Public Administration Degree Online Programs

Bachelor, PhD and Master of Pubic Administration (MPA) Degrees

Earning your public administration degree online provides you with the financial and management skills needed to advance your career in government, non-profit, military, public sector organizations and politics.

Online public administration degree programs provide students with an understanding of the policies, management styles and challenges of public leadership.

Throughout the program, students learn many skills that prepare them for positions in the public sector, government and non-profit organizations (NGO's). This includes implementing public policy issues using critical thinking, and working with groups of people to emphasize collaboration.

Other topics covered during a public administration degree include laws and regulations, written and oral communications, conflict management, financial modeling and decision making.

Benefits of an online public administration degree

Online degrees offer a good return on investment, enabling you to bolster your credentials at a lower price than many campus-based programs. Earning your public administration degree online brings you a quality education in a convenient and flexible format. Accelerated online programs are available that allow you to complete your degree and start your career in less time. In addition, many schools have rolling admissions, which means you can begin your degree at several points throughout the year.

What to expect from an online public administration degree

• When you enroll in an online degree while continuing to work, you will have plenty of chances to apply what you are learning to problems faced within your current organization.
• Schools may require completion of a standardized test-such as the SAT, ACT or GRE-before enrolling. Other schools may place less emphasis on test scores and look at your work experience, prior educational background and desire to learn.
• Courses are taught by experienced professionals from public, government and business organizations, bringing you providing you with in-depth knowledge, theoretical foundations and well practical applications of public administration.
• Academic advisors are available to support and guide you during the online program. Advisors, along with your instructors, are valuable resources that can help you succeed.

Online public administration degrees and program specializations

Public administration applies business principles to public sector, government and non-profit organizations. An online degree in public administration is ideal for current professionals in those areas, as well as others interested in starting a career in public administration.

Many levels of online public administration degrees exist, with concentrations available in health care administration, city planning and criminal justice. An online master of public administration or MPA degree will offer additional options for specialization, such as policy analysis, emergency management, urban affairs, and management and operations.

• Associates degree in public administration
• Bachelors degree in public administration
• Masters degree in public administration
• Doctorate in public administration

Colleges with Public Administration Degree Online Programs

Walden University is one of the largest, accredited online university. Their online bachelors, PhD and master of public administration and policy degree programs include:

• BS in Political Science & Public Administration
• BS in Political Science & Public Administration - Global Issues & Social Justice
• BS in Political Science & Public Administration - Law & Legal Studies
• BS in Political Science & Public Administration - Managing in the Public Environment
• BS in Political Science & Public Administration - Public Service through Civic Engagement
• BS in Political Science & Public Administration - Social Entrepreneurship
• Master of Public Administration (MPA) - General Program
• Master of Public Administration (MPA) - Health Policy
• Master of Public Administration (MPA) - Homeland Security Policy
• Master of Public Administration (MPA) - Interdisciplinary Policy Studies
• Master of Public Administration (MPA) - Law and Public Policy
• Master of Public Administration (MPA) - Public Finance and Budgeting
• Master of Public Administration (MPA) - Public Management and Leadership
• Master of Public Administration (MPA) - Local Government Management for Sustainable Communities
• Master of Public Administration (MPA) - Nonprofit Management and Leadership
• Master of Public Administration (MPA) - Policy Analysis
• Master of Public Administration (MPA) - Terrorism, Mediation and Peace
• Master of Public Policy
• Master of Public Policy - Criminal Justice
• Master of Public Policy - Emergency Management
• Master of Public Policy - Health Policy
• Master of Public Policy - Homeland Security Policy
• Master of Public Policy - Homeland Security Policy & Coordination
• Master of Public Policy - Interdisciplinary Policy Studies
• Master of Public Policy - International Nongovernmental Organizations
• Master of Public Policy - Law and Public Policy
• Master of Public Policy - Local Government Mgmt for Sustainable Communities
• Master of Public Policy - Nonprofit Management and Leadership
• Master of Public Policy - Public Mgmt Leadership
• Master of Public Policy - Terrorism, Mediation, & Peace
• Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration - Course based - Terrorism, Mediation, and Peace
• Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration - Course-based - Criminal Justice
• Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration - Course-based - Emergency Management
• Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration - Course-based - General
• Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration - Course-based - Health Policy
• Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration - Course-based - Homeland Security Policy and Coordination
• Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration - Course-based - Interdisciplinary Policy Studies
• Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration - Course-based - International NGO
• Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration - Course-based - Law and Public Policy
• Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration - Course-based - Local Government Mgmt for Sustainability
• Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration - Course-based - Nonprofit Management and Leadership
• Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration - Course-based - Policy Analysis
• Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration - Course-based - Public Management and Leadership
• Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration - Mixed-Model - Criminal Justice
• Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration - Mixed-Model - Emergency Management
• Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration - Mixed-Model - Health Policy
• Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration - Mixed-Model - Homeland Security Policy and Coordination
• Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration - Mixed-Model - Interdisciplinary Policy Studies
• Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration - Mixed-Model - International Non Governmental Organization
• Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration - Mixed-Model - Law and Public Policy
• Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration - Mixed-Model - Local Government Management for Sustainability
• Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration - Mixed-Model - Nonprofit Management and Leadership
• Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration - Mixed-Model - Policy Analysis
• Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration - Mixed-Model - Public Management and Leadership
• Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration - Mixed-Model - Terrorism, Mediation, and Peace
• Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration - Mixed-model - General

Strayer University offers the following public administration degree online programs:

• Masters of Public Administration
• Master of Business Administration: Public Administration Concentration

Ashford University offers the following public administration degree online programs:

• BA/Organizational Management - Public Administration
• BA/Organizational Management - Public Safety Administration
• Bachelor of Arts - Public Administration
• MA/Organizational Management - Public Administration
• Masters in Public Administration
• MBA/Public Administration

Northcentral University - offers the following public administration masters degree online:

• Master of Business Administration (MBA) - Public Administration

Career options with a public administration degree

Career options vary with the degree level. Graduates of undergraduate degree programs can apply their skills to organizations, such as city government and healthcare agencies. This may involve managing the daily operations, fundraising, or negotiating and administering contracts. Those with master's degrees will find themselves more heavily involved in management, budgeting and higher-level decision making.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics includes several career areas under the umbrella term public administration, such as executive and justice positions, human resource and economic administrators, and urban planning and community-related jobs. Government employment of public administration officials is expected to increase by 11.8 percent between 2002 and 2012, with employment in healthcare and social service organizations increasing by 32.4 percent.

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