Undergraduate Programs - BA in Public Management +1 for an MPA

BA in Public Management +1 for an MPA

Fast-track your career

Complete your BA in public management and your MPA in 5 years!

Purpose:

Public Management students, this is your opportunity to complete two degrees in 5 years rather 6 years saving time, money, and increasing your ability to compete for jobs in government, nonprofits, and healthcare.

Benefit:

Students in the public management program at the University of Maine are in a unique situation of having access to both an undergraduate program in public management that meets the recommended standards of the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration and a graduate program the Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree, which is accredited by NASPAA.  No other school in New England provides both.  Normally, an MPA takes 2 academic years and one summer to complete.  You can complete both your undergrad and graduate degree in 5 calendar years.

How: Begin in your first or sophomore year by talking with your advisor.  You will need to apply during your junior year.  The deadline is Feb 1.  You must have:

• Demonstrated commitment to public service
• Personal interview with the Director of Public Administration Graduate Programs and Department Chair
• Undergraduate grade point average of  3.5 overall and in the Public Management major
• Satisfactory SAT scores (GRE scores are not required for those who have taken the SATs)
• Recommendation from a sponsoring public administration faculty member such as your advisor

The Graduate Committee will review the application.  Final admittance to the MPA depends upon completion of the BA.

Program

If you are accepted, you continue working with your present advisor to develop your plan of study.  During your senior year, complete any of the remaining 120 credits of the BA and take an additional 9 credits of MPA graduate classes. You will be charged undergraduate rates for graduate courses taken your senior year, saving considerable money as well as time.

Upon completion of the BA, you will be formally accepted into the MPA program.  During your first (and final year) in the Master’s, you will take an additional 24 credits to complete the MPA for a total of 36 credits (rather than 42 credits).\

Below is the recommended program

For more information contact, Carolyn Ball

Director of Graduate Programs in Public Administration

Ball@Maine.edu

207- 581-4142

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