The School of Public Administration was established in 1973. It offers an undergraduate and a graduate program, one leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration and the other to the Master of Public Administration degree respectively.

The study of Public Administration primarily prepares students for career employment as supervisors, managers, and decision-makers in the public sector, including local, state, and federal government agencies. In addition, the graduates of the Public Administration program may be eligible for employment in similar capacities in the non-profit sector.

The University's programs in Public Administration are designed to endow students with practical abilities in problem-solving, program analysis, and implementation. The structure of the academic programs is based on the premise that the Public Administration student should possess skills adaptable to various tasks and employment settings. The program also emphasizes the sub-fields of management information systems, human resources/personnel, and development administration, and makes a special effort to meet the needs of professionals from the Kentucky state government.

The liberal studies education at Kentucky State University is characterized by intellectual breadth and depth. Students working toward the Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration pursue a curriculum that includes exposure to the substantive approach and insight of different disciplines. The curriculum includes intensive training in analytical techniques and offers in-depth education in social sciences related to the management of public services.

To satisfy the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration, students must complete a minimum of 128 semester credit hours, including the University's Liberal Studies Requirements (53 semester credit hours including ECO 200), with 45 semester credit hours for the major in Public Administration, which includes 33 semester credit hours of Public Administration courses: PUA 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 322, 400, 401, 402, 491, and 499; one English course: ENG 216; POS 101; one computer course: either BUA 101 or COS 100; and one statistics course: either POS/PSY/SOC 300 or SOW/CJE 400. The remaining 30 semester credit hours consist of 6 free electives, 6 Inter-cultural Electives, and 18 career electives. Six hours of electives may be freely chosen from any field of study. The following courses may fulfill the Inter-cultural Elective requirement:

Six hours of electives may be freely chosen from any field of study. The following courses may fulfill the Intercultural Elective requirement:

C Any of the following foreign language courses, beyond those used to fulfill the Liberal Studies Requirement: ASL 171, 172; FRE 101, 102, 201,202; ITA 101, 102; JPN 171, 172; KOR 171, 172; RUS 171, 172; SPA 101, 102, 201, 202.

C Any of the following Integrative Studies courses, beyond those used to fulfill the Liberal Studies Requirement: IGS 301, 302, 303, 304.

C Speech 302

C Sociology 303 or 304

C Any course completed through a Study Abroad Consortium in which KSU participates

C Any additional course designated by the Dean of the School of Public Administration as an Inter-Cultural Elective.

The remaining 18 hours may be in minor or elective courses related to the student's public service career objective. At least three hours of the electives must be at the 300 level or above. Career electives may be taken in the following fields: public administration, political science, sociology, psychology, social work, criminal justice, business administration, accounting, computer science, economics, management, office administration, mathematics, and speech. Any foreign language course may be used as a career elective. Students wishing to take courses not on this list as career electives must obtain prior written approval from the dean. In such cases the student must explain in writing how the course in question would further his/her public service career plans.

The School of Public Administration also offers a minor in Public Administration. This program is available to every student pursuing a baccalaureate degree at Kentucky State University. A minor in Public Administration requires the completion of 18 semester credit hours. Specific course requirements include PUA 302, 303, 305, and 402; the remaining 6 semester credit hours must be selected in consultation with the student's minor advisor from 300/400 level Public Administration courses.