- Political Science
- Master of Public Administration
- Accelerated BS to MPA
Political Science
Varner Hall, Room 418
371 Varner Drive
Rochester,
MI
48309-4485
(location map)
(248) 370-2352
Accelerated BS to MPA
The B.S. to MPA 4+1 Plan 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 a 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 required undergraduate public administration courses.
For more information on this program,
contact the MPA program coordinator: jsikora@oakland.edu
or advisers in College of Arts and Sciences advising office.
Public Administration and Public Policy B.S. | 46 Credits |
Core Requirements: 16 Credits | |
PS1100 Introduction to American Politics | 4 credits |
PS1600 Issues in World Politics or PS1400 Comparative Politics | 4 credits |
PS2500 Research Process in Political Science | 4 credits |
PS2550 Data Analysis in Political Science | 4 credits |
Departmental Courses: 18 Credits | |
PS2800 Public Affairs Career Orientation | 2 credits |
PS3351 Public Administration Financial Analysis | 4 credits |
PS3310 American Public Policy | 4 credits |
PS4030 Government and the Economy | 4 credits |
PS4950 Public Administration Internship | 4 credits |
Graduate Courses: 12 Credits | |
PA5100 Foundations of Public Administration (replaces PS 3305) | 4 credits |
PA5200 Public Sector Budgeting and Finance (replaces PS 3320) | 4 credits |
PA5300 Public Sector Human Resource Management (replaces PS 3325) | 4 credits |
Steps to Both Graduations
If a student has a minimum overall GPA of 3.20 and has completed at least 6 of the 9 courses in the Public Administration and Public Policy undergraduate core or departmental courses, student may apply to the Public Administration 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 his or her undergraduate degree with an overall GPA of 3.0) | |
A student accepted into the 4+1 program continues his or her undergraduate degree with the substitution of 3 graduate courses as shown below: Please note that students must be accepted into the 4+1 program before taking any graduate level courses. | |
PA 5100 – Foundations of Public Administration(replaces PS 3305) | 4 credits |
PA 5200 – Public Budgeting (replaces PS 3320) | 4 credits |
PA 5300 – Public Sector Human Resource Mgmt(replaces PS 3325) | 4 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, he or she and is fully admitted to graduate MPA program. Classes to be completed are: | |
PA 6100 – Quantitative Methods | 4 credits |
PA 6200 – Public Sector Information Systems Management | 4 credits |
PA 6300 – Program and Policy Evaluation | 4 credits |
Electives | 12 credits |
Capstone – PA 6996 or PA 6950 | 4 credits |
*Plus 12 credits double counted (taken as undergrad) | 12 credits |
40 credits – |
Note: Students must be aware that two summers are included in the +1 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 student’s individual choice of electives, an additional class during his or her 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 her or his graduate degree.