• Note: For certain locations, program enrollment is onsite with online instruction.

  • Bachelor of Science in Public Administration and Policy

    Government and the public sector have increasingly become major players in nearly every facet of society. Gaining the knowledge of and skills in government process, policy, procedure, and the law could be essential for success in a wide variety of jobs.* The Bachelor of Science in Public Administration and Policy focuses on the study of organization, structure, and processes of government through an interdisciplinary lens, and is designed to help students develop an understanding of the issues and challenges confronting society locally, nationally, and globally.

    Bachelor of Science in Public Administration and Policy Program Highlights

    Kaplan University’s Bachelor of Science in Public Administration and Policy offers students an opportunity to gain knowledge and understanding of the processes of policy development and implementation through direct government action as well as public and private interaction. The online degree curriculum focuses on:

    • Structure and processes of the government
    • Economics of public administration
    • Evolution of law and policy
    • Tools used to implement policy
    • Processes by which public policy is formulated and implemented
    • Goals of public policy
    • Methods and tools used to evaluate and design policy

    What are the Career Opportunities?

    The Bachelor of Science in Public Administration and Policy could give degree holders the opportunity to pursue careers that support public service agencies including: coordinator of government relations, contract administrator, legislative assistant, research and policy associate, program administrator, court or government clerk, political party staffer, or manager of volunteer services.*

    Fast Track to Your Degree

    Eligible students in this bachelor's degree program who want to continue on to pursue one of the master's degrees listed below may be interested in the accelerated master's degree option. Students complete graduate-level courses within this undergraduate plan of study. Once accepted to the master’s degree program, students transfer in the graduate courses and matriculate into a shortened degree plan. This accelerated option allows students to complete both their bachelor's degree and master's degree in less time and at a lower cost than completing both programs separately. Accelerated options are offered for the following programs. Qualification for accelerated options is subject to eligibility requirements. 

    Advanced Start Option

    If you already have an associate's degree from another accredited institution, our advanced start program may help you earn a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration and Policy in as little as two years.†

  • Kaplan University offers multiple start dates, giving you greater flexibility with your education, life, and work schedules.

    Jun 05

    Online Start Date
    Jun 05, 2013

    Jul 03

    Online Start Date
    Jul 03, 2013

    Jul 31

    Online Start Date
    Jul 31, 2013

    View the Academic Calendar

  • Curriculum: Standard Track

    Core

    100/200 LEVEL: COMMUNICATION COURSE (5  Credits)

    Total Core Credits: 33
    Total Program Credits: 180

    100/200 LEVEL: MATHEMATICS COURSE (5 Credits)

    Total Core Credits: 33
    Total Program Credits: 180

    200 LEVEL: COMMUNICATION COURSE (5 Credits)

    Total Core Credits: 33
    Total Program Credits: 180

    300/400 LEVEL: ARTS AND HUMANITIES COURSE (6 Credits)

    Total Core Credits: 33
    Total Program Credits: 180

    300/400 LEVEL: PHYSICAL SCIENCE COURSE (6 Credits)

    Total Core Credits: 33
    Total Program Credits: 180

    300/400 LEVEL: SOCIAL SCIENCE COURSE (6 Credits)

    Total Core Credits: 33
    Total Program Credits: 180

    Major

    LS 100: EIGHT SKILLS OF THE EFFECTIVE LEGAL STUDIES STUDENT (5 Credits)

    This course is an important component of the new student experience in the School of Legal Studies' legal studies program at Kaplan University. It is designed to ensure legal studies students' successful social and academic transition into and pursuit of academic excellence within the Kaplan University community and provide a foundation for success within the profession. Students will be introduced to eight key skills (reading, writing, research, planning, thinking, organizing, interviewing, and communicating) through dynamic and engaging interactions and presentations by practicing professionals. "Real-life" examples and interactions with practicing professionals will provide students with a sense of the culture and nuances of the field. The goal of this course is for students to become academically, personally, and socially successful within and beyond this intellectual community.

