Residential classes

Jan
08

next start date

16

week semester

5

year locked-in tuition

Online & night classes

Oct
23

next start date

8

week sessions

$375

undergraduate tuition

Available program formats: Online: BA In class: BA

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.

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

Columbia College Global offers traditional classroom instruction for many courses at nationwide locations. Students at nationwide locations are expected to engage with multiple learning methods, including online and virtual while completing their degree. Columbia College offers on-campus programs with traditional classroom instruction at the Residential Campus in Columbia, Missouri.

Cutout portrait of Tom Stauder.

Thomas Stauder

"A small investment of time now, either by visiting your tax professional or doing a little research on your own, can help ease the frustration and financial burden so April won’t seem quite so cruel."

Read about Tom
View more faculty profiles

Find your path

Submit this form to get information about applying to Columbia College.



















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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

  • Core requirements 51 credit hours
  • Total degree requirements 120 credit hours

Some courses you may take