PLNU’s fully online Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration is designed to build your expertise in grant writing, policy, planning, management, and finance while equipping you to make a difference in your community. Earning your B.A. in Public Administration can help you advance your career, increase your salary, and gain greater opportunities for leadership positions. 

Whether you’re new to the field or have first-hand experience working in various degrees of government or the public sector, our degree program supports you to take the next step in pursuing your calling. 

Prepare for Leadership & Responsibility

PLNU’s B.A. in Public Administration — taught by experienced public administration faculty and leaders — will prepare you to make a positive impact in your community, and step into true leadership roles with greater responsibility and influence. 

PLNU offers one of the few online public administration programs that include a budgets and grants writing course in order to uniquely position you as a more marketable hire after graduation.  

Classroom discussions focus on topics and themes such as leading and managing public governance, addressing pressing societal issues, social stratification, state and local policy, administrative law, understanding the workings of government, and more. 

As part of the curriculum, each student completes a capstone course that weaves together what you’ve learned through a proposed partnership with organizations from other sectors to address a pressing societal issue of interest. Students will assess all aspects of their proposed partnership and produce a final project. The capstone can be used in collaboration with a current employer or it can be created with a prospective or future employer in mind. 

Community Oriented 

Our program emphasizes service to others inside and outside of the classroom. You’ll learn how to engage in the community, focus on social issues, and develop the skills and relationships necessary to step into roles that make a tangible difference. 

We believe that by pouring into those who work in the public, private, and social sectors, we’re being good stewards of the resources and connections we’ve established throughout San Diego County and beyond. 

As part of the PLNU community, students will be instructed and mentored by expert faculty and staff dedicated to shaping the next generation of public administrators and leaders. Tap into our faculty and staff’s expansive network to apply classroom knowledge to the real world. 

PLNU is committed to providing outstanding professional education rooted in a solid foundation of Christian values, the humanities, and practical application. Students will grow in knowledge and develop skills established in virtue while exploring questions of ethical application across the curriculum.

Career Support That Helps You Succeed

Receive guidance from career advisors who help you succeed while you work through the program, as well as support you in reaching your professional goals after graduation.

Learning Outcomes 

Students who complete the public administration program will be able to:

1. Demonstrate critical skills to lead and manage in public governance.
2. Appraise pressing problems using critical thinking, ethical thinking, and analytics to consider solutions and apply best practices.
3. Articulate and apply a public service perspective to their role in their institution.
4. Evaluate the role of public administration officials as participants in the public-policy-making and implementation process.
5. Demonstrate the ability to communicate and interact productively with a diverse population with varying needs.

Convenience to Fit Your Life 

Our curriculum is designed with busy, working professionals in mind with an entirely online format. The fully asynchronous program allows you to tailor your own schedule to progress at your own pace. Coursework is designed to be flexible to your needs and help you balance your other life commitments. 

Students applying for the program can start with as little as zero college credits completed.

Online Format 

PLNU’s online public administration program offers the flexibility of online learning and the ability to set your own schedule while also providing the benefit of participating within community. Make your schedule and add the unit course load that works best for you. 

All courses are three units spanning eight weeks with the exception of the Biblical Perspectives course, which is four units.

Program Start Date(s):

• Fall 2023 Quad I — August 28, 2023
• Fall 2023 Quad II — October 23, 2023
• Spring 2024 Quad I – January 8, 2024 
• Spring 2024 Quad II –  March 11, 2024
• Summer 2024 Quad I – May 6, 2024 
• Summer 2024 Quad II – July 1, 2024
• Fall 2024 Quad I – Sep 2, 2024 
• Fall 2024 Quad II – Oct 28, 2024

Start Application

Please select "Adult Degree Completion" and not "Undergraduate" when completing the online application.

Application Checklist

The application is completed entirely online with the exception of transcripts, which can be submitted electronically or directly to PLNU, and test scores, which should be submitted electronically.

1. Submit online application for admission.
2. Submit official transcripts from each institution attended.
   
   Official transcripts must be sent to:
   Point Loma Nazarene University
   Office of Graduate Admissions
   3900 Lomaland Dr.
   San Diego, CA 92106
   
   Official electronic transcripts must be emailed to:
   gradprocessing@pointloma.edu

Note: All students are expected to have some proficiency with computer technology (email, Internet, word processing, etc.).

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, public administration careers will grow by 7% between 2021-2031, a faster pace than the average for all occupations (BLS, 2018). 

PLNU’s Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration program offers a dynamic curriculum designed to prepare students who want to serve and/or seek promotion in a variety of fulfilling careers relating to public administration through:

• Nonprofit organizations
• Leadership
• Public service in state, local, or federal government
• Public health
• Transportation 
• Disaster and emergency management 
• Sustainability and conservation 
• Urban development 
• Housing programs 
• Regional planning  

What Can I Do With a Degree in Public Administration? 

Graduates in public administration are valued in nearly every organization based on their ability to use critical thinking, ethical thinking, and analytical skills to be stewards of resources and connections in the community. 

Graduates from PLNU are in further demand due to the focus on ethics, value, and mission they bring to their organizations.

The following are a few career options for those with a Public Administration B.A.:

Urban Planner
Median salary: $78,500
Projected growth: 4% (average growth rate)

Urban planners develop plans and programs for land to help connect communities, accommodate population growth, and revamp facilities in cities, counties, or towns. They’re instrumental in helping improve and sustain the resources of cities by attracting homeowners and businesses, and expand services available to all members of the community. They think about the future of a space in order to create or modify the existing infrastructure to support future improvement and growth. 

Nonprofit Director 
Average salary: $75,599
Projected growth: 10% (faster than average)

A nonprofit director guides their nonprofit organization to meet its goals, mission, and outreach. They serve in finding the right talent for the organization, connecting with the community, and using resources and tools to ensure the program is running well. Other elements of the job include developing strategies, speaking at events, establishing policies, communicating with other directors, developing partnerships, fundraising, and more. 

City Manager
Average salary: $93,062
Projected growth: 10% (faster than average)

City managers support local governments, elected officials, and city workers by carrying out administrative duties and tasks. Part of their role includes developing city budgets, advising council members, implementing legislation, appointing department heads, coordinating projects, ensuring city services are running efficiently, and more. 

Community Health Specialist 
Median salary: $48,860
Projected growth from 2021-2023: 12% (faster than average)

Community health specialists assist with providing basic health services, public education, and strategic development for communities to implement healthy behaviors and patterns. Part of their role is also researching and using marketing and outreach skills to devise health-promoting programs like informational campaigns that provide educational resources for communities. They typically work for nonprofit organizations or government agencies, and are available to serve during public health emergencies.

For information about the courses required for the Public Administration, B.A. program, view the PLNU Catalog. 

Course Information