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BA (Hons.) in Governance and Public Administration
Program Details
What is BA in Public Administration and Governance?
The BA (Hons.) in Governance and Public Administration is an empirically driven undergraduate program that builds a strong foundation in governance frameworks, administrative systems, and the politics of development. The program introduces students to the ‘what’, ‘why’, and ‘how’ of governance, enabling a deep understanding of public policy, public administration, service delivery, and public management.
This BA public administration and governance programme adopts a transdisciplinary approach, drawing from Political Science, Public Policy, Economics, Sociology, and Law. The curriculum explores key themes such as comparative governance, global and domestic public administration, climate governance, welfare politics, the political economy of reforms, and data-driven governance systems.
The program also builds essential public administration and governance skills required for policy, government, and development careers.
Program Highlights
- Transdisciplinary curriculum integrating public administration, public policy, governance, sociology, and climate studies
- Experiential learning through field visits, policy simulations, case-based learning, and real-world governance scenarios
- Faculty trained at leading institutions in India and globally, offering strong academic mentoring
- Expert-led masterclasses by civil servants, policy practitioners, and international organisations
- Global exposure through exchange programmes, immersions, and academic collaborations
- Internship and fellowship pathways with government bodies, think tanks, NGOs, and development organisations
- Strong focus on analytical thinking, policy analysis, data interpretation, and governance skills
This program differs from traditional BA Political Science by focusing specifically on governance systems, policy implementation, and administrative processes.
Industry Trends & Career Opportunities
In a VUCA world shaped by climate risks, development challenges, and data-driven governance, organisations increasingly require professionals who can combine empirical research with policy reasoning and cross-sectoral problem-solving.
The BA in Governance and Public Administration prepares students to approach governance as a dynamic, data-informed discipline, enabling them to work across government, international development, consulting, research, and social impact ecosystems.
Career pathways include:
- Government and public administration services
- Civil services and policy roles
- International and domestic think tanks
- Consulting and policy research firms
- International organisations and development agencies
- NGOs, civil society, and social enterprises
- Public affairs and governance roles in the private sector
- Higher education and research
The program offers strong scope for careers in public administration, governance, and policy.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the BA (Hons.) in Governance and Public Administration develop strong analytical, research, and policy-oriented capabilities, enabling them to explore careers across government, policy, consulting, and development sectors.
Career opportunities include:
- Public Policy and Governance roles
- Civil Services and Government Administration
- Think Tanks and Policy Research
- International Development Organisations
- Social Sector and NGOs
- Consulting and Public Affairs
- Higher education and research
Placements
UPES supports placements by building students’ analytical, research, and problem-solving capabilities alongside practical exposure to governance systems and development challenges.
The program's blend of theory and applied learning prepares students for roles across policy, research, consulting, government, and the social sector.
Fee Structure
Click here to view detailed fee structure for the BA (Hons.) Governance and Public Administration program.
Curriculum
Semester 1
| Course | L | T | P | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data in Social Sciences and Humanities | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Ideas of India | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Gender and Society | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Environmental Studies | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Managing Self | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Politics in India | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Research Methods I (Qualitative) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| TOTAL | 21 |
Semester 2
| Course | L | T | P | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Political Economy | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Introduction to Comparative Politics | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Introduction to International Relations | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Understanding Politics through Case Experiments | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Time & Priority Management | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| TOTAL | 14 |
Semester 3
| Course | L | T | P | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Policy Implementation and Service Delivery | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Digital Governance and Smart Administration | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Public Policy and Governance: Locating Solutions Amidst Challenges and Pitfalls | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Rural Development and Field Administration | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Communication Skills (Oral) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Social Internship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Exploratory 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Exploratory 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Elective (Choose Any One) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| TOTAL | 23 |
Elective Options (Choose Any One)
- Public Policies, Governance, and Institutions
- Peace and Conflict
- The Tragedy of Commons: Public Goods and Beyond
Semester 4
| Course | L | T | P | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monitoring and Evaluation of Public Programmes | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Principles of Public Management and Governance | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Governance, Development and Politics of Welfare | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Public Administration and Management | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Communication Skills (Written) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Exploratory 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Exploratory 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Elective (Choose Any One) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| TOTAL | 23 |
Elective Options (Choose Any One)
- United Nation's SDGs and India
- Elective Course (Code not provided in curriculum)
- India’s Strategic Culture
- Digital Politics
Semester 5
| Course | L | T | P | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comparative Public Administration: Global Perspective | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Tracing Administrative Reforms: Impact, Gaps and Future | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Ethics & Integrity in Government and Civil Services | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Development Administration and Governance in the Global South | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Working with People | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Technologies of the Future | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Exploratory 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Exploratory 6* (Optional) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3* |
| Elective (Choose Any Two) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| TOTAL | 22 |
Elective Options (Choose Any Two)
- Politics, Technology and Surveillance
- The Economical Truth: Politics of Information and Disinformation
- The Tragedy of Commons: Public Goods and Beyond
Semester 6
| Course | L | T | P | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Regulation and Governance | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Problem Driven Policy Lab - Simulations and Problem Solving Through Real-World Cases, Social Program Designing and Formulating Impactful Policies | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| State Capacity, Effective and Ethical Governance | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Research Methods II (Quantitative) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Deepening Self | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Elective (Choose Any One) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Exploratory 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Exploratory 8* (Optional) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3* |
| TOTAL | 20 |
Elective Options (Choose Any One)
- Gender and Politics
- Transparency, Accountability and Corruption
- Information and Emerging Technologies
- Politics and Sports
Semester 7
| Course | L | T | P | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industry Fellowship and Capstone Project | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| TOTAL | 20 |
Semester 8
| Course | L | T | P | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capstone Research Dissertation | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| TOTAL | 20 |
Eligibility
Interested students must meet the following minimum eligibility criteria for BA (H) Governance and Public Administration: Minimum 50% Marks in Class X and XII (Any Stream)
Selection Criteria
Selection for admission to the BA (Hons.) Governance and Public Administration program at UPES is based on CUET-UG / Personal Interview.
