BA/MPA Public Administration Joint Degree

This curriculum reduces the time to complete a master's degree for undergraduates wishing to prepare for a public service or nonprofit career. The Accelerated Joint Degree program allows undergraduate students majoring in public and nonprofit administration to complete course work applied to the Master of Public Administration degree, thus reducing their time to completion.

In the Accelerated BA/MPA program, students will meet all MPA program prerequisites by meeting the requirements of the BA program. In addition, students will receive credit towards the MPA for the following:

  • PAD 501: Introduction to the Profession.  The program will waive the introductory MPA course because students will already have experienced an introduction to the profession through the acquisition of the BA/MPA.

  • Core or Elective Credit: BA/MPA students can also take up to 9 hours of 400/500 level PAD core or elective credits to apply towards the MPA. Thus the Accelerated undergraduate student would have 12 hours towards their MPA. Graduate student must complete any remaining core and elective courses, as outlined below, not included in those 12 credit hours.

Program Learning Outcomes 

Graduates of the MPA degree program will be able to understand and demonstrate knowledge and skills in the following competencies:

  1. Lead and manage in public governance.

    1. Communicate in a clear and concise manner.

    2. Apply relevant theories, knowledge, and skills to manage resources and programs effectively.

  2. Participate in and contribute to the public policy process.

    1. Describe the public policy process and the role of the various participants and stakeholders.

    2. Identify problems, frame the issues, and identify and evaluate alternatives for addressing a problem.

  3. Analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems, and make decisions.

    1. Demonstrate the ability to collect, analyze, and interpret data for use in decision-making, and drawing conclusions.

    2. Critically read and apply findings from studies and reports.

  4. Articulate and apply a public service perspective.

    1. Articulate the importance of and operate in a manner that facilitates democracy, equity, transparency, efficiency, and ethics.

  5. Communicate and interact productively with a diverse and changing workforce and citizenry.

    1. Demonstrate a sensitivity to and respect for differences in culture.

Requirements

Remaining Core21
Organization Dynamics
Analytical Tools
Budget And Finance
Human Resource Management
Public Policy for Managers
Information for Decision Making
Capstone Seminar
Electives 212
1

At least six hours of elective courses must be selected from Public Administration (PAD) courses. Any combination of PAD 400- or 500-level courses may count toward the MPA degree. Only one 400-level elective from a program outside the Department of Public and Nonprofit Administration may be counted toward the MPA. A student in the accelerated BA/MPA may take up to six 400 level hours of electives and apply these toward the MPA.

2

Up to four (4) hours can be internship