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The Bachelor of Applied Science in Public Management is tailored to prepare students for administrative and leadership careers in fire science, law and public safety, emergency management, and public administration. Designed with working adults in mind, this program offers a flexible and comprehensive curriculum that combines theoretical knowledge with practical skills. Graduates are well-equipped to navigate the complexities of public management, focusing on applied learning across various disciplines, from policy analysis to organizational leadership.

How It Works

This degree caters to students with an Associate of Applied Science (AAS), enabling them to efficiently apply their technical credits toward earning a bachelor’s degree. Eligible degrees include an Associate of Applied Science from accredited community colleges in fields such as Emergency Management, Fire Science, Law and Public Safety, Public Management Technology, or related disciplines. Students can transfer up to 60 credit hours to MSU, including 15 hours of general education core and 45 hours of technical credit.

Career Opportunities

Graduates are well-prepared for leadership and managerial roles within emergency services, law enforcement, fire services, and other public sector agencies. The program equips first responders with the strategic management and leadership skills necessary to ascend to supervisory and executive positions, such as emergency services manager, public safety director, or emergency preparedness coordinator.

Flexible Delivery Options

Focused on crucial skills like crisis management, public policy, ethical leadership, and emergency response planning, the program offers flexible scheduling and online courses for working professionals. It aims to empower first responders to effectively lead and manage in demanding environments, thereby improving public safety and community welfare.

Efficient Timeframe

The time to complete an applied science major varies depending on the specific program and whether the student is attending full-time or part-time. Typically, a full-time student would take two years (4 semesters) to complete a Bachelor of Applied Science.

Entrance Requirement

Students who have earned an Associate of Applied Science or Technology can enroll in this degree program. It does not matter when you earned the degree, but it must be confirmed as completed on an official transcript.

Degree Requirements

To graduate with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Public Management, students must complete the following:

  • Completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours.
    • Up to 60 credit hours from an accredited community college may be transferred, with a maximum of 45 hours allowed for technical credit. Approval is required for technical credit to count toward the degree.
    • At least 60 credit hours must be completed at an accredited four-year university.
    • A minimum of 30 credit hours must be taken at MSU.
    • 30 credit hours must be upper-level (courses numbered 3000 and above) major core coursework.
  • Students must maintain a 2.00 MSU GPA and a 2.0 overall GPA to graduate.

Transfer Credit

  • Up to 60 credit hours may be transferred from an accredited community college, with a maximum of 45 hours allowed for technical credit.
  • Students may transfer up to 86 credit hours from an accredited four-year university.
  • For students with a combination of credits from both types of institutions, MSU will accept up to 86 hours in total, but only 60 community college hours will be counted.
  • Half of the program's total credit hours (60 hours) must be completed at an accredited four-year university.
  • Upon admission to the university, the Registrar’s Office will assess and evaluate transfer credits to determine their applicability to MSU's requirements.

Program Structure

To graduate with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Public Management, students must complete a minimum of 120 hours.

30 Hours of General Education
+36 Hours of Major Core
+9 Hours of University Electives
+45 Hours of General Electives (may include approved technical credit in discipline)
= 120 Hours to Graduation

Admissions Process

Admissions

If you have never attended Mississippi State University, please complete the online Undergraduate Admissions Application.

  • You will choose Applied Science (BAS) in Public Management as your major and Online Education as your campus.
  • Request that official ACT or SAT scores be sent to MSU.
  • Request that your high school send your official transcript. Faxed transcripts will not be accepted.
  • Submit a separate official final transcript from each college or university attended; faxed transcripts will not be accepted. An applicant may not ignore previous college attendance and must list all colleges attended on the application for admission. You must be in good standing at the last college or university attended.
  • If you are able to submit official transcripts and other documentation electronically, you may send them to admit@msstate.edu.
  • If you are unable to submit official transcripts and other documentation electronically, you may send them via U.S. Postal Service to:
    Office of Admissions & Scholarships
    P.O. Box 6334
    Mississippi State, MS
    39762
  • All new admits will pay non-refundable application fee online.

Core Curriculum

All students who enter MSU must meet the common core curriculum requirements as set by the Board of Trustees, Institutions of Higher Learning of the State of Mississippi to qualify for any bachelor's degree.

This is an overview of what you must take to satisfy the core curriculum requirement. Please consult the BAS Advisor for more specific information.

30 hours of General Education

 
English: 6 credit hours
  • English Composition I
  • English Composition II
Social and Behavioral Sciences: 6 credit hours
  • PS 1013 American Government
  • Any course fulfilling requirements for Social and Behavioral Sciences, including:
    • Anthropology
    • Economics
    • Psychology
    • Political Science
    • Sociology
Quantitative Reasoning: 3 credit hours
  • Calculus
  • College Algebra
  • Statistics
  • Trigonometry
  • Math in Your World/Quantitative Reasoning
  • Applied Business Math
Humanities: 6 credit hours
  • Foreign Language
  • History
  • Literature
  • Religion
Natural Science with Labs: 6 – 8 credit hours
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Geography
  • Geology
  • Microbiology*
  • Physical Science
  • Physics*
  • Plant and Soil Sciences*
Creative Discovery: 3 credit hours
  • History or Appreciation of the Arts

*Courses in these subject areas are not currently available online.