    Total Major Credits: 93
    Total Program Credits: 180

    BU 204: MACROECONOMICS (5 Credits)

    This course includes analysis and study of macroeconomic theory, principles, and practice. Students examine topics such as national income determination, monetary and fiscal policy, and global economics.

    Prerequisites Required:

    BU 224

    Total Major Credits: 93
    Total Program Credits: 180

    MM 207: STATISTICS (5 Credits)

    This course serves as an introduction to collecting, organizing and summarizing, and analyzing data using statistical software. Topics include basic terminology, measurement, sampling procedures, graphical and numerical descriptions of data, basic probability, and making inferences from a sample to the population. Statistical software is provided in the course and extensive use of that software is required. The course focuses on “thinking with” statistics rather than “computing” statistics.

    Total Major Credits: 93
    Total Program Credits: 180

    PP 101: INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (5 Credits)

    This course examines the history of public administration and the basic issues that confront it, including administrative responsibility and ethics, and the formulation and implementation of public policy. The course examines, from a multidisciplinary perspective, those essential competencies, values, and issues important to public service organizations and the importance of public policy at the local, state, and national levels.

    Total Major Credits: 93
    Total Program Credits: 180

    PP 105: INTRODUCTION TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (5 Credits)

    This course will introduce students to the institutional structures and processes of state and local government within the context of the American federal system. Students will study the operational and administrative aspects including design and structure, governing laws, administrative organization, political systems, and intergovernmental relations.

    Prerequisites Required:

    Total Major Credits: 93
    Total Program Credits: 180

    PP 110: ETHICS AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (5 Credits)

    This course will introduce students to the basic concepts, principles, and theories of ethics and demonstrate the role that these might play in the formation of public policy. The course will also survey various social issues, explore current policies that deal with them, and subject these policies to an ethics analysis. The overall aim of the course is to assist students in developing their critical thinking skills and to persuasively argue their position on the ethics of individual public policy programs.

    Prerequisites Required:

    Total Major Credits: 93
    Total Program Credits: 180

    PP 201: INTRODUCTION TO POLICY MAKING (5 Credits)

    This course will focus on legislative policy making and all the components that dictate whether a particular proposal becomes law. Students will examine how the elected official's desires, both political and otherwise, interact with the goals of colleagues, special interest groups, staff members, the media, and the legislative process to create legislation.

    Prerequisites Required:

    Total Major Credits: 93
    Total Program Credits: 180

    PP 205: INTRODUCTION TO ADMINISTRATIVE LAW (5 Credits)

    Administrative law is the body of law that defines and describes the behavior of agencies. Students will study the legal relationship of government agencies to the legislatures, the courts, and private parties. This course is designed through the public policy lens and will probe into the legislative, legal, and political aspects of regulating in the public interest.

    Total Major Credits: 93
    Total Program Credits: 180

    PP 220: SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP (5 Credits)

    This course is intended to enable participants to understand, evaluate, and reflect on leadership as well as develop their own leadership skills through experiential exercises. It will examine the nature and varieties of leadership by elected and appointed officials in government, officials and volunteers in nonprofit organizations, leaders of political movements, and community groups.

    Total Major Credits: 93
    Total Program Credits: 180

    LS 305: CONSTITUTIONAL LAW (6 Credits)

    This course provides students with a view of constitutional law's historical development of legal principles as well as the philosophical foundations of American legal principles. Significant trends in constitutional law as well as current issues in development of law and the balance between bureaucracy and democracy in a free society are presented.

    Prerequisites Required:

    PA 101 or LS 102

    Total Major Credits: 93
    Total Program Credits: 180

    PP 301: PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS (6 Credits)

    This course explores the evaluation and assessment of public policy. Students will examine the interaction of policy and politics, explore why some policies are enacted and others are not, and examine factors that influence the administration of policy once it is enacted.

