Important: This degree plan is effective for those starting this degree program in fall 2024 through summer 2025. This degree plan will remain in effect for students who do not break enrollment or who do not change degree programs, concentrations, or cognates.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Core Courses
PADM 501	Fundamentals of Public Administration	3
PADM 530	Politics, Strategies, and Initiatives of Community Economic Development	3
PADM 550	Public Policy Analysis	3
PADM 600	Politics & Policy of Public Sector Budgeting	3
PADM 610	Management of Public Sector Organizations	3
PADM 620	Public Administration Praxis: Legal & Contemporary Issues	3
PPOL 505	Applied Public Policy Research Methods	3
Total Hours		21

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Law & Public Policy Cognate
JURI 600	Foundations of Law	3
PPOL 501	Foundations of American Governance: An Introduction to Public Policy	3
PPOL 650	International Law, Policy, and Politics	3
Total Hours		9

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Thesis or Elective Courses 1,2
PADM 688	Thesis Proposal	3
PADM 689	Thesis Research 3	3
PADM 690	Thesis Defense 4	0
Total Hours		6

¹

Students may take two elective courses² instead of PADM 688 Thesis Proposal (3 c.h.), PADM 689 Thesis Research (3 c.h.), and PADM 690 Thesis Defense (3 c.h.)

²

Choose from the following courses: Any 500-600 level course offered by the Helms School of Government. Other 500-600 level courses will be considered on a case-by-case basis

³

While PADM 689 Thesis Research (3 c.h.) may be taken more than once, only one enrollment in the course will be permitted to count toward degree requirements

⁴

Any thesis student who is not ready for enrollment in PADM 690 Thesis Defense (3 c.h.) after completing PADM 689 Thesis Research (3 c.h.) may be required, as determined by the student's thesis chair, to repeat PADM 689 Thesis Research (3 c.h.) until deemed ready for enrollment in PADM 690 Thesis Defense (3 c.h.)

All applicable prerequisites must be met

Graduation Requirements

• Complete 36 hours
• A maximum of 50% of the program hours may be transferred if approved and allowable, including credit from an earned degree from Liberty University on the same academic level
• 3.0 GPA
• No more than two grades of C may be applied to the degree (includes grades of C+ & C-)
• No grade of D or below may be applied to the degree (includes grades of D+ & D-)
• Degree must be completed within 5 years
• Submission of Degree Completion Application must be completed within the last semester of a student’s anticipated graduation date

Program Offered in Online Format

Plan of Study Grid

First Semester		Hours
PADM 501	Fundamentals of Public Administration	3
PADM 530	Politics, Strategies, and Initiatives of Community Economic Development	3
PADM 550	Public Policy Analysis	3
	Hours	9
Second Semester
PADM 600	Politics & Policy of Public Sector Budgeting	3
PADM 610	Management of Public Sector Organizations	3
PADM 620	Public Administration Praxis: Legal & Contemporary Issues	3
	Hours	9
Third Semester
PPOL 501	Foundations of American Governance: An Introduction to Public Policy	3
PPOL 505	Applied Public Policy Research Methods	3
PPOL 650	International Law, Policy, and Politics	3
JURI 600	Foundations of Law	3
	Hours	12
Fourth Semester
PADM 688	Thesis Proposal	3
PADM 689	Thesis Research 1,2,3	3
PADM 690	Thesis Defense 2,3	0
	Hours	6
	Total Hours	36

¹

While PADM 689 may be taken more than once, only one enrollment in the course will be permitted to count toward degree requirements.

²

Any student who is not ready for enrollment in PADM 690 after completing PADM 689 may be required, as determined by the student's thesis chair, to repeat PADM 689 until deemed ready for enrollment in PADM 690.

³

Students may take two elective courses⁴ instead of PADM 688, PADM 689, and PADM 690. 

⁴

Choose from the following courses: Any 500-600 level course offered by the Helms School of Government. Other 500-600 level courses will be considered on a case-by-case basis.