Online Bachelor's Degree in Political Science with a Concentration in Public Administration
Develop the Skills To Shape Your Community
100% Online
2-4 Years
180 Credit Hours
$338 per Credit
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Your Foundation for a Career in Public Service
- Apply By: 12/21/26
- Start Class: 1/4/27
Shape your studies toward a meaningful career in governance and public policy with the online Bachelor’s in Political Science with a Public Administration Concentration from Eastern Oregon University. You’ll build a foundation in democratic governance, political theory and personnel management while gaining real-world insight through community-based learning. Whether you’re drawn to regional planning, policy analysis or public administration, you will develop the practical knowledge and leadership skills needed to make a real difference. This concentration also positions you for EOU’s 3+2 pathway to a Master of Public Administration.
Concentrations Details
- Build real-world experience through a capstone practicum in your area of interest
- Earn your bachelor’s degree and an MPA in five years through the 3+2 pathway
- Oregon-focused curriculum built around the real challenges facing local communities
Online Bachelor’s in Political Science with a Public Administration Concentration Curriculum
The Public Administration concentration combines theory and practice across a carefully designed course sequence. You will start with foundational courses in American government, political theory and constitutional law before moving into applied work in public policy, policy analysis and rural governance.
Upper-division courses in public personnel management and public service will develop your leadership and organizational skills, while the urban rural ambassador course offers a field-based look at governing across Oregon’s urban and rural communities. The concentration culminates in a field placement practicum that gives you real-world experience in your chosen career area before you graduate.
Political Science Degree with a Public Administration Concentration Required Courses
This course introduces the public policy process in the context of American democracy. There are many forces at play working for and against policy change. Students in this class learn about rules and norms, system complexity, and the role of policy actors and institutions in modern democratic governance. Through this course, you will be evaluated on your ability to remember, understand, and apply concepts, themes, and arguments related to policymaking.
The class aims to give students a feel for the hands-on work of community and regional planning, while providing conceptual understanding of the historical, political, legal, social, and environmental contexts that surround and affect the field, via case studies of a series of pressing planning issues- land use, economic development, sustainability. Student must have at least sophomore standing to register for this course.
An examination of the organization and operation of personnel systems and the role of leadership in the public and non-profit sectors. Course explores the motivational and personnel programs required by the organization, along with the leadership strategies for effective human resources management. Students must have at least sophomore standing to register for this course.
(Practicum) Designed to offer the student an opportunity to explore career areas and to extend the educational experience beyond the classroom. Students must have at least junior standing to register for this course.
In this 3-credit field-based class, we will learn about some of the commonalities and differences across Oregon’s communities that can serve as a critical framework for serving as a leader working collaboratively across Oregon’s urban-rural “divide.” Urban Oregon and rural Oregon share some common public challenges such as environmental health, transportation, housing, and climate change, though the geographic, social and policy context, and the requisite solutions, may often be quite different. Oregon’s capacity to address important public issues is dependent upon the ability of the state’s urban and rural interests to work together, and – where there are differences – to work through those differences for the common good. We will focus on food systems in this course as a lens for understanding these differences and commonalities and finding better ways to work together on public issues across urban and rural Oregon.
EOU’s online bachelor’s in political science is built around your career goals and schedule. The core coursework gives you a strong foundation in the knowledge and skills required to step into today’s public service careers with confidence.
View Program CurriculumHigh-Growth Careers in Public Service
A public administration concentration opens doors to roles as a regional planner, research analyst, policy analyst or public administrator. Employment of operations research analysts is projected to grow 21 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations,1 while employment of urban and regional planners is projected to grow three percent over the same period.2 With a strong foundation in policy, governance and public service, graduates are well-positioned to enter public sector careers or advance to a Master of Public Administration through EOU’s 3+2 pathway.
Research Analyst $91,290 per year1
Regional Planner $83,720 per year2
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore our frequently asked questions for in-depth answers. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, reach out to us.
Yes, Eastern Oregon University’s B.S./B.A. in Political Science with a Public Administration concentration is delivered entirely online in an asynchronous format, meaning there are no required class meeting times. You can complete coursework on your own schedule, which is designed with working adults in mind. The program includes four start dates per year, so you are not locked into a single enrollment window. One course, POLS 409 Field Placement (60 hours, available at junior standing), includes a hands-on component you arrange locally — details about that experience are addressed in the field placement FAQ below. Learn more about flexible online learning at EOU on the program’s overview page.
Tuition for the online B.S./B.A. in Political Science – Public Administration concentration at Eastern Oregon University is $338 per credit hour. With 180 total credit hours required for the degree, the total program cost is $60,840 before financial aid, scholarships or transfer credits. EOU also charges a $50 application fee, though fee waivers may be available. Students should contact the financial aid office to explore available aid and confirm whether any additional program fees apply. Review full tuition details on the program’s tuition page.
EOU’s online B.S./B.A. in Political Science — Public Administration concentration can be completed in 2 to 4 years depending on your enrollment pace and the number of transfer credits you bring in. The program offers both part-time and full-time enrollment options, so you can adjust your course load to match your work schedule and personal obligations. With four start dates per year, you are not limited to a single entry point, and you can begin making progress toward your degree sooner than many traditional programs allow. Explore the program curriculum to understand course sequencing.
Yes, the Public Administration concentration includes POLS 409 Field Placement, a 2-credit course that requires 60 hours of hands-on experience in a public or mission-driven setting. You must have at least junior standing before enrolling in this course, which gives you time to identify a placement site that fits your situation. Because details about how you arrange your site, whether hours can be completed at your current employer and what supervision is expected have not yet been fully confirmed in our records, we encourage you to contact the program directly for the most accurate guidance. Contact the program team through the admissions page for placement details.
A B.S./B.A. in Political Science with a Public Administration concentration prepares you for careers across government agencies, nonprofit organizations, legislative offices and public affairs. Graduates are positioned to pursue roles such as regional planner, research analyst, policy analyst and public administrator. The curriculum builds applied skills in policy analysis, stakeholder engagement, program evaluation and public-service writing — competencies that translate directly into the day-to-day work of local government, executive offices, advocacy organizations and community development settings. Explore specific career pathways on the program’s career outlook page.
Sources
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook, “Operations Research Analysts.” Retrieved June 19, 2026, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/math/operations-research-analysts.htm.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook, “Urban and Regional Planners.” Retrieved June 19, 2026, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/urban-and-regional-planners.htm.