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Combined BS/MPA

This combined bachelor-master degree program provides high-achieving students an opportunity to complete a bachelor's and master's degree in less time than would be required if the two degrees were done independently. Participants can graduate with a Master of Public Administration degree in one calendar year after completing the B.S. in Public Administration and Public Policy. Students also take 12 graduate-level credits at undergraduate tuition rates. Interested students are eligible to apply if they have a minimum 3.2 overall GPA after completing at least six required undergraduate public administration courses.

For more information on this program, contact the MPA program coordinator via email at [email protected] or advisers in the College of Arts and Sciences Advising Office.

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Public Administration and Public Policy B.S.
46 credits total

Core Requirements: 16 Credits Credits
PS 1100 Introduction to American Politics 4 credits
PS 1600 Issues in World Politics or PS 1400 Comparative Politics 4 credits
PS 2500 The Research Process in Political Science 4 credits
PS 2550 Data Analysis in Political Science 4 credits

 

Departmental Courses: 18 Credits Credits
PS 2800 Public Affairs Careers Orientation 2 credits
PS 3310 American Public Policy 4 credits
PS 3315 Public Administration Financial Analysis 4 credits
PS 4030 Government and the Economy 4 credits
PS 4950 Public Administration Internship 4 credits

 

Graduate Courses: 12 Credits Credits
PA 5100 Foundations of Public Administration (replaces PS 3305) 3 credits
PA 5200 Public Sector Budgeting and Finance (replaces PS 3320) 3 credits
PA 5300 Public Sector Human Resource Management (replaces PS 3325) 3 credits
Graduate-Level PA Elective Course 3 credits

Students with a minimum overall GPA of 3.20 and who have completed at least 6 of the 9 courses in the Public Administration and Public Policy undergraduate major may apply to the Accelerated BS to MPA (4 + 1) program. Qualified applicants will be given a delayed admission to the MPA program (full, formal admission will not take place until the student successfully completes their undergraduate degree with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher).

Students admitted into the Accelerated BS to MPA (4 + 1) program continue their undergraduate degree with the substitution of 4 graduate courses as shown below (please note that students must be accepted into the 4 + 1 program before taking any graduate level courses):

Course Credits
PA 5100 – Foundations of Public Administration
(replaces PS 3305)
3 credits
PA 5200 – Public Budgeting and Finance
(replaces PS 3320)
3 credits
PA 5300 – Human Resources Management in the Public Sector
(replaces PS 3325)
3 credits
Graduate-Level PA Elective Course 3 credits
  46 credits – BS degree completed


If 4 + 1 program student has successfully graduated with a BS degree and an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher, they are fully admitted to the graduate MPA program. Classes to be completed are:

Course Credits
PA 5020 – Intro to Government and Nonprofit Accounting 2 credits
PA 6100 – Quantitative Methods in Public Administration 3 credits
PA 6200 – Public Sector Information Systems Management 3 credits
PA 6300 – Program and Policy Evaluation 3 credits
Electives 9 credits
Capstone – PA 6950 or PA 6996 4 credits
*Plus 12 credits double counted (taken while in undergrad) 12 credits
  36 credits –
MPA degree completed


Note: 
Students must be aware that two summers are included in the year to complete the MPA degree. Specialized electives rotate every other year and may not be offered during the 1 year remaining to complete the MPA degree. Based on a student's individual choice of electives, an additional class during their undergraduate years may be required. In this case, the extra elective will not count toward the undergraduate degree and the student will be charged the tuition difference at the time the course is transferred to their graduate degree.

Political Science

Varner Hall, Room 418
371 Varner Drive
Rochester, MI 48309-4482
(location map)
(248) 370-2352