Political Science

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

Two people in conversation, walking down a hallway.

Accelerated BS to MPA

The Accelerated B.S. to MPA (or 4+1 Program) is a combined bachelor-master degree program that 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 jrbilins@oakland.edu or advisers in the College of Arts and Sciences Advising Office.

Course Requirements Apply Now Visit MPA on Facebook

Course Requirements

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

Core Requirements: 16 Credits
PS 1100 Introduction to American Politics4 credits
PS 1600 Issues in World Politics or PS 1400 Comparative Politics4 credits
PS 2500 The Research Process in Political Science4 credits
PS 2550 Data Analysis in Political Science4 credits

Departmental Courses: 18 Credits
PS 2800 Public Affairs Careers Orientation2 credits
PS 3310 American Public Policy4 credits
PS 3315 Public Administration Financial Analysis4 credits
PS 4030 Government and the Economy4 credits
PS 4950 Public Administration Internship4 credits

Graduate Courses: 12 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 Course3 credits
Application Steps

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):

CourseCredits
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 Course3 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:

CourseCredits
PA 5020 – Intro to Government and Nonprofit Accounting2 credits
PA 6100 – Quantitative Methods in Public Administration3 credits
PA 6200 – Public Sector Information Systems Management3 credits
PA 6300 – Program and Policy Evaluation3 credits
Electives9 credits
Capstone – PA 6950 or PA 69964 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.