The public administration profession offers a range of career paths such as municipal management, law enforcement, firefighting, and even nonprofit roles that serve the community.
Credit Hours:Ìý120Ìý |Ìý Transfer: Up to 90 CreditsÌý |ÌýÌýTuition Cost
Seek Leadership Roles in the Public Administration Fields
This program is designed for those who have established a foundation or a career in these fields, and will build upon what you’ve already learned on-the-job and through prior study.
Updated in 2021, this program is now a four-year administration program with new courses related to public policy, leadership, human resource management, and public sector budget and finance.
Course Highlights
- Introduction to Public Administration
- Career Development and Life Planning
- Introduction to Data Analytics
- Change Management
- Excel
- Introduction to Ethics
- Statistics
- Public Policy Development and Implementation
- Public Sector Budget and Finance
- Human Resources in the Public Sector
…and more!
Why UNH CPS?
- Regionally accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education, Inc. (NECHE).
- Available fully online with select on-campus courses.
- Affordable tuition.
- Nationally ranked online programs.
- About 89% of our students are transfer students. Making the most of your transfer credits is our specialty.
- Career advising is available to all students and alumni. We also extend this service to those considering their college options.
- Faculty who are subject matter experts and share their real-world expertise, helping you apply what you learn to your personal goals and career.
- We’re experts at assessing credit toward your undergraduate degree – not only from previous college coursework, but also for other college-level knowledge demonstrated outside the traditional classroom.
Whether you completed your associate degree or took a few courses, we have experience working with community college students nationwide and we are experts at maximizing your transfer credits. We are proud of our formal partnerships to support community college graduates through our Transfer Pathways.Ìý
Students pursuing an associate degree at a New Hampshire community college are encouraged to explore our Transfer Pathway below.
- Completion of our free, online application for admission
- High school diploma, completion of a high school education in a homeschool setting under state law, or demonstrate high school equivalency.
- Successful completion of one of the following exams will be required for demonstrating high school equivalency: the GED, HiSET, or TASC
For motivated undergraduate students interested in pursuing a graduate degree, you can pair this program with an accelerated M.S. in Leadership optionÌýthat allows you to streamline the completion of your educational goals.ÌýThis option allows students to complete their bachelor’s and graduateÌýdegreesÌýin a fast-tracked five-year timeline.
Qualifications:
- Current UNH undergraduateÌýstudent enrolled in one of the following programs:Ìý
- GPA of 3.2 or higher.
- Apply and be accepted to the M.S. Leadership program.Ìý
- Completed 90 undergraduate credits (to begin taking courses for dual credit). Most students apply in their junior year; once admitted to the program, students can begin taking select courses for dual credit, provided they’ve completed 90 undergraduate credits.
If you're interested in enrolling in an accelerated graduate program,Ìýcontact your advisor.Ìý
Curriculum & Requirements
This degree plan is a sample and does not reflect the impact of transfer credit or current course offerings. UNH CPS ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ undergraduate students should develop individual academic plans with their academic advisor during their first year at UNH.
Sample Course Sequence
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| APSTÌý405 | Career Development and Planning | 2 |
| CMPLÌý402 | Excel | 2 |
| ENGÌý420 | The Writing Process | 4 |
| PADMÌý500 | Introduction to Public Administration | 4 |
| General Education Course | 4 | |
| Ìý | Credits | 16 |
| Spring | ||
| COMÌý460 | Interpersonal Communication and Group Dynamics | 4 |
| CRITÌý501 | Introduction to Critical Inquiry | 4 |
| HUMNÌý480 | Introduction to Ethics | 4 |
| MTHÌý402 or MTHÌý504 or MTHÌý510 | Math for Our World or Statistics or Pre-Calculus | 4 |
| Ìý | Credits | 16 |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| COMÌý480 | Visual Communication | 4 |
| HRMÌý580 | Change Management | 4 |
| MTHÌý504 | Statistics | 4 |
| General Education Course | 4 | |
| Ìý | Credits | 16 |
| Spring | ||
| DATÌý510 | Introduction to Data Analytics | 4 |
| LDÌý600 or LDÌý660 | Becoming an Effective Leader or Leadership Theory | 4 |
| General Education Course | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Ìý | Credits | 16 |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| CRITÌý602 | Advanced Critical Analysis and Strategic Thinking | 4 |
| PADMÌý600 | Public Policy Development and Implementation | 4 |
| COMÌý665 or LDÌý725 | Media and Strategic Communication or Volunteer Leadership | 4 |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Ìý | Credits | 16 |
| Spring | ||
| PADMÌý645 | Public Sector Budget and Finance | 4 |
| PADMÌý670 | Human Resources in the Public Sector | 4 |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Ìý | Credits | 16 |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| APSTÌý705 or MGMTÌý706 | Grant Writing or Fundraising and Resource Development | 4 |
| IDISÌý601 | Interdisciplinary Seminar | 4 |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Ìý | Credits | 16 |
| Spring | ||
| MGMTÌý797 or MGMTÌý795 | Integrative Capstone: Industry-Based Project or Integrative Capstone: Industry-Based Internship | 4 |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Ìý | Credits | 8 |
| Ìý | Total Credits | 120 |
Degree Requirements
General Education Program Requirements
A minimum grade of D- is required in all General Education coursework. Students are allowed a maximum of two course overlaps. Overlaps can be used between Major, Minor and General Education requirements with only 8 credits overlapped between the Major and Minor.
