B.A.A.S. Public Administration
Overview
The Public Administration BAAS program is designed for working professionals with experience in the public sector who are interested in advancing their careers and obtain supervisory and leadership positions within their organizations.
This bachelor’s completion degree awards students with 12 to 33 academic credits for previous professional training in the field such as fire service, law enforcement, and military training. It prepares you for career changes, job promotions and also graduate school. Tarleton offers a Master’s in Public Administration and could take 6 hours at the graduate level that would apply towards your master’s degree if you choose to continue your learning.
The program emphasizes learning that is grounded in real-world experiences, and connects key components of leadership and administration such as organizational behavior, public policy, public budgeting, legal issues and conflict resolution. We deliver high quality education that is optimized for working professionals and is aimed to prepare students to lead, influence and manage in a diversified work environment.
What is Public Administration?
Public administration is the “what” of government, where the rubber meets the road from policy to action. Professionals address public policy processes and issues. They practice the ideals of democracy, democratic action and public service to achieve such goals as impartiality, social justice, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Our students are law enforcement and criminal justice professionals, firefighters, government employees and veterans from our armed forces. Career paths in public sector agencies and other government employment opportunities exist for our students in public administration.
What Can You Do with Your Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration?
Public administration focuses on leadership development that improves communities. Students who earn a degree in public administration will be prepared to use their knowledge and skills in a wide variety of areas such as finance, management, politics, policy, planning, human resources, public safety.
Program Objectives
- Expand the students’ knowledge of public administration
- Prepare students to use their knowledge and skills in a wide variety of public sector professions
- Provide students with the skills and knowledge require to successfully navigate the competitive process to advance within career opportunities.
- Deliver high quality education that prepares students to lead, influence and manage in a diversified work environment.
Estimated Completion
120 credit hours (2-4 years)
*Minimum 30 hours must be done at Tarleton
Application Process
Cost
Locations Available
School
Program
What are the qualifications for the BAAS degree?
- You must work or have worked for a fire agency, law enforcement, public agency. This includes firefighters, fire inspectors, other fire service related experience as well as law enforcement, criminal justice and other related career fields OR Public Administration (government and non-profit) training experience and military specialties with closely related operations in public administration.
- You must have a certain number of documented training hours to qualify.
- To qualify for the full 33 credits, you must have a total of 496 documented training. This training may be through TCOLE, State Fire Training, US Military training related to fire services, or some other documented and related training in public service.
- If you do not have the 496 documented training hours to receive the 33 credits,
- You may qualify with a minimum of 180 training hours from fire related training. This training must be documented by the official department or licensing authority, such as fire certifications and licensing authorities.
- With 180 training hours, the amount of credits you may receive is 12.
- You may qualify for more than 12 credits but less than 33 credits depending upon the number of training hours, and lower-level college fire training course work. Lower level course work is the 1000 or 2000 level college courses.
- You do not have to be currently employed by an agency or active duty to be eligible for the BAAS program. You must have a minimum of 180 documented training hours to qualify regardless of the year earned. They must be documented or supported by official documentation from a licensing authority, regulatory agency, or other official certifying entity.
- Work experience or years of service no longer is used to calculate credits.
Credit for Prior Learning (CPL)
- Workforce Hours: Workforce courses in the fields of Fire Fighting, Public administration, emergency management, security and criminal justice, or other related workforce credit hours taught at a community college
- Certifications: Training and certifications Law Enforcement related training records including all aspects of LE service training and academies/SWAT etc.. Any Federal related training in the students career field. State Employee training tied to work within a state agency is accepted. Local government training tied to current or past career work. Such areas as water department, public works, city management etc. Non profit organization training, or other related management or technical practices
- Military Service: Your military experience and training documented on your joint services transcript (JST) in MOS, Fire Department related training records including all aspects of fire service training and academies/EMT paramedic school.
- Flexible Learning Options: We offer online and hybrid formats on our Stephenville, Waco and Ft Worth campuses to accommodate your busy schedule.
- Reduced Time to Completion: By leveraging your existing knowledge and skills, you will be able to complete your degree faster and at a lower cost.
- Experienced Faculty: Our instructors are industry professionals who understand the value of real-world experience and can help you connect your learning to your career goals.
- Scholarships: Discover our Career Enrichment Scholarship for a steady, affordable education. The Fixed-Price Degree Scholarship keeps costs constant, covering the difference to ensure your cost will be, at most, $200 per credit hour for five years after you start your degree. Secure your education with confidence.
Who can I contact for more information?
If you are looking for more information feel free to either request more information below using the form or contact Dr. Tracy E Rickman at 817-484-4392 or email [email protected].
Course Highlights
| Class | Number | Class Name |
|---|---|---|
| PUAD | 3301 | Principles of PA |
| PUAD | 3302 | Intergovernmental Relations |
| PUAD | 3303 | Intro to Public Policy |
| PUAD | 3305 | Intro to Public Budgeting |
| PUAD | 4304 | Organizational Behavior in PA |
| PUAD | 4305 | HR Management in PA |
| PUAD | 4317 | Capstone in PA |
| PUAD | 4318 | PA Ethics |
| PUAD | 4319 | Professional Writings in PA (WI) |
Accreditations
How Do You Get Started on Your Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration?
Take the next step toward earning your bachelor’s degree in public administration. We have the resources to help you get started. Speak with faculty from public administration by emailing [email protected].
- Submit Tarleton State’s Admission Application.
- Please visit the Tarleton State University Admissions page
Plan Your Future
Career Opportunities
A Bachelor of Science in Public Administration can lead to career options and areas such as:
- Variety of public, nonprofit, and non-governmental organizations delivering goods and services at the federal, state, and local levels
- City and County Managers / Assistant City and County Managers
- Finance Directors
- Accounts Receivable
- Emergency Management
- Firefighting, policing, probation
- Public Works, Museums, Libraries, Transportation
- Public Health, Agriculture, Public Education Administration
Opportunities will exist among a list of public sector organizations from city, county to state, nonprofits and NGOs.
Career Services offers students a wide variety of professional development opportunities that can translate into careers. A few of these programs include:
- Career counseling and My Plan
- Handshake
- Mock interviews
- Resume assistance
- Texan Shadow
And many more!