BA in Public Administration and Policy
Degree Program Description
The Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration and Policy within the Truman School of Government and Public Affairs is an on-campus, online, or hybrid program. The degree will prepare students to think critically about problems facing public and nonprofit institutions, to develop and implement solutions to these problems, and to communicate effectively as future public servants. The curriculum melds the studies of public administration, public policy, and communication to prepare students for careers in professional public service.
Major Program Requirements
Students will need to complete a minimum of 120 credit hours. In addition to University, general education, and College of Arts and Science requirements, students must also meet the following major program requirements. All major requirements in the College of Arts and Science must be completed with grades of C- or higher unless otherwise indicated.
- A grade of C- or higher is required in all major courses.
- A 3000-level or higher Writing Intensive course within the major is required*.
- The major capstone requirement will be met upon successful completion of a 4000-level core course (POL_SC 4320, PUB_AF 4420W, COMMUN 4473, COMMUN 4476, COMMUN 4478, or COMMUN 4491)
| Major Core Curriculum | 9 | |
| PUB_AF 1000 | Principles of Public Policy Administration | 3 |
| POL_SC 4320 | Public Policy | 3 |
| PUB_AF 4420W | Program Assessment and Improvement-Writing Intensive | 3 |
| Communication Core Courses (6 credit hours from the following courses) | 6 | |
| COMMUN 3460 | Organizational Advocacy | 3 |
| COMMUN 3572 | Argument and Advocacy | 3 |
| COMMUN 4473 | Political Communication | 3 |
| COMMUN 4476 | Organizational Communication | 3 |
| COMMUN 4478 | Communication Competencies for a Diverse Workplace | 3 |
| COMMUN 4491 | Political Public Address | 3 |
| Major Elective Courses (15 credit hours minimum; at least 9 credit hours must be PUB_AF courses) ^ | 15 | |
| PUB_AF 2300 | Democracy, Pluralism, and Civil Discourse | 3 |
| PUB_AF 2310 | Artificial Intelligence, Government, and Policy | 3 |
| PUB_AF 2940 | Truman School Internship § | 1-12 |
| PUB_AF 4001 | Topics in Public Affairs | 3 |
| PUB_AF 4175 | Early Childhood Policy | 3 |
| PUB_AF 4340 | Regional and Economic Development Policy | 3 |
| PUB_AF 4360 | Data Science & Public Policy | 3 |
| PUB_AF 4430 | Public Policy Analysis | 3 |
| PUB_AF 4520 | Human Resources Management and Development in Public and Nonprofit Sector | 3 |
| PUB_AF 4540 | Local Government Management | 3 |
| PUB_AF 4670 | Policies and Institutions of the European Union | 3 |
| PUB_AF 4700 | Social Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| PUB_AF 4710 | The Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector | 3 |
| ABM 1120 | Population, Environment and Sustainability | 3 |
| ABM 1230 | Introduction to the Agricultural Policy Process | 3 |
| ABM 2070 | Environmental Economics and Policy | 3 |
| ABM 3230 | Agricultural and Rural Economic Policy | 3 |
| ABM 3271 | International Agricultural Development | 3 |
| ABM 3272 | International Food Trade and Policy | 3 |
| ABM 4215 | Community Food Systems | 3 |
| ABM 4360 | Energy Markets and Regulation | 3 |
| ABM 4370 | Society, Environment and Natural Resources | 3 |
| ABM 4990W | Economic Analysis of Policy and Regulation - Writing Intensive | 3 |
| AG_ED_LD 3020 | Rural America in the 21st Century: Concepts and Methods | 3 |
| AGSC_COM 2210 | Communicating Science to the Public | 3 |
| BL_STU 3024 | Black Diaspora Women and Reproductive Justice | 3 |
| BL_STU 4230 | Women, Development, and Globalization | 3 |
| BL_STU 4303 | Black Studies in Race, Class, Gender, and U.S. Policy | 3 |
| COMMUN 3580 | Crisis Communication | 3 |
| COMMUN 4530 | Health Communication | 3 |
| DATA_SCI 1030 | Foundations of Data Science | 3 |
| ECONOM 3367 | Law and Economics | 3 |
| ECONOM 4311 | Labor Economics | 3 |
| ECONOM 4315 | Public Economics | 3 |
| ECONOM 4316 | State and Local Finance | 3 |
| ECONOM 4317 | Urban Economics | 3 |
| ECONOM 4318 | Economics of Environmental Regulation and Climate Change | 3 |
| ECONOM 4340 | Introduction to Game Theory | 3 |
| ECONOM 4345 | Economics of Education | 3 |
| ECONOM 4357 | Health Economics | 3 |
| ECONOM 4360 | Economic Development | 3 |
| ECONOM 4846 | Economics of Discrimination | 3 |
| ED_LPA 2001 | Civil Rights and Advocacy in Education | 3 |
| ED_LPA 4458 | Sociology of Education | 3 |
| ENV_SC 4400 | Environmental Law, Policy, and Justice | 3 |
| ENV_SC 4600 | Sustainability Science Problem Solving | 3 |
| GEOG 2289 | Towns in Missouri and the Midwest: Voices and Inequalities | 3 |
| GEOG 4200 | Geopolitics | 3 |
| GEOG 4450 | Health, Healthcare Access, and Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 4790 | Geographic Information Systems for the Social Sciences | 3 |
| GEOG 4850 | Transportation Geography | 3 |
| H_D_FS 4720 | Child and Family Advocacy | 3 |
| HLTH_SCI 2900 | Health Care In Missouri | 3 |
| HLTH_SCI 3700 | Health Care in the United States | 3 |
