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.

Learn skills for leadership sectors you’re passionate about

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.  Learn this and many other in-demand skills at your own pace. 

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. 

Fully online leadership learning

Through this flexible online program, you can become a thoughtful, innovative, and effective leader in administration. 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. 

This online program gives you the flexibility to learn when and where you want. You can complete coursework in the comfort of your home, favorite coffee shop, or local library while choosing a study schedule that works best for you. 

Online learning is perfect for those who learn in ways that aren’t often found in traditional classrooms — watching instructional videos, listening to audio lectures at your preferred speed, or dedicating extra study time to tricky topics. You can always connect with professors to help find the best ways to absorb and apply your learning.

Save time for life’s professional and personal commitments

Learning shouldn’t prevent you from doing what you love. Coursework is designed to be flexible to your needs and help you balance your other life commitments. 

While completing this program, you’ll still be able to continue spending time with family, thriving at your full- or part-time workplace, or leisure time. 

Mentorship and community without commuting

Commuting can be stressful and time-consuming — especially in San Diego. Thankfully, you can learn online while still benefiting from PLNU’s strong focus on community. In this program, you’ll meaningfully connect with other students online as you learn and grow in your leadership expertise.

You’ll also have access to top-tier mentorship from advisors and professors with experience in the public sector. They’ll help you to leverage your strengths to expand your connections and career opportunities. You’ll be able to access resources tailored to you and your career goals.

Public Administration 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.

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.

Enhance your degree with a Minor

Adding a minor to your Accelerated undergraduate program can be a great opportunity to broaden your knowledge, increase career opportunities, and foster personal growth. Explore subjects like Marketing, Organizational Leadership, Strategic Communication, Management, Creative Digital Media, and Child Development. Choosing to add a minor can make your degree more versatile, well-rounded, and appealing to future employers. PLNU Counselors are ready to help you integrate a minor into your academic plan. Discover the benefits of a minor at PLNU today!

Program Start Date(s):

• Summer 2025 Quad I — May 12, 2025
• Summer 2025 Quad II — July 7, 2025
• Fall 2025 Quad I — September 2, 2025
• Fall 2025 Quad II — October 27, 2025
• Spring 2026 Quad I — January 12, 2026
• Spring 2026 Quad II — March 16, 2026

Start Application

Please select "Accelerated Undergraduate" 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.).

State Authorization

In certain states outside California, PLNU is not authorized to enroll students in online courses and/or offer internships. If a student moves to another state after admission to a program or enrollment in an online course, continuation in the program/course will depend on whether PLNU is authorized within that state. Please refer to the State Authorization map to view which states allow online courses and/or internships.

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: $81,800
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. 

City Manager
Average salary: $96,796
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: $62,860
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