    Prerequisites Required:

    Total Major Credits: 93
    Total Program Credits: 180

    PP 310: FINANCE AND BUDGETING IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR (6 Credits)

    This course examines the public budgetary process and related financial management techniques. It reviews the rationale for government intervention in the marketplace and rationale for sources of public revenue. The course will equip students with the knowledge, vocabulary, skills, and practical tools needed to participate skillfully and ethically in public finance decision making, and to assume a leadership role in guiding dialogue about resource acquisition and allocation choices.

    Total Major Credits: 93
    Total Program Credits: 180

    PP 410: THE OVERSIGHT AND ADMINISTRATION OF PUBLIC FUNDS (6 Credits)

    This course focuses on financial administration, oversight, budgetary procedures, and controls for funds received from public sources. Areas of public funds oversight include control and monitoring systems, cash management, capital projects management, debt administration, disbursement, funds management, and auditing.

    Prerequisites Required:

    Total Major Credits: 93
    Total Program Credits: 180

    PP 420: PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS (6 Credits)

    Public-private partnerships provide a unique way for the government and private developers to work together to create sustainable and profitable urban infill developments. This course explores the structure of private and public sector partnerships and their unique interrelationship in support of government and municipal projects.

    Total Major Credits: 93
    Total Program Credits: 180

    PP 430: PLANNING FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT (6 Credits)

    This course explores the context, theory, process, and practice of economic development planning and policy. Topics covered include: differing theories and conceptual explanations of the economic development process; international, national, and regional factors affecting economic development; contrasting economic development approaches and methods; and the impact of international agencies and initiatives on economic outcomes.

    Total Major Credits: 93
    Total Program Credits: 180

    PP 499: BACHELOR'S CAPSTONE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND POLICY (6 Credits)

    This capstone course is the culminating experience for the Bachelor of Science in Public Administration and Policy. This course builds on the concepts of all the courses students have taken within the program of study. The capstone course provides students with the opportunity to integrate and synthesize the knowledge and skills required throughout their coursework in an original comprehensive project, and to assess their level of mastery of the stated outcomes of their degree program. Students will conduct an approved research project under the supervision of a program chair or full-time faculty member in the school.

    Prerequisites Required: Last term

    Total Major Credits: 93
    Total Program Credits: 180

    PP 460: GRANT WRITING (6 Credits)

    This course covers the essentials of writing to acquire grants for private, public, or government use. Students will learn how to interpret the RFP, shape proposal concepts, and create needs statements, goals, objectives, strategies, and program budgets. Topics include writing, researching, and obtaining and maintaining operations and strategies within the grant system.

    Prerequisites Required:

    PP 450: PROGRAM EVALUATION (6 Credits)

    Students will study the methods and techniques used to assess effectiveness and monitor the performance of programs. Specific attention is given to theories, research, and practice related to program evaluation. The skills learned in this course will assist the practitioner in determining the effectiveness of new or existing programs in public organizations.

    Total Major Credits: 93
    Total Program Credits: 180

    Electives

    100/200 LEVEL: OPEN ELECTIVES (30 Credits)

    Total Electives Credits: 54
    Total Program Credits: 180

    Eligible students who choose to complete the accelerated master's degree option will take four graduate-level courses in addition to selected undergraduate electives.

    300/400 LEVEL: OPEN ELECTIVES (24 Credits)

    Total Electives Credits: 54
    Total Program Credits: 180

    Eligible students who choose to complete the accelerated master's degree option will take four graduate-level courses in addition to selected undergraduate electives.

    Prior Degree

    Total Prior Degree Credits (90 Credits)

    Total Prior Degree Credits: 90
    Total Program Credits: 96

    *Comparability is determined by a course-by-course examination of the prior associate's or bachelor's degree against the core requirements of a Kaplan University associate’s degree.

