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SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
BSc. Public Policy and Administration
The degree provides accessible and high-quality education to equip our students with a versatile skill set and help them succeed in public service and policy-making roles, contributing to shaping policies and improving society.
Tuition Per Session
$560
Tuition Per Semester
$315
Introduction to BSc. Public Policy and Administration
Start Your Bachelor’s Degree in Public Policy and Administration
In today’s complex and rapidly changing world, the demand for Public Policy and Administration graduates is higher than ever. Government agencies at all levels are seeking skilled professionals to navigate policy creation and implementation. Non-profit organisations need leaders to manage programmes addressing pressing societal issues. Public policy and administration graduates can pursue various rewarding career paths, including policy analysis, programme management, government administration, consultancy, research, advocacy, and nonprofit leadership.
Why you should apply :
- Our programme is taught by experienced and knowledgeable faculty members who are passionate about teaching and have extensive expertise in the field of public policy and administration. They bring real-world insights and practical examples to the classroom, enhancing your learning experience.
- We provide a range of resources to support your success in the programme. These include access to a well-equipped library with extensive research materials, databases, and academic journals. Additionally, our dedicated career centre offers guidance in job searching, internships, networking, and professional development opportunities.
- A degree in public policy and administration can lead to fulfilling and meaningful careers. By working in this field, you can contribute to shaping policies that address societal challenges, promote social equity, and improve public services. You have the opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of individuals and communities.
- A degree in public policy and administration can lead to a variety of high-paying and rewarding career.
Study Level
BSc. Public Policy and Administration
Study Duration
8 Semesters
Mode of study
Blended Learning
Tuition Per Session
$560
Tuition Per Semester
$315
Applications for May 2026 admission is ongoing.
Apply before 31st May 2026, to secure your place.
Curriculum
Programme Outline
Our Public Policy and Administration curriculum is carefully crafted to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary for success in the field. The programme covers diverse topics, providing a comprehensive understanding of public policy analysis, development, implementation, and evaluation.
- Faculty Support
- Digital Resources
- Career Services
- Student Community
1st Semester
Units
Communication in English I
2
- Identify possible sound patterns in English.
- List notable language skills and classify word formation processes.
- Construct simple and fairly complex sentences in English.
- Apply logical and critical reasoning skills for meaningful presentations.
- Demonstrate an appreciable level of the art of public speaking and listening.
- Write simple and technical reports.
Principles of Management
2
- Demonstrate understanding of basic concepts related to management knowledge.
- Explain the roles, skills, and functions of management.
- Identify organisational problems and the processes of decision making.
- Describe the complexities associated with management of human resources in the organisations.
- Apply the knowledge in handling management complexities.
Elements of Public Administration
3
- Describe the nature and functions of public administration.
- Identify the different approaches to the study of public administration.
- Explain the role of public administration in national development.
- Discuss the forms of control over public administration.
Principles of Economics I
2
- Identify the basic concepts in economics including scarcity, choice and scale of preference, and basic laws of demand and supply.
- Explain the nature of elasticity and its applications, as well as short and long run production functions.
- Discuss pricing of factors of production and market structure consisting of perfect competitive market and imperfect competitive markets.
Use of Library, Study Skills and ICT
2
- Understand the significance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and its application to libraries and Information Services.
- Acquire essential ICT skills for information professionals, understand data communication and internet resources in electronic storage systems, and explore web technology resources.
- Learn the impact of ICT on modern libraries, along with ethical considerations and challenges related to applying ICT in library settings, particularly in the context of Nigerian libraries.
Introduction to Political Science I
2
- Discuss key conceptions in political science such as politics, power, authority, influence, state, nation, and many others.
- Appreciate the nature, form, and character of politics.
- Identify the contributions of the founding/leading scholars of political science.
- Differentiate between political science as a field of study and politics as an art or practise.
- Explain the relationship among the various concepts in political science and many others.
