Bachelor of Arts in Public Affairs
The Bachelor of Arts in Public Affairs is an multidisciplinary degree that prepares students for careers in the public, non-profit and private sectors. The major provides students with the substantive knowledge, analytical skills and informed perspectives needed to tackle social problems with innovative public policy solutions that promote the public good. The degree is designed to develop skills in leadership, decision-making, collaboration and team-management; economic, political and statistical analysis; financial management and budgeting; and policy design, evaluation and implementation.
120 hours is required for the degree. The degree curriculum has five components:
- University general education
- Major coursework
- Prescribed electives within the major
- Completion of a transcript-recognized minor or certificate
- Free electives
- Two writing courses beyond Rhetoric and Writing 306 or its equivalent, including one upper-division course.†
Majors
Majors for this degree are on the pages that follow this section.
- †
Effective April 2025, UT Austin no longer requires Skills and Experience flags.