| NAT_R 4353 | Natural Resource Policy/Administration | 3 |
| POL_SC 2150 | How Government Affects You | 3 |
| POL_SC 2250 | Missouri Politics | 3 |
| POL_SC 2940 | Truman School Internship § | 1-12 |
| POL_SC 4120 | Politics and the Media | 3 |
| POL_SC 4140 | Congress and Legislative Policy | 3 |
| POL_SC 4160 | Interest Groups | 3 |
| POL_SC 4370 | Law, Policy, and Regulation | 3 |
| POL_SC 4380 | Politics of Criminal Justice | 3 |
| POL_SC 4390 | United States Health Politics and Policy | 3 |
| POL_SC 4940 | Political Science Internship § | 3 |
| P_HLTH 3960 | Public Health, Drugs and Policy | 3 |
| PRST 3230 | Outdoor Recreation Policy | 3 |
| PRST 4310 | Fundraising and Grants Proposal Writing | 3 |
| PRST 4340 | Recreation Land Management | 3 |
| SOC_WK 4710 | Social Justice and Social Policy | 3 |
| SOCIOL 2281 | Nuclear Weapons: Environmental, Health and Social Effects | 3 |
| SOCIOL 3000 | Urban Sociology | 3 |
| SOCIOL 3330 | Environmental Justice | 3 |
| SOCIOL 3440 | Sociology of Health | 3 |
| SOCIOL 4500 | Sociology of Social Policy | 3 |
| SOCIOL 4545 | Sociology of Immigration | 3 |
| SRV_LRN 3028 | Civic Leaders Internship § | 3 |
| WGST 3260 | Gender, Law and Justice | 3 |
- *
The major Writing Intensive (WI) requirement may be fulfilled by a 3000-level or higher major core WI course, an approved major elective WI course, or as approved by the department.
- ^
Students select elective coursework that fulfills their career goals. The list above is not exhaustive; contact your advisor if you have questions about potential major electives.
- §
A maximum of 3 total credit hours of PUB_AF 2940, POL_SC 2940, POL_SC 4940 and/or SRV_LRN 3028 are allowed to count towards major electives.
Accelerated BA in Public Administration and Policy to Master of Arts (MA) in Defense and Strategic Studies Program
The TrumanSchool’s Master of Arts (MA) in Defense and Strategic Studies equips students with a broadened intellectual horizon and increased understanding of international relations theory and conflict studies. Our graduates are equipped for military and civilian careers, particularly positions in government agencies, think tanks, and industries related to international security. The MA in Defense and Strategic Studies requires 30 credit hours of coursework. Students take three core courses and 7 elective courses. At least 12 credit hours must be at the 8000-level. All courses are three credit hours.
The Truman School of Government and Public Affairs offers a 4+1 program that allows undergraduate students to earn their BA in Public Administration and Policy and an MA in Defense and Strategic Studies in five total years. Students in this accelerated option may take up to 15 credit hours from the list below during their undergraduate career. These courses will count towards the Public Administration and Policy major electives.
Undergraduate students must complete 90 credit hours with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and be officially accepted into the accelerated program prior to beginning dual enrolled graduate-level courses. Upon successful completion of program requirements, the undergraduate degree is conferred at the end of year four and the MA is conferred at the end of year five.
Total credit hours for graduation: 135
- Undergraduate credit hours: 105
- Dual-enrolled credit hours: 15
- Graduate credit hours: 15
| Core Courses | 9 | |
| POL_SC 8450 | International Conflict | 3 |
| POL_SC 8470 | Understanding Civil War | 3 |
| POL_SC 8550 | Strategic Studies | 3 |
| Elective Courses | 21 | |
| POL_SC 7412 | Strategy and Warfare | 3 |
| POL_SC 7415 | Peacekeeping and Intervention | 3 |
| POL_SC 7500 | Insurgency and Counterinsurgency | 3 |
| POL_SC 7510 | Intelligence and National Security | 3 |
| POL_SC 7520 | Deterrence and Nuclear Weapons | 3 |
| POL_SC 7540 | American Foreign Policies | 3 |
| POL_SC 7560 | Military and Strategic Thought | 3 |
| POL_SC 8400 | International Relations Theory | 3 |
| POL_SC 8560 | Military Innovation in Peace and War | 3 |
| PUB_AF 8170 | Public Policy Processes and Strategies | 3 |
| PUB_AF 8210 | Public Service and Democracy | 3 |
| PUB_AF 8530 | Strategic Management of Public Service Organizations: People, Information and Money | 3 |
Accelerated BA in Public Administration and Policy to Master of Public Affairs (MPA) Program
The Master of Public Affairs (MPA) is a professional degree combining rigorous coursework and experiential learning opportunities to prepare students for ethical leadership in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. The Truman School of Government and Public Affairs offers a 4+1 program that allows undergraduate students to earn their BA in Public Administration and Policy and an MPA in five total years. Students accepted into the program will begin taking dual-enrolled graduate-level coursework during their fourth year of study to count towards both their undergraduate and graduate program requirements. Any dual-enrolled 7000-level or higher PUB_AF course may be used towards Public Administration and Policy major electives.
