The Bachelor of Public Affairs offers a dynamic, interdisciplinary curriculum designed to prepare students for immediate entry into meaningful careers in public service. The program combines rigorous academic coursework with practical experiences, emphasizing policy analysis, data analytics, and organization leadership and management. Students engage with a diverse array of subjects, including economics, quantitative and qualitative policy analysis, communications, and leadership while also participating in hands-on projects, internships, and service-learning opportunities. This comprehensive approach equips graduates with the knowledge and skills needed to address complex societal challenges and make impactful contributions in various public sector and nonprofit roles.
Curriculum Overview
Core Curriculum ( 42 credit hours)
All students pursuing an undergraduate degree at the University must complete the forty-two-hour statewide Core Curriculum.
The following required courses in the major also satisfy some core curriculum requirements:
P A 320 | Communication for Public Affairs (required for major) |
ECO 304K | Introduction to Microeconomics (required for major) |
SDS 320E | Elements of Statistics (required for major) |
Major Coursework ( 27 credit hours)
Course | Course Title | Credit Hours |
ECO 304K | Introduction to Microeconomics | 3 |
SDS 302F | Foundations of Data Analysis | 3 |
P A 301 | Foundations of Public Affairs | 3 |
P A 305 | Analysis of Policy Adoption and Implementation | 3 |
P A 311L | Qualitative Methods for Public Affairs | 3 |
P A 311N | Quantitative Methods for Public Affairs | 3 |
P A 315 | Economic Analysis for Public Affairs | 3 |
P A 320 | Communication for Public Affairs | 3 |
P A 136 | Professional Development | 1 |
P A 137 | Leadership Laboratory | 1 |
P A 168 | Policy Simulation | 1 |
Prescribed Electives ( 15 credit hours)
At least one writing intensive P A 345 seminar: | 3 | |
P A 345 | Advanced Topics in Policy (any topic) | |
12 additional hours chosen from the following: | 12 | |
P A 325 | Topics in Policy (any topic) | |
or P A 345 | Advanced Topics in Policy (any topic) | |
or P A 355 | Advanced Topics in Policy Analysis Skills and Methods (any topic) | |
Required Minor or Certificate ( 15 credit hours)
Completion of an undergraduate transcript-recognized minor or certificate (or completion of a second major) in a different field. Students must meet the minimum grade requirements and grade point average requirements of the program.
Free Electives ( 30 credit hours)
Additional coursework to fulfill all degree requirements and reach a total of 120 semester hours.
Public Affairs Major Coursework
The required courses in the major equip students with the conceptual, analytical, and professional tools to be successful in careers in public affairs.
Conceptually, the Foundations of Public Affairs course introduces students to the realm of public affairs by examining the role that government plays in society, the historical evolution of the public sphere in the United States, and the moral and ethical aspects of public policies. The Analysis of Policy Adoption and Implementation course builds on this foundation by giving students a map and a framework for thinking about public policy from the inception of a proposal to the adoption of rules and policies all the way to the implementation and management of programs.
Analytically, students acquire the skills of using economic analysis to design and evaluate policies via their Introduction to Microeconomics and Economic Analysis of Public Affairs courses. They also build a foundation of strong quantitative and qualitative methods via the Statistics, Qualitative Methods for Public Affairs, and Quantitative Methods of Public Affairs courses in the major. Finally, the major also emphasizes professional skills such as writing and communication, professional behavior, and leadership. These skills form the backbone of the Communication for Public Affairs, Professional Development, and Leadership Laboratory courses.
Graduating students then put all of these acquired skills and competencies together in a capstone experience (the Policy Simulation) that puts them in the middle of a realistic policy scenario in which they have to use all that they have learned to craft solutions to a current policy problem under time pressure.
While completing these core curricular requirements, students in the major also craft their own specific areas of expertise within public affairs. Each student takes five courses on specific policy areas of their choice and completes a university-recognized minor/certificate (or a simultaneous major) in a field of their choosing. This allows every graduate to tailor their degree to their specific interests and passions.
Sample Curriculum
First Year
Fall
- UGS 016: FIG Seminar (Major)
- P A 301: Foundations of Public Affairs (Major)
- OR SDS 302F/SDS 320E: Data Analysis/Statistics (Major and Core)
- ECO 304K: Microeconomics (Major and Core)
- GOV 310L: American and Texas Government (Core)
- RHE 306: Rhetoric and Writing (Core)
- UGS 302/UGS 303: Signature Course (Core)
- OR P A 325: Topics in Policy 1 (Major)
Spring
- P A 301: Foundations of Public Affairs (Major)
- OR SDS 302F/SDS 320E: Data Analysis/Statistics (Major and Core)
- P A 305: Analysis of Policy Adoption & Implementation (Major)
- OR P A 309.X: Introductory Topics to Policy 1 (Major)
- GOV 312L: Issues and Policies in American Government (Core)
- US History (Core)
- E 316L, 316M, 316N, or 316P (Core)
Second Year
Fall
- P A 305: Analysis of Policy Adoption & Implementation (Major)
- OR P A 309.X: Introductory Topics to Policy 1 (Major)
- P A 311N: Quantitative Methods for Public Affairs (Major)
- P A 320: Communications for Public Affairs (Major)
- P A 309.X: Introductory Topics to Policy 2 (Major)
- US History (Core)
- P A 136: Professional Development (Major), to be taken either in Fall or Spring of 2nd year
Spring
- P A 311L: Qualitative Methods for Public Affairs (Major)
- P A 315: Economic Analysis for Public Affairs (Major)
- P A 325: Topics in Policy 3 (Major)
- Visual and Performing Arts (Core)
- Free Elective
Third Year
Fall
- P A 325: Topics in Policy 4 (Major)
- Minor/Certificate Requirement 1
- Natural Science and Technology, Part I (Core)
- Free Elective
- Free Elective
- P A 137: Leadership Lab (Major), to be taken either in Fall or Spring of 3rd year
Spring
- P A 345: Advanced Topics in Policy 5 (Major)
- Natural Science and Technology, Part I (Core)
- Minor/Certificate Requirement 2
- Minor/Certificate Requirement 3
- Free Elective
Fourth Year
Fall
- Natural Science and Technology, Part II (Core)
- Minor/Certificate Requirement 4
- Minor/Certificate Requirement 5
- Free Elective
- Free Elective
- P A 168: Policy Simulation (Major), to be taken either in Fall or Spring of 4th year
Spring
- Minor/Certificate Requirement 6 (if needed)
- OR Free Elective
- Free Elective
- Free Elective
- Free Elective