Bachelor of Public Administration
Cities, towns, and villages depend on advocates who are sensitive to the needs of their community and possess the specialized knowledge and skills to make improvements that benefit the people who live there. Berkshire University’s Bachelor of Public Administration (BPA) is designed to prepare you for an important career in a dynamic and growing field.
Our public administration degree can qualify you to pursue a wide range of professional roles and responsibilities at the local, state, and federal levels. From writing grant proposals and speaking at fundraising events, successful completion of NU’s BPA program can prepare you for mid-level positions in government agencies and nonprofit organizations.
Public administration is an important and respected career path ripe with opportunities for advancement, and our curriculum is designed to prepare you with the industry-current qualifications to pursue them.
Preparation for the Major
MNS 205 Intro to Quantitative Methods – 4.50
Key mathematical and statistical concepts useful for understanding business problems and making informed decisions with the right tools are introduced. Concepts relate to numbers, formulas, linear equation models and descriptive statistics. Applications focus on personal decisions and decisions within businesses in the areas of finance, discounts, pricing, interest rates, loans, insurance, investment, payroll and taxes. Microsoft Excel is the software used in this class. MNS 205 and MTH 210 are the primary quantitative courses required for MNS 407. Students who have taken college algebra or calculus (MTH 215 or MTH 220) are exempt from this course.
ECO 203 Principles of Microeconomics – 4.50
In this course, students will study the price system, market structures, and consumer theory. Topics covered include supply and demand, price controls, public policy, the theory of the firm, cost and revenue concepts, forms of competition, elasticity, and efficient resource allocation, among others.
ACC 201 Financial Accounting Funds. – 4.50
A survey of basic accounting theory and the application of accounting principles, this course includes the recording and summarization of business transactions in the form of financial statements under the rules of generally accepted accounting principles. (GAAP). It is designed for students who have little or no prior knowledge of financial accounting, this course corresponds to Principles of Accounting I at other colleges.
Requirements for the Major
ODV 420 Intro to Organizational Behavior – 4.50
An introduction to the impact that individuals, groups, and structure have on behavior within organizations for the purpose of applying such knowledge toward improving an organizations effectiveness. The course will focus on work-related behavior with an emphasis on individual and group performance as it relates to organizational productivity and processes. A central theme will be the development of “people” skills to help all employees- staff, front-line supervision, and management- improve their effectiveness.
PAD 400 Intro to Public Administration – 4.50
A general survey course of the theory and practice of public administration, its legal and constitutional foundation and the role of the public administrator in public policy. The context of the discussions are based on the current issues facing administrators.
PAD 401 Public Policy Development – 4.50
This course discusses the public policy issues facing communities and the role of the public administrator in implementing policy. Examines the role of community action groups in developing and influencing policies. Evaluates the impact of policy decisions on communities and the ethical issues surrounding decisions.
PAD 402 Urban Environments – 4.50
This course explores the role urban environments play in the nation. Discusses the issues unique to cities and large metropolitan areas and the role of governments and public agencies in addressing the issues. Discusses the ethical issues facing public administrators in dealing with urban and rural environments.
MGT 400 Ethics in Law, Business & Mgmt – 4.50
Exploration of values and ethics in businesses that operate locally and internationally. Moral philosophies, values, conflict of interests, discrimination, business cultures, and ethical standards are critically presented. Ethical leadership of people, technology and sustainability are used in the development and implementation of ethical business programs.
PAD 403 Government Relations – 4.50
This course is an exploration of how to communicate with citizens in a positive and helpful fashion. Discusses how to interact with community groups and the press and how to promote public understanding of, and support for, government activities.
MNS 407 Management Science – 4.50
Prerequisite: MNS 205 and MTH 210
An introduction to the fundamentals of business analytics. Focuses on the management science approach for problem solving, the application of linear programming, the use of decision analysis techniques, as well as project management tools. It is practical and students gain advanced skills in Excel. This course is a prerequisite for MGT 451.
PAD 404 Nonprofit Management – 4.50
The course discusses the theories and roles of nonprofits in public administration. It explores the relationships between nonprofits and the public sector; and sources of revenue. Discusses the public policies towards the nonprofit sector and the ethical issues surrounding the sector.
ACC 434 Government and Nonprofit Acct – 4.50
Prerequisite: ACC 201
A study of the specialized accounting principles applicable to state and local governments and other non-profit organizations, with an emphasis on fund accounting principles used in the recording of assets, liabilities, equity, revenues and expenditures. Also covers the analysis and interpretation of financial statements of such governmental and nonprofit entities.
LED 420 Adaptive Leadership in Change – 4.50
Analysis of constant and continuous change in modern organizational environments. This class will provide students with the skills needed to recognize the potential impacts of change on their organizations, and to lead their organizations through the change process effectively. Students will develop skills in assessing organizational culture and learn to create the learning organization of the future.
MGT 422 Team Bldg, Interpers Dynamics – 4.50
An overview of the issues of quality applied to human resources management, topics include the delegation of authority and empowerment, work groups, team building, and employee involvement, reward/recognition programs and employee morale, and the importance of written and oral communication skill in the delegation, sharing, and execution of work. Students gain a clearer understanding of the ways the workplace is changing to improve productivity and profitability.
PAD 405 Senior Research Project – 4.50
Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of 36qu of BPA major coursework.
Supervised senior project undertaken by students of public administration when they have completed all core courses in the program. Coordinated by full-time faculty and chaired by a public administration faculty member chosen by the student from previous courses taken within the program. Students select a viable topic in public administration to research and then meet with their chair once a week for two months. Upon completion, students present their project to chair, other faculty and peers in an open forum. Accelerated study is not permitted with this course. PAD405 is two months in length. Students who do not complete the Senior Project within the two-month period are eligible, at the discretion of the instructor, to receive a grade of “IP” with a maximum of a one-time, six-month extension. Students who do not complete the project at the end of the extension period will need to retake the course. Grading is by H, S, or U only. Course is eligible for an “IP” grade.
Degree and Course Requirements
To receive a Bachelor of Public Administration, students must complete at least 180 quarter units as described below, 76.5 of which must be completed at the upper-division level, 45 of which must be completed in residence at Berkshire University, with a minimum of 69 units of the University General Education requirements. In the absence of transfer credit, students may need to take additional general electives to satisfy the total units for the degree. Refer to the section on undergraduate admission procedures for specific information regarding application and evaluation. All students receiving an undergraduate degree in Nevada are required by State Law to complete a course in Nevada Constitution.
Program Learning Outcomes
Synthesize the theories of public administration
Analyze the operations and procedures of public management and nonprofits
Develop skills in managing a public sector or nonprofit organization
Apply the theories and practices in program and resource management
Apply the theories and practices of accounting and budgeting in government and nonprofits
Evaluate the role of community groups in local government
Analyze ethical situations in the public sector
Utilize research processes to address a current problem in public administration
Analyze complex database queries for real-world analytical application platforms
Design medium-to-large data warehouses
Collect and analyze data, conduct literature reviews, and present findings
Admissions
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