36 hours of Major Core

PCS 2111 Introduction to the Bachelor of Applied Science: 1 credit hour
Introduction to the Bachelor of Applied Science emphasizes the significance of merging applied and technical coursework from students' prior Associate of Applied Science degrees with upper-level coursework from the university.
Delivered Online

PCS 3003 Professional Collaboration and Technology in the Workplace: 3 credit hours
(Prerequisite: EN 1113 English Composition II) Explores the fundamental technical documentation, interpersonal skills, and collaborative strategies necessary for effective workplace interactions at the supervisory, middle management, and executive levels.
Delivered Online or Starkville

PCS 3103 Professional Leadership Strategies: 3 credit hours
Tailored to empower adult learners currently active in the workforce, and students with proficiency in technical fields by equipping them with practical expertise to elevate their leadership capabilities.
Delivered Online

PCS 4003 Personnel Management for Public Sector: 3 credit hours
A survey of the components, functions, and processes of Information Systems as they relate to managing modern organizations for increased efficiency and competitiveness.
Delivered Online, Starkville, or Meridian

CO 3803 Principles of Public Relations: 3 credit hours
(Prerequisite: CO 1403 Intro to Mass Media or Instructor Approval) The role and origin of public relations in society, the identification and influence of the public, and applications of public relations principles to campaigns and organizations.
Delivered Online or Starkville

MGT 3113 Principles of Management: 3 credit hours
Management principles for all organizations including planning, organizing, leading, and controlling.
Delivered Online, Starkville, or Meridian

MGT 3823 Socially Responsible Leadership: 3 credit hours
Study of leadership in organizations, with emphasis on the ethical challenges facing leaders and the impact of leaders' behavior on followers, organizations, and organizational stakeholders.
Delivered Online or Starkville

PS 3193 Intergovernmental Relations: 3 credit hours
Historical, prescriptive, and empirical studies of federalism with emphasis upon recent development in federal-state-local relationships.
Delivered Online or Starkville

PS 4703 Principles of Public Administration: 3 credit hours
Bureaucratic politics and power; administrative responsibility in a pluralist democracy; public administrative organization; public personnel administration; and public budgeting.
Delivered Online or Starkville

TECH 3133 Administrative Management and Procedures: 3 credit hours
Principles and practices of effective administrative management and procedures. Planning/directing workplace activities, systems, and technology; selecting/training employees; developing professional leadership and communication skills.
Delivered Online or Starkville

TECH 4263 Diversity in Work and Educational Environments: 3 credit hours
(Prerequisite: TECH 1273 Computer Applications or Equivalent) Exploring the changing dynamics of the workforce and educational environments in examination of cultural and technological facts and assumptions.
Delivered Online or Starkville

PCS 4112 Professional Success Strategies in Applied Fields: 2 credit hours
Designed for students in their final semester of the Bachelor of Applied Science. The course focuses on equipping students with essential skills and knowledge for successful professional transition and advancement in applied fields.
Delivered Online

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9 hours of University Electives

Jr/Sr Writing Course: 3 credit hours*
PCS 3303 Workplace Communication for Professionals *This requirement is fulfilled within the Major Core, with credit hours counted only once.

Speech: 3 credit hours
CO 1013 Introduction to Communications or CO 1003 Fundamentals of Public Speaking

Computer Literacy: 3 credit hours
TECH 1273 Computer Applications (or higher)

General Elective: 3 credit hours
Any course that fulfills the general education requirements.

45 hours of General Core Electives (Technical Credit)

Technical content transfers from the Associate of Applied Science in a related area.

Academic Advising

Advising Guidelines:

  • Upon university admission, reach out to your advisor to determine the appropriate courses.
  • Your advisor will email course recommendations to your MSU email account two months before the upcoming semester.
  • Mississippi State University relies on email as its official means of communication for all MSU students.
  • Check your MSU email daily for important updates. Find instructions for setting up your MSU online on the student services website.

Program Reminders

  • Ensure to consult with your advisor if you intend to deviate from the program.
  • If you opt for courses outside your recommended program of study, there is a risk that the classes will not count toward the degree.
  • A student may not receive a BAS degree if the student already has a bachelor’s degree.

Contact Information

Headshot of Kali Dunlap

Dr. Kali Dunlap

Online Education

  • BAS Public Management Faculty & Advisor
662-325-8029
Headshot of Lily Hudson

Lily Hudson

Online Education

  • BAS Public Management Outreach Coordinator
662-325-1559