Your public administration work experience matters and counts for college credit.
Finish what you started, and move up.
Maine’s towns and agencies are hiring, with hundreds of municipal jobs open across the state on any given day. This program turns the experience you already have into a credential that qualifies you for the next step — and you can earn the whole thing online while keeping your current job.
Sign up for more information!
What are the Admissions Requirements?
The Applied Bachelor of Science in Public Administration (90-Credit) is for people who have some college or are working in the field, so there are requirements specific to the program in addition to the standard UMA admission requirements.
Program Requirements:
- Minimum of two years relevant work experience or prior college credit or credit for prior learning (CPL) evaluations
- It has been at least two years since earning the most recent credits
- To recieve credit for work experience, students must submit a portfolio for CPL evaluation
- UMA standard admission requirements for baccalaureate programs
UMA Admissions Requirements:
- Submit an admissions application
- High school transcript or GED/HiSET test scores if you have earned fewer than 60 college credits
- Official transcripts from all previous colleges and universities (if outside of the UMS system)
- 2.0 GPA
How much does a Applied Bachelor of Science in Public Administration (90-Credit) degree cost at UMA?
UMA offers the lowest bachelor’s tuition of any public university in Maine, and that’s before financial aid. Most students pay significantly less than the sticker price. Here’s what you need to know:
Cost Snapshot
Scholarships
One important step:
To be considered for any of these, you’ll need to file the FAFSA (the Free Application for Federal Student Aid) every year and meet federal eligibility requirements. Most awards have a March 1 FAFSA deadline. An advisor or the Financial Aid office can walk you through it.
Building a career in government or public service
Calumet Educational & Literary Foundation Scholarship
For current UMA students with sophomore standing (30–45 credits) who plan a career in government or public service. (Includes an Augusta-area residency requirement and demonstrated financial need.)
Adult Learners
Augusta Kiwanis Club Scholarship
For non-traditional students who show leadership, strong academics, and financial need.
Osher New Beginnings Scholarship
For Maine residents returning to college after time away, designed to help cover a course as you get started.
Maine Development Foundation Next Step Scholarship
For working adults taking the next step in their education, often with employer support.
What careers are available with a Applied Bachelor of Science in Public Administration (90-Credit) degree?
Step into the work that keeps Maine communities running — in town and city halls, county and state agencies, and the nonprofits that serve the public. You’ll be ready for roles like town or city manager, municipal administrator, government finance officer, grant coordinator, and human resources administrator. And as a generation of public servants retires, you’ll be entering a field with stable, in-demand jobs and real room to advance.
What classes will I take in a Applied Bachelor of Science in Public Administration (90-Credit) degree program?
UMA’s Applied Bachelor of Science in Public Administration (90-Credit) is a streamlined 90-credit path that pairs essential general education with applied public-sector skills. You’ll build core competencies in governance, budgeting, and leadership: knowledge you can put to work in your government role immediately, not just after graduation. And because the degree fully transfers into UMA’s 121-credit Public Administration program, your credits keep working if you choose to continue.
Municipal Management & Governance
Build a working command of how local and state government actually runs. Coursework grounds you in public administration concepts, municipal operations, and the realities of working with elected officials, boards, and the public.
Budgeting & Public Finance
Learn to develop budgets and financial plans for municipal and state agencies — from preparing and overseeing budgets to managing financial records and navigating compliance requirements.
Leadership, Ethics & Human Resources
Develop the judgment public service demands. You’ll practice ethical decision-making, strengthen leadership and problem-solving skills, and learn to navigate HR and personnel issues in public agencies.
Communication, Grant Writing & e-Government
Master the practical tools of modern public administration: effective professional communication, grant writing for public and nonprofit funding, and the e-Government technologies that drive administrative efficiency.
Who teaches the Applied Bachelor of Science in Public Administration (90-Credit) program at UMA?
David Leach
Part-Time Lecturer of Business Administration
Banking/Financial Services, Financial Regulation, Consumer Credit, Investments/Stock Markets, Commercial/Business Lending/Development, Personal Finance/Money Management, and Consumer Protection/Fraud Issues.