Best Online Bachelor’s in Public Administration 2021

Based in La Verne, California, the University of La Verne boasts several campuses across California. It also offers a selection of undergraduate and graduate degrees fully online. Only, students in select authorized states may enroll in La Verne’s online programs; students can check a La Verne’s list of authorized states to see whether their state qualifies. The school offers an accelerated bachelor of science in public administration online and on its campuses in Irvine, Bakersfield, Ontario, Victorville, Rio Hondo Community College, and Vandenberg Air Force Base.

The PA major requires a minimum of 40 semester hours of coursework, including 28 semester hours of core requirements and 12 semester hours of electives. Core requirements include classes like management of change and conflict, policy-making process, and urban studies. Electives explore topics like business ethics, written business communication, and local government management. All students complete a senior project.

Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Point Park University offers a wide selection of online undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs. The school’s online bachelor of science in public administration offers concentrations in EMS administration and fire service, preparing students to compete for public policy jobs relating to emergency and fire services. Students typically earn their bachelor of science in two-four years, depending on the number of transfer credits and their per-semester course load.

Overall, the degree requires 120 credit hours of coursework, 15 of which come from major courses and 21 of which come from concentration courses. Required major coursework includes principles of management, public budgeting and finance, and policy and decision analysis. Students in the EMS concentration explore topics like EMS community risk reduction and legal, political, and regulatory issues in EMS. Students in the fire services concentration take classes about the applications of fire research and fire prevention organization and management.

Based in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin University targets working students, thus students’ average age is 34. The school offers many fully online degrees, including a bachelor of science in public administration. Unique among other programs of its kind, the BS in public administration at Franklin focuses intently on the leadership aspect of public service.

Overall, students complete 120 credit hours of coursework, 30 of which they must complete at Franklin. Required major and professional courses cover subjects like management information systems, government and nonprofit budgeting, and organizational communication. Students also complete a capstone requirement. Students may concentrate in one of three elective pathways: criminal justice, pre-law, or recreation and sports management. In each pathway respectively, students take courses like criminal justice management and administration, courts and criminal procedure, and managing athletic programs.

Located on the tropical island of Oahu, University of Hawaiʝi - West Oahu’s distance learning program serves students who either completed their first two years of college at the school’s Oahu campus or at a community college on a neighboring island in the state. In other words, only students who physically live in Hawaii may take the school’s online courses. Students with two years of qualifying coursework can transfer into one of the school’s many popular online degrees, including an online bachelor of arts in public administration.

Students earning their BA in public administration can pursue a concentration in disaster preparedness and emergency management, justice administration, general public administration, community health, or healthcare administration. Students can also earn a certificate in healthcare administration or disaster preparedness and emergency management. All students complete either a practicum experience or a senior project.

Upper Iowa University offers a public administration degree either fully online or through a blended format that combines online and face-to-face courses on the school’s campus in Fayette, Iowa. Distance students can pursue a self-paced degree in which they progress through their studies at their convenience.

In addition to earning a general public administration degree, students at UIU can pursue an emphasis in emergency management or fire science, law enforcement, or policy/politics. The degree requires 21 credits of general education and core courses and around 24 additional credits of coursework within the chosen emphasis. Required courses for all students in the major include U.S. government, cases in public administration, and a senior project. Emphasis courses explore specialized topics such as emergency preparedness and planning, substance abuse, and administrative law.

Located in Clearwater, Florida, St. Petersburg College offers a fully online bachelor of applied science in public safety administration. The school offers credit for previous academic training and professional experiences, helping students earn their degree faster. Students pursuing a bachelor’s in public safety administration can pursue one of four sub-plans: criminal justice, emergency management and homeland security, fire science, and cross-discipline, which involves a combination of sub-plans.

To receive admission to the program, students must possess at least 60 college-level credits in a field related to public safety. Students without a relevant associate degree must complete a minimum of 24 credits of lower-level public safety courses in addition to the bachelor’s requirements. The program demands 27 credits of core requirements, six credits of electives, and nine credits of sub-plan courses. Sample required courses include managing conflict in public organizations, administrative law, and program planning and evaluation. All online courses last eight weeks.

Indian River State College in Fort Pierce, Florida offers 12 fully online degrees through its virtual campus, including a bachelor of science in public administration. The program targets students with an associate degree in fire science, criminal justice, emergency administration and management, emergency medical services, public administration, or paralegal studies. Students with a degree in a different subject may still apply; the school reviews these applicants on a case-to-case basis.

Students pursuing a public administration degree online choose one of two concentrations: emergency planning and management or public policy and leadership. Both concentrations require 60 credit hours of coursework. The emergency planning curriculum includes courses in multi-agency incident command, emergency services public policy, and foundations of public safety. The public policy and leadership track boasts classes in urban and regional planning, policy development and implementation, and administrative law for public administrators. Both concentrations require a senior capstone project.

The University of Maine at Augusta’s online bachelor of science in public administration serves students with either an associate degree in a related field or with a bachelor’s degree in an unrelated field. Students without any college credits must first earn general education courses at one of the school’s campus sites or at another accredited school before receiving admission.

Students with a relevant associate degree must complete 60 credit hours of coursework to earn their bachelor’s. Qualifying associate degrees including those related to healthcare; criminal justice, paralegal, or justice studies; social or human services; fire science; and computer technology. Those with a bachelor’s degree in a field unrelated to public administration must complete 30 credit hours of coursework to earn a post-bachelor’s degree in public administration. Distance students can complete assignments on their own time through a delayed format or they can participate in live class sessions through the school’s interactive TV site.

The fully online bachelor of public administration at Barry University helps professionals in public service and nonprofit sectors pursue public management jobs. In addition to the online option, students can take courses on the school’s Miami campus. To accommodate working professionals, face-to-face classes take place on weeknights or Saturdays. All courses last eight weeks.

The program requires 45 major credits: 30 credits of major courses and 15 credits of electives. As not all electives follow a digital format, students should make sure the school offers their preferred electives online. Required major courses include productivity improvements in the public sector, human resources in the public sector, and a capstone project. Students can earn up to 30 credits for previous academic training or professional experiences.