- Define the relationship between political science and other fields of study (other social sciences, humanities, and the natural sciences).
Introduction to Computing
2
- Explain basic components of computers and other computing devices.
- Describe the various applications of computers.
- Explain information processing and its roles in the society.
- Describe the Internet, its various applications and its impact.
- Explain the different areas of the computing discipline and its specialisations.
- Demonstrate practical skills on using computers and the internet.
Introduction to Financial Accounting I
3
- Describe the nature and scope of accounting.
- Differentiate between bookkeeping and accounting.
- Discuss the objectives of financial accounting and appreciate various branches of accounting.
- Understand methods of recording accounting data using manual and electronic devices.
- Prepare basic accounting records, from primary books to the extraction of trial balances.
- Correct basic posting errors.
- Prepare bank reconciliation statements.
2nd Semester
Units
Communication in English II
2
- Have a deepened understanding of communication skills both in spoken and written English.
- Demonstrate an appreciable level of proficiency in the arts of public speaking, listening, and effective communication.
Nigerian People and Culture
2
- Analyse the historical foundation of the Nigerian culture and arts in pre-colonial times.
- List and identify the major linguistic groups in Nigeria.
- Explain the gradual evolution of Nigeria as a political unit.
- Analyse the concepts of trade, economic, and self-reliance status of the Nigerian peoples towards national development.
- Enumerate the challenges of the Nigerian State towards nation-building.
- Analyse the role of the judiciary in upholding people’s fundamental rights.
- Identify acceptable norms and values of the major ethnic groups in Nigeria.
- List and suggest possible solutions to identifiable Nigerian environmental, moral, and value problems.
Principles of Project Management
2
- Define the concept and purpose of project management.
- Identify the processes and actors in project management.
- Demonstrate a working knowledge of key project management methods.
- Describe the tools and techniques used in project management.
- Identify project bottlenecks and possible solutions.
Principles of Economics II
2
- Discuss the basic concept of functions, index numbers and dependent and independent variables in functions, as well as national income accounting.
- Examine circular flow of income with simple two-sector model.
- Explain elementary issues on consumption, savings, investment, and government’s revenue, expenditure and roles of domestic money and foreign exchange.
Basic Mathematics
2
- Identify the basic concepts of mathematics and demonstrate a preliminary understanding of mathematical applications in the field of management.
- Perform basic computations in algebra, differential, and integral calculus.
- Develop problem-solving skills from the mathematical ideas learned.
- Distinguish basic mathematics principles and their applications.
Organisation of Government
3
- Identify and explain basic concepts in the study of government.
- Bring out the relationship among these concepts to understand better how the government operates.
- Discuss the nature and functions of the three organs of government.
- Explain the reasons for the adoption of the different administrative systems.
- Explain the nature of the administrative systems and the differences between them.
- State the differences between the presidential and parliamentary forms of government.
- Identify the guiding principles of political systems such as separation of powers and the rule of law.
- Explain the need for instruments of political interactions including political parties, pressure groups, interest groups, and public opinion.
Introduction to Financial Accounting II
3
- Explain the linkage between accounting and other information systems.
- Define the conceptual framework for financial reporting.
- Identify the users and uses of financial statements/reports.
- Link the fundamental concepts and conventions in financial accounting to financial report preparation.
- List the types of accounting errors and how to correct them.
- Explain suspense accounts and their uses.
- Prepare control accounts.
- Prepare accounts for not-for-profit organisations.
- Differentiate single entry and incomplete records.
- Prepare trading, profit or loss accounts of a sole trader, including adjustments.
- State the roles and functions of accounting standards-setting bodies – Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN) and International Accounting Standard Board (IASB).
1st Semester
Units
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
2
- Explain the concepts, characteristics, and theories of entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship, opportunity seeking, new value creation, and risk-taking.
- Analyse the importance of micro and small businesses in wealth creation, employment, and financial independence.