All General Education requirements, including CRITÌý602 Advanced Critical Analysis and Strategic Thinking and IDISÌý601 Interdisciplinary Seminar, must be taken prior to the capstone.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENGÌý420 | The Writing Process | 4 |
| COMÌý460 | Interpersonal Communication and Group Dynamics | 4 |
| COMÌý480 | Visual Communication | 4 |
| CRITÌý501 | Introduction to Critical Inquiry | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
MTHÌý402 | Math for Our World | |
MTHÌý504 | Statistics | |
MTHÌý510 | Pre-Calculus | |
| 4 | ||
| 4 | ||
| 4 | ||
| CRITÌý602 | Advanced Critical Analysis and Strategic Thinking | 4 |
| IDISÌý601 | Interdisciplinary Seminar | 4 |
| Total Credits | 40 | |
Writing Program Requirements
All bachelor's degree candidates are required to complete four writing intensive courses as part of the University as follows:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
ENGÌý420 | The Writing Process | |
One Writing Intensive course in the Major | ||
One Writing Intensive course at the 600-level or above | ||
One Additional Writing Intensive Course | ||
Writing Intensive courses are identified with the label "Writing Intensive Course" in the "Attributes" section of the course description and/or a W following the course number.
Major Requirements
Prior to capstone enrollment, students are expected to complete the majority of their required major courses along with CRITÌý602 Advanced Critical Analysis and Strategic Thinking and IDISÌý601 Interdisciplinary Seminar. Students should consult with their advisor regarding specific major courses that may be completed with their capstone. Academic Advisor approval is required for registration to be processed.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Major in Public Administration | ||
| Foundation Courses | ||
| APSTÌý405 | Career Development and Planning | 2 |
| CMPLÌý402 | Excel | 2 |
| DATÌý510 | Introduction to Data Analytics | 4 |
| HUMNÌý480 | Introduction to Ethics | 4 |
| PADMÌý500 | Introduction to Public Administration | 4 |
| Intermediate Courses | ||
| MTHÌý504 | Statistics | 4 |
| HRMÌý580 | Change Management | 4 |
| PADMÌý600 | Public Policy Development and Implementation | 4 |
| PADMÌý645 | Public Sector Budget and Finance | 4 |
| PADMÌý670 | Human Resources in the Public Sector | 4 |
| Advanced Courses | ||
| APSTÌý705 | Grant Writing | 4 |
| orÌýMGMTÌý706 | Fundraising and Resource Development | |
| LDÌý600 | Becoming an Effective Leader | 4 |
| orÌýLDÌý660 | Leadership Theory | |
| LDÌý725 | Volunteer Leadership | 4 |
| orÌýCOMÌý665 | Media and Strategic Communication | |
| Integrative Capstone | ||
| MGMTÌý795 | Integrative Capstone: Industry-Based Internship | 4 |
| orÌýMGMTÌý797 | Integrative Capstone: Industry-Based Project | |
| Total Credits | 52 | |
Electives
Open electivesÌýare coursesÌýstudents will need to take in addition to their general education and major requirements in order toÌýsatisfy the remaining credit totalsÌýfor their programs. Open electivesÌýareÌýdefinedÌýas any creditÌýcourseÌýoffered by the College not already included in the student's general education, major, option or minor.ÌýStudents will need 120 credits total to graduate with a bachelor's degree from the ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ Division of the College of Professional Studies.
- Develop the ability to lead and manage in the public interest.
- Participate in, and contribute to, the policy process.
- Analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems, and make evidence-informed decisions in a complex and dynamic environment.
- Articulate, apply, and advance a public service perspective.
- Communicate and interact productively and in culturally responsive ways with a diverse and changing workforce and society at large.
Your Prior and Current Learning Counts
Many of our students can demonstrate college-level knowledge gained from military, workplace and volunteer-based training, and experiences. We are experts at helping students demonstrate learning and earning academic credit.
Ìý
Ìý
Opportunities for Airmen
Ìý
The AU-ABC partnership between Air University and the UNH College of Professional StudiesÌýallows you to apply your CCAF Associate in Applied Science toward this online bachelor's degree. All CCAF degrees are transferable into this program.Ìýearn More AboutÌýCommunity College of the Air Force AU-ABC
Ìý
Career Outcomes
Talk with your advisor to discuss how your program, experience, and goals align.