Program Overview

Introduction to the Bachelor of Arts in Public Sector Management (PSM)

The Bachelor of Arts in Public Sector Management (PSM) is a degree-completion program designed for working adults who have completed 60 transferable units, including the four General Education Basic Skills courses, and wish to earn their Bachelor of Arts degree. This 60-unit multidisciplinary program, which typically takes 2.5 years to complete, prepares graduates for career advancement by furthering competency in areas such as budgeting and fiscal management, critical thinking, effective oral and written communication, leadership, management and staff development, problem solving and decision making, and team building.

Program Overview

The PSM program is taught by faculty from the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media and Communication, the David Nazarian College of Business and Economics, and the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, in addition to well-seasoned public sector professionals. The program has been recognized with an "Outstanding Program Award" from the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA), a national organization that promotes excellence in higher education.

Career Opportunities

This program opens the door to a range of exciting career opportunities, including:

• Program Managers
• Operations Managers
• Project Coordinators
• General Managers
• Operations Supervisors
• Directors of Operations
• Product Owners
• Supply Chain Managers
• Program Coordinators
• Warehouse Supervisors

Faculty

The PSM faculty members represent a variety of academic disciplines, providing an interdisciplinary curriculum integrating theory and practice. The program sponsors faculty workshops to maintain state-of-the-art instruction and current understanding of public sector issues. Some of the notable faculty members include:

• Lawrence H. Bailey, Ph.D.
• Lawrence Becker, Ph.D.
• Lori Ann Campbell, Ph.D.
• Moshoula Capous-Desyllas, Ph.D., MSW
• Michael J. Carter, Ph.D.
• Gigi Hessamian, M.A.
• Tom Hogen-Esch, Ph.D.
• Tyler Hughes, Ph.D.
• David Leitch, Ph.D.
• Dominic Little, M.A.
• Jessica Baty McMillan, M.A.
• Randi Picarelli, M.A.
• Josh Sides, Ph.D.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission, applicants must:

• Have completed at least 60 transferable semester (90 quarter) units of college coursework with a grade point average of 2.0 or higher.
• Have a grade of C or better in each course used to meet the CSU General Education Basic Skills requirement, consisting of 3 units each in the areas of:
  • Written communication
  • Oral communication
  • Critical thinking
  • Mathematics/quantitative reasoning

Program Requirements

To earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Sector Management, students must:

• Complete all coursework with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.0 or above.
• Apply for graduation.

Curriculum

The curriculum includes required and elective courses. Required courses include:

• COMS 309: Advanced Public Speaking
• COMS 323: Group Communication
• COMS 356: Intercultural Communication
• COMS 454: Communication and Technology
• COMS 494/L: Internship in Communication Studies and Lab
• MGT 360: Management and Organizational Behavior
• MGT 370: Management Skills Development
• MGT 454: Leadership, Power and Politics
• MGT 460: Strategic Human Resources Management
• POLS 360: Public Administration
• POLS 361: Introduction to Public Policy
• POLS 406: Fundamentals of Policy Analysis
• POLS 407: Policy Implementation and Program Evaluation
• POLS 462: Ethics in Politics and Administration
• POLS 466: Politics of Public Spending
• SBS 320: Social Science Research Methods

Tuition and Fees

The tuition for the Fall 2026 cohort is $754 per unit, with a total of 60 units required to complete the program. The total tuition cost is $45,240. Additional fees include a university application fee, books and supplies, and a graduation fee.

Financial Aid

Students may be eligible for financial aid. For more information, please visit the Financial Aid page. US Military Veterans and Military Dependents who are approved for VA Educational Benefits should contact the CSUN Veterans Affairs Office.