- Engage in entrepreneurial thinking.
- Identify key elements in innovation and describe the stages in enterprise formation, partnership, and networking, including business planning.
- State the basic principles of e-commerce.
Introduction to Public Administration
3
- State the classifications or typologies of organisations.
- State the basic principles of organisations.
- Distinguish between the functions of line, staff, and auxiliary agencies in public administration.
- Explain the meaning and functions of the civil service.
- Discuss the relationship between domestic and international public administrative practices.
- Examine the nature, strengths, and weaknesses of the bureaucracy.
Office Administration
2
- Define the concept of office administration and its importance in the world.
- Describe the essentials of office training.
- Demonstrate the writing of business and official letters.
- Mention emerging skills and techniques for office administration.
- Assess the role of ICT in office management.
- Identify the differences between manual and electronic records management.
Nigerian Legal System
3
- Examine the nature of legal administration in Nigeria.
- Discuss the need for judicial processes.
- State and explain the sources of Nigerian laws.
- Identify the powers and hierarchical arrangements of courts in Nigeria.
- Explain differences in the administration of justice between autocratic and democratic governments.
Introduction to Public Policy Analysis and Decision Making
3
- Examine public policy making, implementation, and evaluation.
- Identify policy actors and agenda setting.
- Evaluate the theories and models of public policy.
- Describe case studies in policy analysis.
- Discuss problems of policy making, implementation, and evaluation.
Foreign Policy Making and Analysis
2
- Explain the connection between foreign policy and national interest.
- Identify that foreign policy formulation takes account of domestic and external factors.
- Discuss the composition of the foreign policy elite of a country.
- Analyse the dynamic nature of foreign policy.
- Highlight examples of foreign policy postures of different countries under different regimes, like French policy of no permanent enemy or permanent friend but permanent national interest under General Charles D’Gualle.
2nd Semester
Units
Philosophy, Logic and Human Existence
2
- Know the basic features of philosophy as an academic discipline.
- Identify the main branches of philosophy and the centrality of logic in philosophical discourse.
- Know the elementary rules of reasoning.
- Distinguish between valid and invalid arguments.
- Think critically and assess arguments in texts, conversations, and day-to-day discussions.
- Critically assess the rationality or otherwise of human conduct under different existential conditions.
- Develop the capacity to extrapolate and deploy expertise in logic to other areas of knowledge.
- Guide his or her actions, using the knowledge and expertise acquired in philosophy and logic.
Nigeria Government and Administration
2
- Recall the major colonial and post-colonial political, constitutional, and administrative developments in Nigeria.
- Examine the pattern of organisation of governmental institutions in terms of their composition, structure, functions, and reforms of the civil service.
- Evaluate the issues of transparency and public accountability.
- Discuss the reasons for and the impact of colonialism on the political and administrative development in Nigeria.
- Appraise the landmark reforms of the civil service.
Rural and Community Development
2
- Identify the opportunity of understanding and participating in rural and community development.
- Define the basic related concepts in rural and community development.
- Explain the dynamics of community leadership.
- Evaluate the theories of rural and community development.
- Appraise the role of community development in national development.
Policy Process
3
- Explain the foundations of the policy process.
- Define and explain the key stages of the policy process.
- Obtain a broad understanding of the policy environment.
- Understand the salient institutions involved in the policy process and their roles.
- Understand how the structure of political institutions interacts with the policy process.
- Analyse how various factors that exercise influence in the various stages of the policy process.
- Recognise the constraints that policymakers face when making decisions on behalf of the public.
Contemporary Strategic Studies
2
- Explain the basic concepts in peace, security, and strategic studies.
- Understand the fundamentals of war studies.
- Identify and describe the contemporary global security issues.
- Explain the strategies for meeting the emerging security challenges.
- Compare and contrast traditional and modern security threats, internal and external security threats.
- Situate Africa within the context of these new threats.
