BA Political Science vs Public Administration: Which Course Should You Pick?

Both the BA Political Science and the BA Public Administration courses provide an in-depth understanding of politics and government. Know the course details and career options to choose wisely.

Table of Contents

BA Political Science vs. BA Public Administration: Course Highlights, Eligibility, …
BA Political Science vs. BA Public Administration: Career Orientation
BA Political Science vs BA Public Administration Career: Which Course …
Faqs

BA Political Science vs Public Administration

The students who are planning to take admission in BA courses and are confused regarding what to choose: BA political science or BA public administration, must know the course details and career options to discover their interest. To make a wise choice, it is important to understand the purpose of the BA Political Science and BA Public Administration and the course material. To assist you in choosing the right option, let us take a quick look at both disciplines.

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BA Political Science vs. BA Public Administration: Course Highlights, Eligibility, Scope

Check out the major highlights for both the courses: BA Political Science and BA Public Administration from the table below:

Factors	BA Political Science	BA Public Administration
Focus	Theory and analysis of political systems	Implementation of government policies
Scope	A vast and comprehensive study of global politics and economy	Specialized focus on government administration
Career Opportunities	Political analyst, lobbyist, politician, diplomat, policy analyst	Public administrator, policy analyst, budget analyst, human resource manager
Duration of UG Programme	3 years	3 years
Duration of PG Programme	2 years	2 years
Eligibility Criteria	BA Political Science: 10+2 from any recognized Board with minimum 50% aggregate. MA Political Science: Bachelor's degree in Political Science from any recognized University with minimum 55% aggregate.	BA Public Administration: 10+2 from any recognized Board with minimum 50% aggregate. MA Public Administration: Bachelor's degree in Public Administration or relevant subject from any recognized University with minimum 55% aggregate

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BA Political Science vs. BA Public Administration: Career Orientation

The students confused regarding the career options after pursuing the BA political science vs BA public administration must consider the details from the table below:

Career Path	BA Political Science	BA Public Administration
Civil Services (IAS, IPS etc)	BA political science provides strong base, which is strong for polity & IR sections in civil services	BA Public Administration syllabus overlaps in optional subject in civil services
Academia/ Research	BA Political Science is suitable for MA political science, IR or public policy	BA Public Administration is suitable for MA public administration, governance or developmental studies
Corporate/NGO Management	BA political science is of Moderate relevance	BA public administration is high relevance for NGOs, administrative and HR roles
Policy Making and Think Tanks	BA political science provides strong background in political systems and governance	BA public administration is strong in implementation and in administrative systems
Journalism, Law, Diplomacy	BA Political Science course is very relevant in journalism, law, and diplomacy	BA public administration is not as helpfua as BA political science but it is helpful in public affairs journalism or legal administration

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BA Political Science vs BA Public Administration Career: Which Course to Pick

The student who wants to prepare for the UPSC exam can choose the BA political science subject, as the syllabus overlaps with the civil service exam. Whereas the students who want to work in NGOs, the public policy domain, the development sector, or policy implementation can choose the BA public administration course.

BA Political Science and BA Public Administration are two closely related yet different courses. Both are important to social studies and impart knowledge that complements each other. However, their nature and objectives in the course curriculum are different from each other. The BA Political Science focuses on creating a framework for government machinery, while BA Public Administration works within that framework.

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If you have any queries, check out the QnA Zone . For help regarding admissions, fill out the Common Application Form (CAF) or call our helpline number 18005729877. Stay tuned to CollegeDekho for more updates!

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FAQs

What is the course fee for BA political science course in govt colleges?

The course fee for the BA in Political Science at the government college ranges from INR 10,000 to INR 50,000.

What are the job prospects after BA Public Administration course?

The various job prospects after BA public administration course are:

Diplomat
Governance and Public Policy
International Relations

What are the job prospects after BA political science course?

The various job prospects after a BA political science course are:

Research
Higher studies (MA/Phd)
Journalism

After pursuing the BA Public Administration course, can the student apply for govt sector jobs?

Yes. After pursuing the BA Public Administration course, can the student apply for govt sector jobs.

Do both the BA Political Science and BA Public Administration take admission based on merit?

Yes. Both the BA Political Science and BA Public Administration take admission based on merit.

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I gave my XIIth exam from NIOS, which I, unfortunately, could not clear. I have applied for revaluation. In that scenario, can I still apply for B.A admission at Lovely Professional University, Phagwara?

-Manpreet KaurUpdated on December 21, 2025 12:37 AM

34 Answers

vridhi, Student / Alumni

Yes, you can apply for provisional admission to LPU for the B.A. program while your NIOS revaluation result is pending. The university accepts applications from students who are awaiting their final results. You will be required to submit your revised mark sheet once it is available to complete the admission process and finalize your enrollment.

Are the LPUNEST PYQs available?

-naveenUpdated on December 25, 2025 02:25 PM

67 Answers

vridhi, Student / Alumni

Yes, LPU PYQ are available for practical and students can easily access sample papers and previous year papers through LPU official site and student support. these papers help in understanding exam pattern and preparing better, LPU always supports students with proper guidance and resources. in addition the official website also provides sample papers to help students with their preparation.

Can I do BA Psychology with Physical Education and Political Science

-ashmeen kaurUpdated on December 23, 2025 05:07 PM

1 Answer

Apoorva Bali, Content Team

Yes, you can pursue a BA in Psychology at Chitkara University, Patiala, but the specific combination of Physical Education and Political Science as elective or ancillary subjects may depend on the university's course structure and available electives for that year.