Undergraduate students must complete 90 credit hours with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and be officially accepted into the accelerated program prior to beginning dual enrolled graduate-level courses. Upon successful completion of program requirements, the undergraduate degree is conferred at the end of year four and the MPA is conferred at the end of year five.
Total minimum credit hours for graduation: 141
- Undergraduate credit hours: 105
- Dual-enrolled credit hours: 15
- Graduate credit hours: 21
| Fourth Year (Dual Enrollment) | 15 | |
| PUB_AF 8180 | Research Methods and Inquiry in Public Affairs I | 3 |
| PUB_AF 8181 | Research Methods and Inquiry in Public Affairs II | 3 |
| PUB_AF 8280 | Public Affairs Internship | 3 |
| Graduate Electives | 6 | |
| Fifth Year (Full-time Graduate Student) | 21 | |
| PUB_AF 8210 | Public Service and Democracy | 3 |
| PUB_AF 8211 | MPA Capstone (Applied Project) | 3 |
| Graduate Electives | 15 | |
Semester Plan
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| PUB_AF 1000 | 3 | Major Elective | 3 |
| ENGLSH 1000 | 3 | Math and Quantitative Reasoning | 3 |
| Missouri State Law Requirement: Social Science from Arts & Science | 3 | Second Language Requirement | 4 |
| Humanities from Arts & Science | 3 | Humanities, 2000+ level | 3 |
| Behavioral Science from Arts & Science | 3 | Social Science | 3 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| POL_SC 4320 | 3 | Major Elective | 3 |
| Second Language Requirement | 4 | Second Language Requirement | 4 |
| Biological or Physical Science Lab | 3 | Behavioral Science, 2000+ level | 3 |
| Social Science, 2000+ level | 3 | Humanities, First Writing Intensive | 3 |
| Second major, minor, certificate, or elective | 3 | Second major, minor, certificate, or elective | 3 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Major Elective | 3 | PUB_AF 4420W | 3 |
| Biological, Physical, or Mathematical Science | 3 | COMMUN 3460, 3572, 4473, 4476, 4478, or 4491 | 3 |
| Humanities | 3 | Biological, Physical, or Mathematical Science | 3 |
| Second major, minor, certificate, or elective, 3000+ level | 3 | Second major, minor, certificate, or elective, 3000+ level | 3 |
| Second major, minor, certificate, or elective | 3 | Second major, minor, certificate, or elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| COMMUN 3460, 3572, 4473, 4476, 4478, or 4491 | 3 | Major Elective | 3 |
| Major Elective | 3 | Second major, minor, certificate, or elective, 3000+ level | 3 |
| Second major, minor, certificate, or elective, 3000+ level | 3 | Second major, minor, certificate, or elective, 3000+ level | 3 |
| Second major, minor, certificate, or elective, 3000+ level | 3 | Second major, minor, certificate, or elective | 3 |
| Second major, minor, certificate, or elective | 3 | ||
| 15 | 12 | ||
| Total Credits: 120 | |||
Degree Audit
The degree audit is an automated report reflecting a student’s academic progress toward the completion of a degree.
MU students can request a degree audit by logging in to myDegreePlanner. Students may also access myDegreePlanner via myZou, in the Student Center, click on the Academic Progress Tile, then select Request Degree Audit. The audit automatically pulls in the student’s MU course work, transfer courses and courses in progress. This is available to current students, admitted students, and those who last attended less than three terms ago.
Past MU students can request a degree audit by contacting the Academic Advising Unit of the division in which they were last enrolled at MU. For contact information, go to https://advising.missouri.edu/contact/.
Prospective students, can access a preliminary MU degree audit via https://www.transferology.com. Information on the college credits already earned will have to be manually entered before it can be evaluated against current degree requirements.
For additional details on degree audits, go to https://registrar.missouri.edu/degrees-audits/degree-audits/.
Major and Career Exploration
The University of Missouri has many resources to assist you in exploring majors and career possibilities. For guidance, visit the Majors and Careers website or view specific resources below.
- Change your Major. If you are considering changing your undergraduate major or are choosing between several majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Discovery Center by calling (573) 884-9700 or through the Discovery Center service in your MU Connect success network.
- Decided on a Major. If you have decided on a major, visit an academic advisor in the School or College that you are interested in to discuss the process of declaring that major.
- Identify your Interests and Strengths. If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values, and talents, visit the staff at the MU Career Center. No appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.
- Explore MU Majors. If you would like information about MU majors and degree programs, visit Majors at Mizzou or the Degrees, Majors (Degree Programs), Emphasis Areas, Minors and Certificates page in the catalog.
For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.