Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration Degree

What is public administration?

Public administrators play a major role in contributing to society and the decision-making processes that occur in the public and nonprofit sectors. Public administrators put leadership, critical thinking and project management skills to work in ways that impact the communities and organizations they serve on a daily basis. With a public adminstration degree, you will be well on your way to a rewarding career.

A public administration professional’s duties might include:

• Studying political systems and operations
• Planning regional and urban community growth
• Making policy at all levels of government
• Analyzing or changing performance at a non-profit organization

What jobs can I get with a public administration degree? 

Public administration professionals use their skills in a variety of settings, including government, political science, non-profit leadership, medical and health services management and human resources.

Is a public administration degree right for me?

KU’s undergraduate public administration degree program provides students with the knowledge and skills needed for planning, implementing and evaluating public programs. As students learn to think critically and analytically about public policy, they will better understand the dynamics in their own communities and learn how to be more effective citizens and public officials.

How is the bachelor's in public administration program structured?

KU’s bachelor's in public administration degree program consists of 27 credit hours, including three core PUAD courses and six elective PUAD courses, all junior/senior-level courses (300-level and above). This is in addition to the university’s bachelor’s degree requirements (minimum of 120 total hours, 45 hours at the junior/senior level).

Why start a public administration degree program at KU?

• Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration program details