- Examine the preparedness or otherwise of African countries to meet the challenges.
Quantitative Methods in Decision Making
3
- Understand the basic concepts and principles of statistics in the decision-making process.
- Discuss the importance of statistics to the study of public policy and administration.
- Identify the application areas of statistics in decision-making.
- Demonstrate the practical application of statistics to the analysis of public policy issues.
- Understand how to analyse contemporary issues through scientific logical deductions.
Strategic Leadership
2
- Understand the place of leadership in the development of any group, organisation, or nation.
- Understand that leadership is a responsibility for decision-making and problem-solving.
- Describe the meaning and nature of leadership and theories of leadership.
- Explain leadership and the process of decision-making.
- Understand leadership and problem-solving as well as the link between leadership and management skills.
- Explain leadership and corporate governance, leadership and business ethics.
- Define the meaning of corporate social responsibility.
- Explain leadership and effective communication and presentation skills.
- Explain leadership and office and people management, and improve report writing skills.
1st Semester
Units
Administrative Theory
2
- Evaluate the theories of administration.
- Explain the links between administrative theories and administration.
- Identify the difficulties in applying administrative theories in developing countries.
- Discuss the utility of the theory of administration.
- Recommend better administrative practices for the Nigerian public service.
International Administration
2
- Identify the actors in the international system.
- Recognise the different international organisations.
- Examine the ways by which international organisations and actors are administered.
- Evaluate North-South relations.
- Examine international law, morality, and their application.
- Appraise international civil service.
Public Personnel Administration
3
- Discuss the environment of public personnel administration.
- Identify the functions of public personnel administration.
- Determine the need for training and development.
- Describe the management of separation, retirement, pension, and gratuity.
- Evaluate the practice of personnel administration in the Nigerian public sector.
Research Methods
3
- State the step-by-step approaches to starting and completing a research project.
- Apply computer applications in data management and analysis of research in public administration.
- Formulate hypotheses and test hypotheses.
- Report on findings, documentation, and references of research work.
Public Finance
2
- State the meaning and relationship of public finance to other branches of study.
- Mention the instruments of macroeconomic policies in Nigeria.
- Identify the various sources of revenue accruing to federal, state, local governments, and public enterprises.
- Explain the concept of user charges in public finance.
- Appraise the principles of revenue allocation in Nigeria.
- Analyse income and expenditure aspects of government.
Administrative Law
2
- State laws, rules, regulations, and constitutions for professional administrators.
- Explain fundamental human rights.
- Determine the sources of law.
- State processes for redress of grievances.
- Examine the separation of powers and control of administrative powers.
Comparative Local Government
2
- Review the basic concepts of local government and decentralisation in its various forms.
- Develop themes for comparing governments of federal and unitary countries.
- Apply these themes in comparative analysis.
- Differentiate how local governments in advanced countries function compared to developing settings like Nigeria.
2nd Semester
Units
Peace and Conflict Resolution
2
- Analyse the concepts of peace, conflict, and security.
- List major forms, types, and root causes of conflict and violence.
- Differentiate between conflict and terrorism.
- Enumerate security and peace-building strategies.
- Describe the roles of international organisations, media, and traditional institutions in peace-building.
Venture Creation
2
- Describe the key steps in venture creation.
- Spot opportunities in problems and high-potential sectors regardless of geographical location.
- State how original products, ideas, and concepts are developed.
- Develop business concepts for incubation or pitching for funding.
- Identify key sources of entrepreneurial finance.
- Implement requirements for establishing and managing micro and small enterprises.
- Conduct entrepreneurial marketing and e-commerce.
- Apply emerging technological solutions to entrepreneurship.
- Appreciate why ventures fail due to lack of planning and poor implementation.
Administrative Behaviour
2
- State reasons for different behaviours at work.
- Identify the role of leadership in organisations.
- Explain reasons guiding leadership decisions.
- Determine the effects of such decisions on workers.
