Public Administration, B.S.

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Public Administration, B.S. Degree Map

The major in Public Administration provides a rigorous education for students seeking preparation for a wide continuum of career paths in public service, government, and politics. These careers range from opportunities in local, state, and federal government; law; criminal justice; social service; business firms; arts and other nonprofit organizations; campaign management; survey research; journalism; and college teaching.

Careers in the areas of government, politics, nonprofits, and business call for creative and effective problem solvers who can evaluate the substance of policy issues from various perspectives and apply their knowledge and skills to tackle the varied and multiple challenges in the field. Students in Public Administration learn to synthesize many forms of interdisciplinary knowledge and skills, including theoretical skills, analytical skills, leadership skills, ethical skills, managerial principles, administrative competence, conflict resolution, strategic planning, and organizational and interpersonal communication abilities.

The Public Administration program offers a Public Service Leadership track and a Political Science track to allow students to structure their plans of study that reflect their career and/or graduate education goals.

University Core Requirements (42 hours)

Communication (6 hours)

Choose TWO courses from the UHCL core approved list.

Mathematics (3 hours)

Choose ONE course from the UHCL core approved list.

Life and Physical Sciences (6 hours)

Choose TWO courses from the UHCL core approved list.

Language, Philosophy and Culture (3 hours)

Choose ONE course from the UHCL core approved list.

Creative Arts (3 Hours)

Choose ONE course from the UHCL core approved list.

U.S. History (6 hours)

Choose TWO courses from the UHCL core approved list.

Government/Political Science (6 hours)

Choose TWO courses from the UHCL core approved list.

Social Behavioral Sciences (3 hours)

Choose ONE course from the UHCL core approved list.

Component Area Options (6 hours)

Choose SIX hours from the UHCL core approved list.

Two 1-hour Life and Physical Science Labs are required co-requisites for the chosen science courses.
COMM 1315 and PSYC 1100 recommended for this requirement.

College Core Requirements (3 hours)

30 hours of upper-level credit must be “C” or better.

Writing Requirement

Choose ONE course from:

WRIT 3306 - Advanced Writing for Social Sciences Credit Hours: 3
WRIT 3307 - Advanced Writing Credit Hours: 3
WRIT 3312 - Written Communications in Business Credit Hours: 3

Major Requirements (54 hours)

Overview Requirements (12 hours)

Choose 4 of the following courses:

ANTH 3311 - Contemporary Cultural Anthropology Credit Hours: 3
ANTH 4301 - Studies in Cultural Diversity Credit Hours: 3
ANTH 4302 - Applied Anthropology Credit Hours: 3
ANTH 4342 - Human Rights, Social Justice, Health Credit Hours: 3
CRIM 3312 - Criminology Credit Hours: 3
PSYC 3331 - Personality and Individual Differences Credit Hours: 3
GEOG 3301 - Urban Geography Credit Hours: 3
HUMN 3374 - Critical Inquiry Credit Hours: 3
PHIL 3331 - Ethics Credit Hours: 3
PSYC 4332 - Psychology of Work Credit Hours: 3
SOCI 3351 - Political Sociology Credit Hours: 3
SOCI 3352 - Urban Sociology Credit Hours: 3
SOCI 4312 - Social Structure: Class, Power, and Status Credit Hours: 3
SOCI 4324 - Organizations in Society Credit Hours: 3
SOCI 4328 - Social Conflict and Mediation Credit Hours: 3
SWRK 3317 - Social Welfare Policy and Services Credit Hours: 3
SWRK 3324 - Oppression, Diversity, and Social Justice Credit Hours: 3

Methodology Requirements (6 hours)

Students must take one Statistics and one Research Methods course.

CRIM 4384 - Statistics Credit Hours: 3
OR
SOCI 4384 - Statistics Credit Hours: 3
CRIM 4385 - Research Methods Credit Hours: 3
OR
SOCI 4385 - Research Methods Credit Hours: 3

Public Administration Core Coursework (27 hours)

All Public Administration students must take the following core courses:

GEOG 3323 - Data Analysis in Geography Credit Hours: 3
POLS 3301 - Contemporary Issues in Political Science Credit Hours: 3
POLS 3332 - State and Local Government Credit Hours: 3
POLS 4351 - Public Administration Credit Hours: 3
POLS 4352 - Theories of Public Policy Credit Hours: 3
PSLD 4326 - Human Resources Credit Hours: 3
PSLD 4342 - Project Management Credit Hours: 3
PSLD 4345 - Strategic Planning Credit Hours: 3
PSLD 4349 - Ethics and Law Credit Hours: 3

Track Coursework (9 hours)

Students must choose either the Political Science OR Public Service Leadership Track.

Political Science Track

Students who pick the Political Science Track must choose THREE courses from the list below:

POLS 3331 - Legislative Process Credit Hours: 3
POLS 4312 - Race and Ethnic Politics Credit Hours: 3
POLS 4315 - Judicial Process Credit Hours: 3
POLS 4342 - International Relations Credit Hours: 3
POLS 4354 - Comparative Political Systems Credit Hours: 3
POLS 4355 - Political Philosophy Credit Hours: 3

Public Service Leadership Track

Students who pick the Public Service Leadership Track must choose THREE courses from the list below:

PSLD 4325 - Budgeting in Public Service Credit Hours: 3
PSLD 4340 - Participatory Public Service Credit Hours: 3
PSLD 4343 - Public Service Management Credit Hours: 3
PSLD 4344 - Public Service Leadership Credit Hours: 3
PSLD 4347 - Organizational Diversity Credit Hours: 3
PSLD 4348 - Crisis and Emergency Management Credit Hours: 3

Elective Requirements (21 hours)

This requirement may be satisfied with any 1300, 2300, 3300, or 4300 level courses; 15 hours must be from 3300 or 4300 level courses.