Public Administration Major (B.S.)

https://cps.unh.edu/online/program/bs/public-administration

The Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration offers students depth and breadth in public administration, leadership, and public policy. The degree is designed to meet the educational needs of public administration professionals and includes an appropriate foundation for further graduate study for a Master’s in Public Administration or Master’s in Leadership. The outcomes-based program is built upon a foundation of essential public administration competencies that are integrated throughout the curriculum: public administration, leadership, public policy, ethics, strategic communication, human resource management, budgeting and finance, government relations, and community engagement.

Degree Requirements

Minimum Credit Requirement: 120 credits
Minimum Residency Requirement: 30 credits must be taken at UNH
Minimum Cumulative GPA: 2.0 is required for conferral*
Core Curriculum Required: General Education Program
Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*GPA: Major and any state certification GPA requirements may be higher and are indicated in program details.
 
A minimum grade of C- is required in all Major coursework. Some programs may have higher grade requirements for Major coursework as noted in the Major requirements section below. Students are allowed a maximum of two course overlaps. Overlaps can be used between Major, Minor, and General Education requirements with only 8 credits overlapped between the Major and Minor. Please note that Option requirements are considered part of the Major. Students must complete 16 upper-level credits in majors within the College of Professional Studies, Online.

General Education Program Requirements

A minimum grade of D- is required in all General Education coursework. Students are allowed a maximum of two course overlaps. Overlaps can be used between Major, Minor and General Education requirements with only 8 credits overlapped between the Major and Minor.

All General Education requirements, including CRIT 602 Advanced Critical Analysis and Strategic Thinking and IDIS 601 Interdisciplinary Seminar, must be taken prior to the capstone.

ENG 420The Writing Process4
COM 460Interpersonal Communication and Group Dynamics4
COM 480Visual Communication4
CRIT 501Introduction to Critical Inquiry4
Select one of the following:4
Math for Our World
Statistics
Pre-Calculus
Knowledge of Human Behavior & Social Systems4
Knowledge of the Physical & Natural World4
Knowledge of Human Thought & Expression4
CRIT 602Advanced Critical Analysis and Strategic Thinking4
IDIS 601Interdisciplinary Seminar4
Total Credits40

Writing Program Requirements

All bachelor's degree candidates are required to complete four writing intensive courses as part of the University Writing Program Requirements as follows:

The Writing Process
One Writing Intensive course in the Major
One Writing Intensive course at the 600-level or above
One Additional Writing Intensive Course

Writing Intensive courses are identified with the label "Writing Intensive Course" in the "Attributes" section of the course description and/or a W following the course number.

Major Requirements

Prior to capstone enrollment, students are expected to complete the majority of their required major courses along with CRIT 602 Advanced Critical Analysis and Strategic Thinking and IDIS 601 Interdisciplinary Seminar. Students should consult with their advisor regarding specific major courses that may be completed with their capstone. Academic Advisor approval is required for registration to be processed.

Major in Public Administration
Foundation Courses
APST 405Career Development and Planning2
CMPL 402Excel2
DAT 510Introduction to Data Analytics4
HUMN 480Introduction to Ethics4
PADM 500Introduction to Public Administration4
Intermediate Courses
MTH 504Statistics4
HRM 580Change Management4
PADM 600Public Policy Development and Implementation4
PADM 645Public Sector Budget and Finance4
PADM 670Human Resources in the Public Sector4
Advanced Courses
APST 705Grant Writing4
or MGMT 706 Fundraising and Resource Development
LD 600Becoming an Effective Leader4
or LD 660 Leadership Theory
LD 725Volunteer Leadership4
or COM 665 Media and Strategic Communication
Integrative Capstone
MGMT 795Integrative Capstone: Industry-Based Internship4
or MGMT 797 Integrative Capstone: Industry-Based Project
Total Credits52

Electives

Open electives are courses students will need to take in addition to their general education and major requirements in order to satisfy the remaining credit totals for their programs. Open electives are defined as any credit course offered by the College not already included in the student's general education, major, option or minor. Students will need 120 credits total to graduate with a bachelor's degree from the Online Division of the College of Professional Studies.

This degree plan is a sample and does not reflect the impact of transfer credit or current course offerings. UNH CPS Online undergraduate students should develop individual academic plans with their academic advisor during their first year at UNH.

Sample Course Sequence

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
APST 405 Career Development and Planning 2
CMPL 402 Excel 2
ENG 420 The Writing Process 4
PADM 500 Introduction to Public Administration 4
General Education Course 4
 Credits16
Spring
COM 460 Interpersonal Communication and Group Dynamics 4
CRIT 501 Introduction to Critical Inquiry 4
HUMN 480 Introduction to Ethics 4
MTH 402
Math for Our World
or Statistics
or Pre-Calculus
4
 Credits16
Second Year
Fall
COM 480 Visual Communication 4
HRM 580 Change Management 4
MTH 504 Statistics 4
General Education Course 4
 Credits16
Spring
DAT 510 Introduction to Data Analytics 4
LD 600
Becoming an Effective Leader
or Leadership Theory
4
General Education Course 4
Elective 4
 Credits16
Third Year
Fall
CRIT 602 Advanced Critical Analysis and Strategic Thinking 4
PADM 600 Public Policy Development and Implementation 4
COM 665
Media and Strategic Communication
or Volunteer Leadership
4
Elective 4
 Credits16
Spring
PADM 645 Public Sector Budget and Finance 4
PADM 670 Human Resources in the Public Sector 4
Elective 4
Elective 4
 Credits16
Fourth Year
Fall
APST 705
Grant Writing
or Fundraising and Resource Development
4
IDIS 601 Interdisciplinary Seminar 4
Elective 4
Elective 4
 Credits16
Spring
MGMT 797
Integrative Capstone: Industry-Based Project
or Integrative Capstone: Industry-Based Internship
4
Elective 4
 Credits8
 Total Credits120
  • Develop the ability to lead and manage in the public interest.
  • Participate in, and contribute to, the policy process.
  • Analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems, and make evidence-informed decisions in a complex and dynamic environment.
  • Articulate, apply, and advance a public service perspective.
  • Communicate and interact productively and in culturally responsive ways with a diverse and changing workforce and society at large.