- State the relevance of information technology to organisational design.
- Discuss problems associated with organisational design.
- Enumerate conflict management strategies for organisations.
Development Administration
2
- Describe the nature, meaning, and assumptions of development administration.
- Analyse issues of growth and development.
- Assess strategies for national development.
- State obstacles to development administration.
- Examine case studies in development administration.
E-Governance
2
- Identify the basic concepts and uses of ICT in public sector management.
- State barriers to ICT in public sector management.
- Mention recent ICT developments and opportunities in the public sector.
- Determine policies that promote ICT use in the public sector.
- Explain uses of ICT in public service delivery.
- Demonstrate utilisation of one software for management.
Intergovernmental Relations
2
- Describe the administrative and financial relationship of the three tiers of government.
- Define concepts such as fiscal federalism.
- Understand theories of fiscal federalism.
- Distinguish between fiscal imbalance and horizontal imbalance.
- Understand the historical evolution of Nigerian federalism.
- Explain challenges of intergovernmental fiscal relations.
Traditional Administrative System in Nigeria
2
- Describe traditional administrative systems before colonialism.
- Identify forms and types of administrative systems prior to colonialism.
- Discuss centralised institutions before colonialism.
- State group structures and administration within them.
- Identify similarities and differences between traditional and colonial administrative systems.
Policy Evaluation
3
- Explain key concepts and principles of policy evaluation.
- Differentiate between formative and summative evaluation approaches.
- Explain models, approaches, and frameworks for policy evaluation.
- Understand criteria and indicators for evaluating policy effectiveness.
- Appreciate the role of evaluation findings in decision-making.
- Effectively communicate evaluation results to stakeholders.
- Analyse real-world policy cases to apply evaluation concepts.
1st Semester
Units
Theory and Practice of Planning
2
- State the reasons and types of planning.
- Discuss the theories of planning.
- State the relationship between budgeting and planning.
- Examine planning methods in developed economies.
- Identify the problems and prospects of planning.
- Evaluate the emerging strategies in planning.
- Evaluate development planning experiences in Nigeria.
Public Policy Analysis
3
- Examine public policy making, implementation, and evaluation.
- Identify policy actors and agenda setting.
- Evaluate the theories and models of public policy.
- Describe case studies in policy analysis.
- Discuss problems of policy making, implementation, and evaluation.
Workshop in Public Administration
2
- Know the purpose and use of files.
- Explain the content and application of the civil service rules.
- Understand financial regulations and financial memoranda.
- Understand the art of minuting, drafting, letter writing, and filing.
- Understand office norms and language such as priority, action, and reference slips, channels of correspondence, glossary of office abbreviations, and related terms.
Public Finance Administration
3
- Describe the general overview of revenue sources to governments.
- Examine the nature, scope, and objectives of public finance administration.
- State differences between budget and budgeting.
- Examine accounting and auditing.
- Examine cash and treasury management.
- Identify sources and management of public debt and Nigeria’s external reserves.
- Identify public finance administration reforms in Nigeria.
Public Service Ethics and Accountability
2
- Identify the rules, regulations, and principles governing the behaviour of public servants and government.
- Determine strategies for promoting ethical performance.
- State ethical dilemmas for government officials.
- Examine the effect of unethical behaviour on service delivery and development.
- Identify agencies for managing ethics and accountability.
Social and Welfare Administration in Nigeria
2
- State the meaning, nature, and philosophy of social welfare policy.
- Identify the role of social welfare in the developmental process generally.
- Evaluate the theories and models of social welfare and their applications.
- Evaluate social welfare programmes in Nigeria.
- Identify the problems of social welfare administration in Nigeria.
- Enumerate arguments for and against welfare schemes in developing countries.
Theory and Practice of Industrial Relations
2
- Explain the concept, evolution, and models of industrial and labour policy in Nigeria.
- Understand core theories of industrial and labour relations.
