Public Service (BA)

Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 120 credits for the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in public service. Of this total, students must take:

• 33 credits (11 courses) in public service distributed as follows: 15 credits in core courses (including a 3-credit internship) and 18 credits in a concentration area. CGS online offerings are marked with (Web) or (Hybrid) on the program page.
• One course in statistics (STAT 0200, 0800, or 1000); and
• Six credits (two courses) in a related field such as political science, economics, psychology, sociology, or another field approved by an academic advisor. Click here for a PDF list of electives in a related field, and/or browse the course catalog by subject.

See our General Education program page for the remaining degree requirements.

Public Service Core: (15 Credits)

All five courses are required.

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^{Format: F2F and Web}

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^{Or: PIA 0101 HOW PUBLIC POLICY WORKS: FOUNDATIONS OF PUBLIC POLICY}

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^{Format: Web}

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^{Format: Web}

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^{Format: Hybrid}

_{Note: This major requires that you complete an internship at a facility external to the University, and this facility may or will require a criminal background check, an Act 33/34 clearance, and perhaps a drug screen to determine whether you are qualified to participate in the internship. Additionally,} i_{n order to become licensed or employed, many states will inquire as to whether the applicant has been convicted of a misdemeanor, a felony, or a felonious or illegal act associated with alcohol and/or substance abuse.}

Concentration Areas: (18 credits)

Choose one of the three concentration areas below:

Area 1: Public Administration

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^{Or: PUBSRV 1200 PRACTICES OF NON-PROFIT MANAGEMENT when PUBSRV 1100 is not offered.}

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• PUBSRV - Electives (choose two additional public service courses) 

Area 2: Nonprofit Management

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^{Format: Hybrid}

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^{Format: F2F and Web}

• PUBSRV - Electives (choose two additional public service courses) 

_{Note: the following courses may substitute for each other in the event of course scheduling conflicts or unavailability: PUBSRV 1110 and PUBSRV 1210 | PUBSRV 1120 and PUBSRV 1220.}

Area 3: Self-Designed

Courses that meet the special program needs of the student may be selected from the courses offered in public service or in a related area or department. A written plan for completing the self-designed concentration must be approved by the College of General Studies Academic Affairs Committee. The proposed plan of studies should be unique and not offered at Pitt in another facet such as another major, certificate, or minor.

Public Service Electives

Public administration concentration students may use the 1200-numbered courses as electives; nonprofit management concentration students may use 1100-numbered courses.

Courses with the UHC attribute are only offered in conjunction with Pitt's Honors College.

• PIA 0201 - SKILLS FOR POLICY RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS

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^{Note: Cross-listed with LCJS 1854 (formerly LEGLST 1152)}

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^{Format: Web}

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^{Format: F2F and Hybrid}

^{Or: PIA 1102 CITY OF WHITE SUPREMACY: RACE, SPACE, AND POLICY IN AMERICAN CITIES}

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^{Format: F2F and Web}

^{Note: Cross-listed with LDRSHP 1100}

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^{Note: Cross-listed with LCJS 1570 (formerly ADMJ 1425)}

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^{Format: Hybrid}

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^{Note: PUBSRV 1910 may be used in place of PUBSRV 1900. Student must be selected for an IOP internship. Learn about the IOP Internship Program.}

Program Planning Checklist

Use the Public Service BA checklist (PDF) to plan and track your progress in the major.