Bachelor of Public Administration

Administrative Office - San Francisco

415-422-2592

Program Director: Maurice Penner, Ph.D.

Associate Director: Gleb Nikitenko, M.P.A, M.A.

The Bachelor of Public Administration (BPA) program is designed for aspiring and mid-career professionals at all levels of government; the program is appropriate for those working in nonprofit, service, and educational organizations, and for-profit sector professionals who work with public agencies or who desire to pursue a career in the public sector. Three curriculum tracks are offered: Generalist ("Bachelor of Public Administration"), Law Enforcement Leadership ("Bachelor of Public Administration with an emphasis in Law Enforcement Leadership"), and Nonprofit Administration ("Bachelor of Public Administration with an emphasis in Nonprofit Administration").

Program Objectives

• To set a solid theoretical foundation and develop the analytic and problem-solving skills required of public administrators.
• To analyze the political, social, economic, and legal environments of a variety of public sector and nonprofit organizations.
• To learn data evaluation methods and acquire skills in written communication, planning, policy-making, budgeting, decision-making, and collaboration.
• To develop an awareness of ethical issues and problems in public, and nonprofit organizations, and how to use ethical reasoning to formulate decisions and bring about organizational change.
• To experience the service-learning component integrated in the program curriculum, and to grow spiritually and professionally from reflection on needs of disadvantaged populations.

Program Requirements

Students are required to complete the 37 semester units of credit included in the undergraduate Public Administration program. Required courses are as follows:

• PSIS - 307 Experience and Critical Writing
• PSIS - 308 Advanced Expository Writing
• PA - 351 Introduction to Public Administration
• PA - 353 Organizational Theory and Design
• PSIS - 300 The Critical Thinking Seminar
• PA - 355 Applied Statistics for Public Administrators
• PSIS - 304 Social Ethics
• PA - 362 Legal Responsibilities of Public and Nonprofit Managers
• PA - 364 Human Resources Management
• PA - 365 Introduction to Public and Nonprofit Finance and Budgeting
• PA - 352 Public Policy Analysis
• PA - 368 Field Project in Public Administration
• PA - 366 Emerging Developments in the Public and Nonprofit Sectors

Please see Bachelor of Public Administration Interdisciplinary Studies Course Descriptions.

Please see Public Administration Course Descriptions.

Degree Requirements

• Complete 128 semester units of credit.
• Complete the Public Administration requirements.
• Satisfy the Core Curriculum requirements.
• Achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Bachelor of Public Administration, a graduate will have acquired:

• Dramatically improve oral and written communication skills, including effective online communication.
• Knowledge of statistical tools and skill in evaluating and managing programs.
• Knowledge and skill in conducting performance appraisals, supervision, and conflict resolution.
• Ability and skill in developing and using a budget as a planning document and managing performance.
• Ability and skill in leading and collaborating with others.
• Ability and skill in conducting policy analysis.