- Trace the history of Nigerian labour from the colonial period to the present, including major government labour policies and legislation.
- Discuss the role of the state in labour and industrial policy in Nigeria, including rights and responsibilities of employees.
- Understand and manage industrial and labour policy, including labour disputes and settlement.
- Relate industrial and labour policy to information technology, deregulation, and trade unionism in Nigeria.
- Understand international labour laws.
2nd Semester
Units
Public Project Analysis and Management
2
- Discuss the relationship between programmes, projects, and development plans.
- Explain the project life cycle.
- Determine project appraisal techniques.
- Construct and analyse the project network diagram.
- Distinguish between different types of project appraisals.
- Explain the role of leadership in project management.
Public Enterprises Management
2
- Define the basic concepts and characteristics of public enterprises.
- Identify the role of public enterprises in national development.
- Evaluate the performance of public enterprises in Nigeria.
- Identify the factors contributing to poor performance.
- Examine public enterprise reforms in Nigeria.
Research Project
6
- State the problems of research under investigation.
- Evaluate the literature review and theoretical framework of analysis.
- Identify sources of data.
- Develop skills in analysing and writing reports based on an empirical or library study of a relevant topic in administration.
- Summarise findings, documentation, and report writing.
- Conclude and recommend measures where necessary.
Comparative Public Administration
2
- Examine the benefits of studying cross-national public administration.
- Explain the rationale and significance of a comparative approach.
- Identify the limitations of comparative public administration.
- Compare public administration practices in developing nations.
- Compare public administration in Europe, Asia, America, Africa, and Latin America.
- Assess the impact of globalisation on public administration in Nigeria.
Legislative Process
3
- Understand the concept and subject matter of the legislature.
- Explain the interplay between legislative decisions and the development, implementation, and impact of public policies.
- Comprehend the legislative system and process.
- Analyse how policies are formulated within legislative bodies.
- Examine factors influencing legislative agendas and policy priorities.
- Describe the steps by which legislative proposals are formulated and translated into legal provisions.
- Understand the role of legislative committees in policy analysis and development.
- Explain theories and models of legislative decision-making.
Admission Requirements
Admission Requirements for BSc. Public Policy and Administration
100 Level Entry Requirements for BSc. Public Policy and Administration
Here’s what you need to study for a bachelor’s programme at Miva Open University
A copy of your O’Level result
The result must include a minimum of five credits in the following subjects in not more than two sittings:
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Economics, History, Civic Education, or Government
- Two other subjects
Please note that submission of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) results is not mandatory at this stage. However, upon admission to the university, the provided results will be thoroughly verified for authenticity and compliance with the stated criteria, including JAMB Regularisation.
Direct Entry Admission Requirements for BSc. Public Policy and Administration
Here’s what you need to study for a bachelor’s programme at Miva Open University
Direct Entry Candidates must meet ‘O’ Level requirements for the programme:
- Two (2) 'A' Level passes chosen from Government, Economics, Accounts, Business Management, Geography or Statistics.
- Lower credit pass in ND/NCE in related fields.
- Very good passes in three (3) JUPEB subjects: Economics, and any two (2) of Financial Accounting, Business Management, Government and Geography.
- International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma in relevant subjects.
Careers
Potential Roles for BSc. Public Policy and Administration Degree Holders
- Policy Analyst
- Government Administrator
- Government Administrator
- Policy Consultant
- Nonprofit Executive
- Advocacy Professional
- Policy Planner
- Legislative Analyst
- Public Affairs Specialist
- Social Researcher
- Policy Coordinator
Tuition
Payment Plans
Miva Open University offers a flexible payment plan for its degree programmes. You may choose to pay the year’s fee or per semester.
Tuition Per Semester
$315
/Semester
- Pay Per Semester.
- No hidden charges.
- No additional costs.
Tuition Per Session
$560
/Session
- Pay Per Session
- No hidden charges.
- No additional costs.
