Online Bachelor of Public Policy and Service

With an emphasis on creative problem-solving, leadership, and management in complex urban environments in this country and internationally, The FIU Department of Public Policy and Administration offers highly regarded programs that produce graduates who have ascended to the highest levels of local government and nonprofit administration within South Florida and beyond.

The Bachelor's degree in Public Policy and Service offers graduates tremendous flexibility in career choices. You may conduct fundraising campaigns for a nonprofit organization, negotiate city and state vendors for public services as a contract administrator, supervise public policy for healthcare research that leads to legislation, or manage municipal finances. Potential job titles may include town manager, public affairs officer, state finance officer, program review officer, legislative analyst, and regulatory agency manager, among others.

According to the U.S Department Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of social and community service managers is predicted to grow 13 percent from now until 2028, faster than the average for all occupations. Employment growth will be driven by the needs of an aging population, as well as an increase in health services. Job prospects are expected to be good because of the continued expected demand for social and public services.

Program Completion Requirements

Total Credits: 120 

Public Policy and Service Credits: 60

If you are an entering freshman or a transfer student, who has not yet earned an Associate degree, you must complete the 60 credits of general education courses, in addition to the 60 credits for the BA in Public Policy and Service.

If you have completed an associate degree from an accredited Florida Institution, you will move directly into completing required courses for the Bachelor in Public Policy and Service.  If your associate degree is from outside the state of Florida or from a private institution within the state, your credits will be examined on a case-by-case basis to ensure they meet Florida International University's core curriculum requirements.

Students must complete 60 credit hours at the 3000 or 4000 level.

( The Bachelor in Public Policy and Service Curriculum is listed below)

Core Requirements

Eight core courses (24 credits), including a three-credit seminar, PAD 4934 (Integrative Seminar in Public Policy and Service).

Introduction to Public Policy and Service PAD 3003

The course will provide an overview of the field of public policy and service by focusing on its development and importance in modern government operations. The course will also review operation of government at local, state, and federal levels.

Policy Development and Implementation - Global Learning designation (GL) PAD 3034

Examines the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of governmental efforts at federal, state, and local levels 

Managing Global Cities - GL   PAD 3800Introduction to principles of urban governance in order to manage specific development problems of global cities.

Public Sector Budgeting PAD 4223

The theory and practice of various approaches to budgeting, including line-item, performance, PPBS budgeting. Special emphasis on the role of the budget in shaping the program and performance and policy direction of public organizations . 

Applied Research Methods for Policy & Management PAD 4723

Research design, sampling, critical evaluation, basic research ethics, experiments and quasi experiments, reliability and validity surveys, design-implementation, qualitative and quantitative methods, secondary analysis evaluation and presentation. 

Personnel Skills for Public Administrators PAD 4414

The general nature of public personnel administration; the development of the civil service system; concepts and issues currently applicable at the federal, state, and local levels of government.

Administrative Leadership and Behavior PAD 4432

Designed to expose students to a systematically related set of concepts for diagnosing human behavior in organizations; and to establish a positive value for the analysis of problems involving people, structure, environment, task technology, and situational climate.

Integrative Seminar in Public Policy and Service PAD 4934

The terminal course of the program. Students will integrate coursework and theory into the analysis of a public policy or public management problem and produce a final seminar paper. Prerequisites: Successful completion of required courses and a total of at least 108 credits.

Concentration Electives:

Four courses (12 credits) of concentration electives to be taken from the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) at the 3000 level or greater

General Electives:

Eight courses (24 credits) of general electives from any department at the 3000 level or greater

Please contact the Department of Public Policy Administration for a list of Recommended Minors and Undergraduate Certificates to fulfill Elective Requirements.

To ensure every student’s success, we have certain admissions requirements for our program. To help you through the application process, our enrollment advisors can help to answer your questions and guide you every step of the way.

Applications are accepted for Spring, Fall and Summer terms.

Steps To Apply:

First Year Students

Please submit the following:

• Online application

• $30 application fee

• Official SAT, ACT and/or CLT scores

• Official high school transcripts

Transfer Students

Please submit the following:

• Online application

• $30 application fee

• Official college transcripts

If you have less than 60 transferable college credits, you must also submit official high school transcripts and SAT, ACT and/or CLT scores in addition to any transcripts from postsecondary schools to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

International Students

In addition to the above requirements, international applicants should submit:

• Official English Language Proficiency exam scores (TOEFL or IELTS).

• Official translations of any transcripts, if not in English.

If you have less than 60 transferable college credits, you must also submit official high school transcripts with translation.

Returning Students

Returning students must meet the current university and degree-specific requirements to be admitted.

For more details, FIU has policies for policies for students who left FIU.

Please submit the following:

• Online application $30 application fee.

• Updated official transcripts

Program Admission Requirements

Candidates must first be accepted into the university. Students admitted to Florida International University are admitted directly to their chosen major.

Program Completion Requirements

A total of 120 credits are required to complete the fully online undergraduate degree. Students must complete the University Core Curriculum, University requirements and Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs requirements while satisfying requirements toward their major and are expected to make good progress based on critical indicators, such as GPA in specific courses or credits earned. In cases where students are not making good progress, a change of major may be required. Advisors work to redirect students to more appropriate majors when critical indicators are not met. For specific course requirements, visit the Courses tab on this program page.

Admission Documents

To complete the online undergraduate programs admissions form, select your program from the application form. You may complete the online application and submit it, even before taking any entrance exams. All supporting admission documents may be sent to:

Florida International University

Office of Undergraduate Admissions

P.O. Box 659003

Miami, FL 33265-9003

USA

FIU also accepts transcripts electronically via:

• Faster (All FL public institutions)

• Naviance (Typically used by private high schools)

• SMART/Joint Service Transcript – Military records

*Meeting the university minimum requirements does not guarantee admission

We’re thrilled that you’re considering online education and want you to know exactly what to expect for tuition and fees. Education is an investment in your future. Use the following student tuition and fees calculator to determine your costs.