Online Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Public Administration
Mount Vernon Nazarene University (MVNU) gears the online Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Public Administration toward busy working adults already pursuing a government or nonprofit career who aspire to a management or leadership role. The program is designed for students who have already completed some college-level courses and can be completed in just 21 months.
Ideal for individuals who have worked in public environment or first responder positions, the 100% online bachelor’s degree program encourages holistic personal development through an engaging, flexible curriculum that blends an ethical foundation with MVNU’s biblical worldview and expands upon the financial, political, and sociological sides of public policy.
Public Administration Degree Highlights
A degree in Public Administration, especially from a Christian university, can help you stand out. Our accelerated online courses can be completed anytime, anywhere.
Tuition & Cost
$398 per credit hour**
Program Length
21 months*
Total Credit Hours
43*
*Based on students beginning the program with 56 transferable credit hours and only needing the program-specific classes. Time to completion varies based on individual student circumstances and previous college experience.
**30 credit hours of the program must be completed at MVNU. Other restrictions apply. Please contact our Enrollment Team for additional information.
Public Administration Curriculum
POLI 3033
Public Policy
An introduction to public policy in the United States. An important part of the course will involve developing an understanding of how the policy process influences public policy. We will consider why some problems reach the public agenda, why some solutions are adopted and others rejected, and why some policies appear to succeed while others appear to fail. Primary focus is on policymaking at the national level, with some attention to the state and local levels, as well.
PUAD 3013
Political Theory and Practice
This course is designed to introduce students to great works of political thought. Students will study how many great political thinkers contributed to the enduring debate over the meaning of liberty, tolerance, equality, justice, and the goals of political life. This course is designed to promote and teach careful reading of source texts and critical thinking/writing about core political ideas. Reading and discussion selections will be from ancient and modern political thinkers, and conclude with a few key critics of modern political thought.
PUAD 3023
Public Service in Communities
Students will explore how to foster productive relationships with communities being served through building trust in the public sector, using datasmart governance, creating efficiencies, and saving taxpayer money with digital tools, as well as developing new approaches to government with innovative leadership.
Curriculum stats/highlights
Courses
|
Core Courses |
Credit Hours |
| Student Success Strategies | 1 |
| Spreadsheets for Leaders | 3 |
| Management and Leadership Techniques | 3 |
| Fundamentals of Accounting | 3 |
| Macroeconomics | 3 |
| Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| Leadership | 3 |
| Ethics and Law | 3 |
| Managing Human Resources | 3 |
| Applied Leadership Project | 3 |
| Introduction to Public Administration | 3 |
| Public Service in Communities | 3 |
| Political Theory and Practice | 3 |
| Public Policy | 3 |
| Total BA Core Hours | 40 |
How much will a Public Administration Degree cost?
Tuition
$15,787
Credit Hours
40
Financial Aid
Apply for scholarships, loans, grants, and tuition reimbursement.
Get the Facts
+11%
job growth for Urban and Regional Planners
+5%
Job growth for Political Scientists
+4%
Job growth for Budget Analysts
Careers in Public Administration
Public Administration professionals, including policy advisors, budget analysts, city managers, city planners, project managers, community service managers, and association executives, design and implement these features at local, state, and federal levels, or in nonprofit or public organizations.
Day-to-day responsibilities typically involve a mix of organizational, governance, human resources, finance, administrative, sociology, political theory, public relations, research, and marketing responsibilities. Management-level public administration professionals often work with top-ranking officials to propose, question, and analyze policies before they go into effect with the goal of improving public services and social programs.
- Urban City Planner
- Regional Director
- Political Scientist
- Budget Analyst
IS GOING BACK TO COLLEGE RIGHT FOR YOU?
“Should I go back to school?” It’s a big question, but it may be one worth asking. Going back to school as an adult can be one of the best decisions you make, but how can you be sure it is the right move for you right now? Weigh your options and determine if going back to college makes sense by answering these important questions.
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