Program Overview

Introduction to the BSPPA/MPPA 2+3 Program

The BSPPA/MPPA 2+3 program is an accelerated program designed for outstanding BSPPA students, allowing them to complete both a baccalaureate degree and a Master of Public Policy Administration (MPPA) degree in five years. This program enables students to apply 12 of the MPPA credit hours towards their BS degree, reducing the overall required hours for the two degrees from 160 to 148 hours.

Program Structure

The program is structured to allow students to complete their undergraduate and graduate degrees in a condensed timeframe. The core curriculum for the MPPA degree consists of 28 hours in the core curriculum sequence, comprising the following public policy administration courses:

• Administration
  • P P ADM 6400: Proseminar in Public Policy Administration
  • P P ADM 6600: Organizational Behavior and Administrative Processes
  • P P ADM 6180: Budgeting
  • P P ADM 6080: Microeconomics for Policy Analysis
• Economics
  • P P ADM 6210: Public Sector Microeconomics
  • P P ADM 6000: Introduction to Policy Analysis
• Policy Analysis
  • P P ADM 6900: Cases in Public Policy Administration
• Statistics, Research Methods, and Information Technology
  • P P ADM 6010: Introduction to Policy Research
  • P P ADM 6750: Introduction to Evaluation Research Methods
  • P P ADM 6850: Information Technology and the Public and Nonprofit Sectors

Electives and Emphasis Areas

Twelve credit hours are taken as electives based on a student's interest. These electives are organized into emphasis areas. For each student in this program, the MPPA Director and the BSPPA Advisor in the Department of Political Science will jointly identify and approve four MPPA courses (totaling 12 credits) that cover, at a more advanced level, undergraduate courses that would otherwise be taken for the BSPPA degree.

Degree Requirements

The degree requirements remain the same for the two degrees. However, students admitted into this accelerated program will be able to earn 12 graduate credits prior to completing their undergraduate degrees. Upon completion of 120 credit hours (including all other undergraduate degree requirements), the BSPPA degree will be awarded.

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for admission into this dual degree program, BSPPA majors must have completed between 60 and 108 credit hours. It is recommended that applicants apply after completing 90 credit hours. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 overall GPA as well as a minimum 3.0 GPA in the major. The application process involves submitting an application to the Master of Public Policy Administration program, accompanied by:

• Three letters of recommendation, including one from a current, full-time faculty member
• A two to three page statement of the student's individual goals and substantive areas of interest

Decisions on admission are made by the director in consultation with the BSPPA advisor in the Department of Political Science. Students entering the MPPA program may be required to display proficiency in college algebra.