Students selecting the Bachelor of Arts/Master of Public Administration option are expected to meet the current M.P.A. admission requirements, with the exception that they are not required to have obtained their baccalaureate degrees.

Undergraduate students are not normally accepted until the end of their junior year. All applicants for admission are required to have a cumulative grade point ratio (CGPR) of 3.00 and to have satisfactorily completed a minimum of 96 undergraduate credits, which would normally indicate that all of the students’ requirements for three years of study have been fully satisfied. Students applying for admission to the B.A./M.P.A. option program must submit a letter from their undergraduate department chairperson certifying that these requirements have been met.

In addition, applicants must have taken the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) in their junior year and earned a satisfactory score. Prospective students must be interviewed by the director of the Public Administration Institute. If the student does not earn a 3.00 average in the first semester, he/she will be reassigned to his/her undergraduate program.

B.A. in History/M.P.A.

The B.A. in history/M.P.A. combined degree is offered on the Metropolitan Campus. A total of 145 credits is normally required to complete the B.A./M.P.A. combined degree program. Thirty-nine of these credits must be earned on the graduate level.

Requirements for the B.A. in History

Undergraduate Courses (a minimum of 128 credits is required for the B.A. degree.)

1. WRITTEN COMMUNICATION:  This requirement consists of six credits in English Composition (ENGL1101 and ENGL1102) and six credits of writing intensive courses within the major.
2. ORAL COMMUNICATION:  Requirements consist of a three-credit course that is substantially concerned with public speaking and oral presentations, typically a course in Speech.
3. QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS:  Requirements consist of a three-credit course that is substantially concerned with mathematics and statistics with application to everyday problems.
4. ETHICAL AND MORAL ANALYSIS:  Requirements consist of a three-credit course that is substantially concerned with ethical theories and questions.  This course could be in Philosophy or a course within a major program.
5. SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS:  Requirements consist of a minimum of six credits of laboratory science.
6. LANGUAGE AND CULTURE:  This requirement canbe satisfied by one of four options: traditional language courses with significant cultural elements, LANG course listings under “Language and Culture Studies,” language-based study abroad, or the six highest ESL/ESP credits for non-native English speakers.
7. SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES:  This requirement can be satisfied by six credits of coursework in Communication,Criminal Justice, Economics, Political Science, Psychology, or Sociology.
8. ART AND HUMANITIES:   This requirement can be satisfied by six credits of coursework in Art (visual or performing), English Literature, Humanities, Philosophy, or Religion.
9. A minimum of 128 credits is required for graduation.

Additional Graduate Courses Required for the M.P.A. Degree (39 credits)