    Prerequisites

    200 LEVEL: COMMUNICATION COURSE (5 Credits)

    Total Prerequisites Credits: 15
    Total Program Credits: 96

    Advanced Start students need to satisfy the prerequisite requirements for MM 207: Statistics. Students who do not possess prior learning credit comparable to the required prerequisite courses will need to complete courses beyond the minimum degree requirements.

    PP 101: INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (5 Credits)

    This course examines the history of public administration and the basic issues that confront it, including administrative responsibility and ethics, and the formulation and implementation of public policy. The course examines, from a multidisciplinary perspective, those essential competencies, values, and issues important to public service organizations and the importance of public policy at the local, state, and national levels.

    Total Prerequisites Credits: 15
    Total Program Credits: 96

    Advanced Start students need to satisfy the prerequisite requirements for MM 207: Statistics. Students who do not possess prior learning credit comparable to the required prerequisite courses will need to complete courses beyond the minimum degree requirements.

    MM 207: STATISTICS (5 Credits)

    This course serves as an introduction to collecting, organizing and summarizing, and analyzing data using statistical software. Topics include basic terminology, measurement, sampling procedures, graphical and numerical descriptions of data, basic probability, and making inferences from a sample to the population. Statistical software is provided in the course and extensive use of that software is required. The course focuses on “thinking with” statistics rather than “computing” statistics.

    Total Prerequisites Credits: 15
    Total Program Credits: 96

    Advanced Start students need to satisfy the prerequisite requirements for MM 207: Statistics. Students who do not possess prior learning credit comparable to the required prerequisite courses will need to complete courses beyond the minimum degree requirements.

    Bachelor's Core

    300/400 LEVEL: ARTS AND HUMANITIES COURSE (6 Credits)

    Total Bachelor's Core Credits: 18
    Total Program Credits: 96

    300/400 LEVEL: PHYSICAL SCIENCE COURSE (6 Credits)

    Total Bachelor's Core Credits: 18
    Total Program Credits: 96

    300/400 LEVEL: SOCIAL SCIENCE COURSE (6 Credits)

    Total Bachelor's Core Credits: 18
    Total Program Credits: 96

    Major

    LS 305: CONSTITUTIONAL LAW (6 Credits)

    This course provides students with a view of constitutional law's historical development of legal principles as well as the philosophical foundations of American legal principles. Significant trends in constitutional law as well as current issues in development of law and the balance between bureaucracy and democracy in a free society are presented.

    Prerequisites Required:

    PA 101 or LS 102

    Total Major Credits: 54
    Total Program Credits: 96

    PP 301: PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS (6 Credits)

    This course explores the evaluation and assessment of public policy. Students will examine the interaction of policy and politics, explore why some policies are enacted and others are not, and examine factors that influence the administration of policy once it is enacted.

    Prerequisites Required:

    Total Major Credits: 54
    Total Program Credits: 96

    PP 310: FINANCE AND BUDGETING IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR (6 Credits)

    This course examines the public budgetary process and related financial management techniques. It reviews the rationale for government intervention in the marketplace and rationale for sources of public revenue. The course will equip students with the knowledge, vocabulary, skills, and practical tools needed to participate skillfully and ethically in public finance decision making, and to assume a leadership role in guiding dialogue about resource acquisition and allocation choices.

    Total Major Credits: 54
    Total Program Credits: 96

    PP 410: THE OVERSIGHT AND ADMINISTRATION OF PUBLIC FUNDS (6 Credits)

    This course focuses on financial administration, oversight, budgetary procedures, and controls for funds received from public sources. Areas of public funds oversight include control and monitoring systems, cash management, capital projects management, debt administration, disbursement, funds management, and auditing.

    Prerequisites Required:

    Total Major Credits: 54
    Total Program Credits: 96

    PP 420: PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS (6 Credits)

    Public-private partnerships provide a unique way for the government and private developers to work together to create sustainable and profitable urban infill developments. This course explores the structure of private and public sector partnerships and their unique interrelationship in support of government and municipal projects.

