Columbia College Bachelor's in Public Administration
Learn about improving lives through public services with a Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration from Columbia College.
Residential classes
Aug
30
next start date
16
week semester
5
year locked-in tuition
Online & night classes
Jun
28
next start date
8
week sessions
$375
undergraduate tuition
Available program formats: In class: BS
Study public administration at Columbia College
A degree in public administration at Columbia College offers students insights into the planning, coordination and management that help public service organizations fulfill their missions.
Students whose goal is to benefit society through work in a public, private or non-profit role will gain both theoretical and practical knowledge that can be applied to real-life scenarios.
You’ll study the many elements that go into public decisions, from values and ethics to economics to psychology. You can choose whether to focus on the science and analysis that inform decisions or on the human impacts of those decisions within the communities you serve.
This program provides a thorough understanding of public policy and government at the local, state and federal levels that’s ideal for furthering your learning through a graduate program.
Opportunities to study:
- Public Policy
- Non-Profit Organization and Management
- Public Financial Resources Management
- Public Human Resources Management
- Public Decision Making
- Values and Ethics in Public Administration
Prepare for a career of leadership and service
The decisions public administrators make can have far-reaching impacts. In this program, you will learn to weigh both the outcomes of past decisions and the possibilities for the future when you address current issues.
Workplaces from government to health care to non-profit organizations value skills in financial management, human resource administration and research methods. You will gain all of those, as well as knowledge of human behavior and organizational psychology.
At Columbia College, you will be prepared to work in a variety of careers such as urban planning, city management, hospital administration, fundraising or international humanitarian relief. You’ll also be ready for a graduate program or law school.
Some possible paths include:
- Public official
- Policy analyst
- Lobbyist
- City management
- Health care administration
- Urban planner
- Journalist
- Non-profit administration
Dr. Kennedy Amofa
"Whereas economists note that it brought the global economy to complete halt, leaders of various nations during the current COVID-19 pandemic have turned to advanced technology to sustain the global economy. "
Read about KennedyView more faculty profiles
Find your path
Submit this form to get information about applying to Columbia College.
Questions about admissions? Call the main line.
Main line: (573) 875-8700
Want to know more about our programs? Contact the department.
Department phone: 573-875-7535
Office: New 101
Email: BA@CCIS.edu
Your degree starts here Take these courses
Available program formats
- General education requirements 39-42 credit hours
- Core requirements 51 credit hours
- Electives 19-23 credit hours
- Multicultural requirements 6 credit hours
- Total degree requirements 120 credit hours
Some courses you may take
Study of environmental issues and policies from both a national and global perspective. Cross-listed as ENVS 312. Prerequisite: POSC 111.
How theoretical, philosophical, scientific, political, and social factors influence decision making in the public sector and methods used by public sector managers to make those decisions. Prerequisite/Corequisite: PADM/MGMT/POSC 311.
Examination of the foundations, theories, models, and literature for designing effective organizations. Extensive library research and case work required. Prerequisite: MGMT 230.
The values, knowledge and skills of human service practice in the context of communities and organizations. Prerequisite: HUMS 105 or PSYC 101 (courses may be taken as co-requisite).
- General education requirements 39-42 credit hours
- Core requirements 57 credit hours
- Electives 19-23 credit hours
- Total degree requirements 120 credit hours
Some courses you may take
Managers in the non-profit sector face unique challenges. This course exposes students to essential skills facing managers in the non-profit sector such as grant writing, fundraising, managing technology, managing finances, working with private boards, public advocacy and more. Prerequisite/Co-requisite: POSC/PADM/MGMT 311.
Provides a strong conceptual framework for understanding organizational efficiency as the result of the interactions of people and organizations. Prerequisite: MGMT 230 or PSYC 101.
An introduction to the research processes used by political science and public administration. The scope of political science and public administration research and the methods used to address political and policy questions are studied. Cross-listed as POSC 395. Prerequisite: three previous courses in political science or public administration.
Course covers issues related to the ethical practices of public administrators including the proper role of unelected bureaucrats in government and how they relate to citizens. Students are exposed to philosophical arguments related to ethical behavior. Course does not satisfy the general education ethics requirement. Prerequisite/Corequisite: PADM/MGMT/POSC 311.
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April 20, 2020
"My success here is exactly what I need to redefine how I see myself and relocate my self-esteem."
— Michael Guthrie, General Studies student
August 3, 2020
Flexibility the focus of CC’s latest educational innovation
Value Colleges listed Columbia College as the No. 2 school in Missouri for online programs in 2020.
November 14, 2019