The undergraduate major in public administration offers students the necessary knowledge and skills for planning, implementing, and evaluating public programs. Students learn to think critically and analytically about public policy and will also acquire skills that make them more effective citizens in their own communities. Students can complete an internship for credit towards their degree. Past internship placements include: Johnson County, Kauffman Center, Harvesters, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, City of Roeland Park, YMCA, Governor’s Internship Program, Youth Volunteer Corps of Kansas City, America Reads and Army Corps of Engineers.
Undergraduate Admission
Admission to KU
All students applying for admission must send high school and college transcripts to the Office of Admissions. Prospective first-year students should be aware that KU has qualified admission requirements that all new first-year students must meet to be admitted. Consult the Office of Admissions for application deadlines and specific admission requirements.
Visit the International Support Services for information about international admissions.
Students considering transferring to KU may see how their college-level course work will transfer on the Office of Admissions website.
Requirements for the B.A. or B.G.S. Major
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| |
| |
| PUAD 330 | Introduction to Public Administration | 3 |
| or PUAD 331 | Introduction to Public Administration, Honors |
| PUAD 332 | Quantitative Methods for Public Administration (PSYC 210 or MATH 365 and their equivalents may be substituted for this course requirement but students would need to complete another jr/sr PUAD elective for the PUAD major.) | 3 |
| PUAD 333 | Hard Choices in Public Administration: _____ | 3 |
| PUAD 699 | Capstone | 3 |
| 18 |
| Introduction to Law & Society | |
| The Pursuit of Rights: Law, Democracy & Power | |
| Administration of Justice | |
| Diversity and Social Equity in Public Administration | |
| Foundations of the Nonprofit Sector | |
| Resource Development and Management in Nonprofit Organizations | |
| Managing Nonprofit Relationships | |
| Nonprofit Accountability: Public Needs and Public Values | |
| Introduction to Project Management | |
| Collaboration in Public Administration | |
| Conducting the People's Business Ethically | |
| Metropolitics and Macroproblems: The American City in Local and Global Context | |
| Generating, Allocating and Managing Public Resources | |
| Managing People in Public Organizations | |
| Organizational Learning and Staff Development | |
| Concepts of Civil Society | |
| Public Service Leadership | |
| Topics in Public Administration: _____ | |
| Internship Experience | |
| Research Experience | |
| Directed Readings | |
| Sustainability and Society | |
| Planning the Sustainable City | |
Major Hours & Major GPA
While completing all required courses, majors must also meet each of the following hour and grade-point average minimum standards:
Major Hours
Satisfied by 30 hours of major courses.
Major Hours in Residence
Satisfied by a minimum of 15 hours of KU resident credit in the major.
Major Junior/Senior Hours
Satisfied by a minimum of 24 hours from junior/senior courses (300+) in the major.
Major Junior/Senior Graduation GPA
Satisfied by a minimum of a 2.0 KU GPA in junior/senior courses (300+) in the major. GPA calculations include all junior/senior courses in the field of study including F’s and repeated courses. See the Semester/Cumulative GPA Calculator.
A sample 4-year plan for the BA degree in Public Administration is available here: Public Administration, or by using the left-side navigation.
A sample 4-year plan for the BGS degree in Public Administration is available here: Public Administration, or by using the left-side navigation.