    Total Major Credits: 54
    Total Program Credits: 96

    PP 430: PLANNING FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT (6 Credits)

    This course explores the context, theory, process, and practice of economic development planning and policy. Topics covered include: differing theories and conceptual explanations of the economic development process; international, national, and regional factors affecting economic development; contrasting economic development approaches and methods; and the impact of international agencies and initiatives on economic outcomes.

    Total Major Credits: 54
    Total Program Credits: 96

    PP 450: PROGRAM EVALUATION (6 Credits)

    Students will study the methods and techniques used to assess effectiveness and monitor the performance of programs. Specific attention is given to theories, research, and practice related to program evaluation. The skills learned in this course will assist the practitioner in determining the effectiveness of new or existing programs in public organizations.

    Total Major Credits: 54
    Total Program Credits: 96

    PP 460: GRANT WRITING (6 Credits)

    This course covers the essentials of writing to acquire grants for private, public, or government use. Students will learn how to interpret the RFP, shape proposal concepts, and create needs statements, goals, objectives, strategies, and program budgets. Topics include writing, researching, and obtaining and maintaining operations and strategies within the grant system.

    Prerequisites Required:

    Total Major Credits: 54
    Total Program Credits: 96

    PP 499: BACHELOR'S CAPSTONE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND POLICY (6 Credits)

    This capstone course is the culminating experience for the Bachelor of Science in Public Administration and Policy. This course builds on the concepts of all the courses students have taken within the program of study. The capstone course provides students with the opportunity to integrate and synthesize the knowledge and skills required throughout their coursework in an original comprehensive project, and to assess their level of mastery of the stated outcomes of their degree program. Students will conduct an approved research project under the supervision of a program chair or full-time faculty member in the school.

    Prerequisites Required: Last term

    Total Major Credits: 54
    Total Program Credits: 96

    Electives

    OPEN ELECTIVES (24 Credits)

    Total Electives Credits: 24
    Total Program Credits: 96

    Tuition & Fees: Standard Track

    The 25% tuition reduction applies only to international students living outside of the United States. This discount does not apply to military students. Please check with your advisor to see if you are eligible. 

    The 25% tuition reduction applies only to international students living outside of the United States. This discount does not apply to military students. Please check with your advisor to see if you are eligible. 

    Standard Track Online &
    Learning Center     		Campus
    Cost Per Credit
    Number of Credits / Terms  
    Total Tuition Cost

    Tuition and Fees

    Some programs have additional associated fees that are not included in the price of tuition. Click here or check with an Admissions Advisor for more information. 

    Learn More about Kaplan University Tuition and Fees  

    Notice to Learning Center Students

    Kaplan University Learning Center students will only complete a portion of this program on site. You will need to complete at least 50% of the program requirements online, or through transfer credit awarded via prior learning assessment. If you have any questions about these requirements, please speak with an admissions advisor.

    Scholarships and Grants

    Learn more about grants and Kaplan University Scholarships and that may help reduce the cost of your education.

    Kaplan University tuition reductions (including active-duty, spouse, and veterans military tuition rates; scholarships; grants; vouchers; and alumni and alliance reductions) cannot be combined. 

    Tuition Rates for Military Students and Spouses

    Kaplan University has significantly reduced many of our tuition rates and fees for active-duty servicemembers, their spouses, and veterans. Click here for more information.
     

  • Some states have additional curricular requirements. Check the University Catalog or speak with an Admissions Advisor.

  • * Kaplan University cannot guarantee employment or career advancement.

    † Associate’s and bachelor’s degrees and credits considered to be remedial, occupational, or specialized may not be accepted for transfer. Average completion time based on a full-time schedule. Programs will take longer for part-time students to complete. Refer to the University Catalog for our Transfer of Credit policy.

Request Information

  • Step 1 of 3
  • Call Now: 866 KAPLAN U

Featured

  • Paying For School
  • 75th anniversary
  • Kaplan Commitment