowledge of public issues, particularly from a Christian perspective and framework;
• articulate relevant and critical questions concerning public administration and its implementation, and meaningfully address such issues from a variety of perspectives;
• demonstrate comprehension of relevant theories, best practices, and structures, and practically apply such knowledge to contemporary public administration issues;
• understand the ethical implications of the work of public professionals, and prepare to act with honesty and integrity as leaders who will become agents of positive change in the public system.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants to the Public Administration program are selected on the basis of their academic background and professional experience. Admission requirements include the following:

• submission of official transcripts of all previous college or university courses completed to date;
• completion of at least 56 transferable credit hours from a regionally-accredited institution(s) of higher learning with a grade of C- or better for each course;
• an overall GPA of 2.00 or higher (on a 4.00 scale) for all previous college or university coursework completed to date (an applicant with a GPA less than 2.00 may apply for probationary admittance);
• completion of an online application and Registration Agreement Form.

Applicants from foreign countries and U.S. territories must also provide recent evidence of proficiency in English by: 1) scoring 80 or above on the Internet-based TOEFL with subscores in writing, reading, speaking and listening of at least 20; 2) scoring 550 or above on the written TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) with subscores in writing and reading of at least 50; or 3) scoring 6.0 or above on the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). All tests of English proficiency must have been taken in the last two years to be considered for acceptance.

College-level courses from regionally-accredited institutions will be evaluated for transfer credit; credit is granted only if applicable grades were obtained. Equivalence of course content and transfer credit is determined by the Program Coordinator.

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration program are also eligible to complete specializations that are offered as part of the Bachelor of Business Administration degree. Options include specializations in Finance, Human Resource Management, Management, and Marketing. 

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

The student must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours (with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00) including:

1. Successful completion of the GPS General Education Core (39 hours):
   • 15 credit hours in Arts and Humanities (Minimum of 3 credit hours in an English composition course with a research writing component; minimum of 3 credit hours in Bible/Theology)
   • 15 credit hours in Natural and Social Sciences, and Mathematics (Minimum of 3 credit hours in Mathematics; minimum of 3 credit hours in Social Science; and minimum of 3 credit hours in Natural Science with laboratory)
   • 9 credit hours in Liberal Arts electives
2. Completion of at least 30 credit hours of upper division course work (3000 level or higher);
3. Successful completion of the 40-credit hour Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration curriculum with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50. A student who receives a grade below "C-" in any course that is part of the 40-credit hour curriculum will be required to repeat that course until a grade of "C-" or better is earned. All repeated coursework to replace grades of D+, D, F, W, or X is at the student's expense.