Public Administration and Policy
Bachelor of Science Degree
The Public Administration and Policy program provides graduates with the interdisciplinary skills, technical abilities, and social knowledge necessary for successful careers in government and in the many private and non-profit organizations that interface with public policy. Our program provides foundational and advanced courses in political science, as well as several other fields, including communications, economics, and law. In conjunction with faculty advisors, students will customize their curriculum to achieve their academic and career goals. Internship opportunities and a service-learning capstone ensure that graduates can apply classroom theory to real-world practice on day one, and their broadly applicable skills and knowledge will serve them well wherever their career takes them, affording possibilities in and outside of government, and in all sectors of the economy.
Typical Employment Opportunities
Town, County, State, and Federal Government
Policy Research and Data Analysis
Program Evaluation
Advocacy and Community Organizing
Nonprofit and Public Service Management
Management and Policy Consulting
Community and Economic Development
Regulatory and Compliance Affairs
Government Relations, Public Affairs, and Corporate Social Responsibility
Graduate and Professional Study (JD, MPA, MPP, PhD)
Public Administration and Policy (BS) Program Outcomes:
Graduates will:
- Use methods of social science and techniques of analysis to implement and evaluate public policies and programs at all levels of government.
- Utilize their knowledge of administrative processes in complex policy domains such as energy, health care, and technology.
- Conduct primary and secondary policy research using both quantitative and qualitative data.
- Apply theories of public administration and related disciplines to real-world practice through experiential learning.
- Perform the duties of an entry-level public administrator in public, private, and non-profit organizations, and will possess abilities that are necessary for career advancement and that are transferable across multiple sectors.
- Explain the political context surrounding public policy and public administration and utilize this knowledge for the benefit of their employer.
Admission to Farmingdale State College - State University of New York is based on the qualifications of the applicant without regard to age, sex, marital or military status, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, disability or sexual orientation.
Contact Information
History, Politics and Geography
Dr. Timothy Nicholson
Memorial Hall, 221
934-420-2739
hpg@farmingdale.edu
Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm
Fall 2026
Subject to revision
| College Requirement | (1 credit) |
|---|---|
| FYE 101 First Year Experience* | 1 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | (61 credits) |
|---|---|
| EGL 101 Composition I: College Writing (GE) | 3 |
| EGL 102 Composition II: Writing About Literature | 3 |
| EGL 310 Technical Writing (GE) | 3 |
| SPE 202 Interpersonal Communication (GE) | 3 |
| SPE 330 Professional and Technical Speech (GE) | 3 |
| ECO 157 Microeconomics (GE) | 3 |
| Any GEO course (200 level or higher) | 3 |
| GEO 311 Geography of Long Island | 3 |
| GIS 231 Geospatial Research Methods | 3 |
| GIS 301 GIScience | 3 |
| US History and Civic Engagement (GE) | 3 |
| HIS 365 Public History | 3 |
| MTH 110 Statistics (GE) | 3 |
| Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (GE) | 3 |
| PHI 205 Ethics (GE) | 3 |
| PSY 101 Introduction to Psychology (GE) | 3 |
| PSY 311 or BUS 311 Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| Natural Science and Scientific Reasoning with Lab (GE) | 4 |
| The Arts (GE) | 3 |
| World Languages (GE) | 3 |
| Required Politics Courses | (30 credits) |
|---|---|
| POL 110 Introduction to Legal Studies | 3 |
| POL 115 Introduction to Public Policy | 3 |
| POL 250 American Politics (GE) | 3 |
| POL 251 State and Local Government (GE) | 3 |
| POL 264 Public Administration | 3 |
| POL 344 DEI: History, Politics and Policy | 3 |
| POL 350 Administrative Law | 3 |
| POL 364 Advanced Public Administration | 3 |
| POL 366 Quantitative Methods of Political Science | 3 |
| POL 464 Public Administration Senior Project** | 3 |
| Electives | (30 credits) |
|---|---|
| Free Electives (any level) | 18 |
| Technical Electives (300/400 level)*** | 12 |
Curriculum Summary
* FYE 101 First Year Experience is required for all first time full time students
**POL 464 Senior Project will be taken by all students in their final semester
***With faculty advisement, students will select technical electives that are in line with their career goals and professional development. Students may be able to fulfill this requirement with an internship or a combination of courses and internship.
Degree Type: BS
Total Required Credits: 121-122
Please refer to the General Education, Applied Learning, and Writing Intensive requirement sections of the College Catalog and consult with your advisor to ensure that graduation requirements are satisfied.
As a part of the SUNY General Education Framework, all first-time full time Freshman at Farmingdale State College (FSC) beginning Fall 2023, are required to develop knowledge and skills in Diversity: Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice (DEISJ). Students will be able to fulfill this requirement at FSC by taking a specially designated DEISJ course that has been developed by faculty and approved by the DEISJ Review Board. DEISJ-approved courses will be developed in accordance with the guiding principles and criteria outlined below. DEISJ-approved courses may meet other General Education Knowledge and Skills areas and/or core competencies and thus be dually designated. DEISJ-approved courses may also earn other special designations such as those for Applied Learning or Writing Intensive.