Public Administration
The Bachelor of Science in Public Administration (BSPA) at the College of Coastal Georgia prepares students for careers that make a difference. This degree offers an excellent pathway for driven civic leaders who want to manage and direct operations in public or nonprofit organizations by providing leadership, maximizing resources, and developing programs that benefit their communities.
Moreover, our experienced faculty bring real-world expertise through a hands-on, practical curriculum. Students choose from three concentrations – Cyber Defense, Political Science, and Public Management. Additionally, students participate in service-learning projects and complete a senior-level internship. This combination of faculty expertise and a curriculum unique to the state at the undergraduate level prepares graduates for success as public leaders.
Program Highlights
Fully Online Flexibility
Complete your degree on your schedule, balancing work, life, and academic commitments.
Expert Faculty Guidance
Engage in service-learning projects and a senior-level internship to apply your skills in real-world public service settings.
Three Concentrations Available
Customize your degree with Cyber Defense, Political Science, or Public Management concentrations to match your career goals.
Leadership & Decision-Making Skills
Develop essential skills for managing public and nonprofit organizations effectively.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the BS in Public Administration gain the skills and credentials to pursue rewarding roles such as:
- Public Manager
- Nonprofit Director
- Policy Analyst
- Community Development Coordinator
- Government Program Specialist
Ultimately, this program prepares students to excel as skilled professionals and effective leaders, capable of making a meaningful impact in government and nonprofit organizations.
Ready to take the next step?
Have questions? We have answers!
What classes will you take?
Concentrations in Public Administration
The Cyber Defense concentration teaches students how to protect public sector information by integrating cybersecurity principles with policy development, risk management, and strategic decision-making.
Students in the political science concentration of the Public Administration degree gain valuable insight into how laws, institutions, and political dynamics shape real-world public service – preparing them for impactful roles in government, nonprofit leadership, and policy analysis.
The Public Management concentration focuses on leadership, management, and organizational theory.
Contact Information:
Dr. Heather Farley
Associate Professor of Public Management
Education
Ph.D. in Political Science with Distinction, Northern Arizona University
M.A. in Political Science with Distinction, Concentration: Public Policy, Environmental Policy, Northern Arizona University
Graduate Certificate in Public Management, Northern Arizona University
B.S. in Biology, College of Charleston
Teaching and Research Interests/Recent Publications or Scholarly Output
Fields of Study: Public Policy (Primary), International Relations (Secondary), Environmental Policy/Politics (Cognate)
Dissertation: “Interpreting Sustainability: An Analysis of Sustainable Development Narratives Among Developed Nations”
Chair, Department of Criminal Justice, Public Policy, and Management
Tenured Associate Professor of Public Management
Former Director of the Honors Program at the College of Coastal Georgia
Former Sustainability Coordinator/Director at Northern Arizona University and the Sea Island Company
Associate of the Reg Murphy Center for Economic and Policy Studies
Certified in Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI)
I teach courses in public administration, public and for-profit management, public and environmental policy, sustainability, environmental political theory. My research spans environment and sustainability topics but often relates to the topic of the integration of sustainability in policy.
Recent Publications include:
Trussell, M.R., & Farley, H. (2023). Economic impact of CarePortal donations in Glynn County, Georgia.
Journal of Public Child Welfare, 18(5), 1074-1083.
Farley, Heather M. and Zachary A. Smith (2020). Sustainability: If it’s Everything is it Nothing?
Routledge. 2nd edition. In Progress.
Rudd, M.A., Moore, A.F.P., Rochberg, D. et al. (2018). “Climate research priorities for policy-makers, practitioners, and scientists in Georgia, USA.” Environmental Management 62: 190.
Coastal Alumna Earns Masters Degree
Mi’chelle Armstrong graduated from Coastal Georgia in 2021 with her B.S. in Public Administration, and just recently earned her Master of Business Administration in Operations Management from Georgia State University. Armstrong acknowledges Coastal Georgia’s Dr. Heather Farley as a major factor in her success.
[Her] mentorship during my time as an undergraduate was invaluable in helping me to find my direction and develop my skills and knowledge in public management and business administration. Had it not been for [her] efforts and taking an interest in me, I don’t know that I would have accomplished all that I have thus far on my journey.
-Mi’chelle Armstrong