Accelerated Master of Public Administration Degree (BA/MPA or BS/MPA) [Prior to Fall 2023]
The joint Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science and Master of Public Administration (BA/MPA or BS/MPA) degree provides qualified students with the opportunity to earn a master's degree in public administration while taking up to 18 credits of the MPA program as an undergraduate student.
The accelerated program is designed for highly motivated students with the desire to build career options into their undergraduate curriculum. The Bachelor’s / Master of Public Administration degree program is especially relevant to public service majors, but it is also suitable and applicable for students from all undergraduate disciplines.
The MPA degree is useful in organizations engaged in making laws and regulations; delivering public services; providing access to art, music, and other amenities; developing and sustaining communities; providing education, health care, and public safety; holding corporations and public officials accountable; and advocating on behalf of environmental, social, safety, community, and political issues. By graduating with a combined Bachelor’s / Master of Public Administration degree, students are graduating ready for a career position.
Curriculum / Tuition Rates
Once accepted into the 42-credit MPA degree program, students take 18 credits of graduate MPA courses during their senior undergraduate year. This program satisfies the undergraduate second concentration requirement (must complete 18 credits).
Accelerated MPA students are limited to fall and spring semesters only. Students are eligible to take summer and fall sections once they become graduate students. Students who take graduate courses during the summer and/or winter sessions will be charged the graduate level tuition rate.
Students are not considered to be graduate students until they officially apply and are accepted into the MPA program and graduate with their bachelor's degree.
MPA courses taken as an undergraduate in the fall and spring semesters are charged at the undergraduate tuition rate and are double-counted for undergraduate and graduate credits.
After receiving their undergraduate degree, students continue with the Master of Public Administration degree, taking MPA graduate courses until completing the required 42 credit hours for the MPA degree. Post-undergraduate degree credits carry the graduate tuition rate.
Coursework
Graduate MPA courses available to accepted undergraduates:
Foundational Core Courses / 12 credits:
- Introduction to Public Administration (3)
- Technology and Public Administration (3)
- Economics for Public Administration (3)
- Administrative Ethics (3)
Managerial Core Courses / 6 credits:
- Managing Public Organizations (3)
- Human Resources Administration (3)
DOWNLOAD: Recommended Accelerated Bachelor's/MPA Academic Plan
For More Information
To learn more, Request Information or Join a SPAA Info Session. If you have questions about a program or the application process, contact Aaron Gibbs, associate dean of student and academic services, at algibbs@rutgers.edu.