Public Administration, Accelerated 4+1 BA/MPA

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Through the BA+MPA program, students may complete a BA in Urban and Regional Studies and a Master of Public Administration through the School of Urban Affairs in five years, instead of the six academic years normally required of full-time students. High performing undergraduate students may apply to the five-year program during the third year of undergraduate study and, if accepted, complete MPA coursework during the fourth year and a transition term. Students may then complete all remaining MPA coursework in two semesters of full-time graduate study.

Degrees Granted

Bachelor of Arts and Master of Public Administration

Additional Information

The five-year B.A. + M.P.A. is a fast-track program designed for high-performing undergraduates in Urban and Regional Studies. By accelerating the completion of two degrees, students will jumpstart their careers as professionals in public administration.
Admitted 4+1 students follow a set curriculum to ensure proper sequencing of courses. Students may only register for courses after consultation with the designated program advisor. Any student who deviates from the required curriculum risks forfeiture of program eligibility and may return to the conventional B.A. program.

Admission to Program

In addition to meeting the admission requirements for the conventional MPA program, students applying to the 5-year BA+MPA program must have a cumulative GPA of 3.25 and submit two letters of recommendation from Cleveland State University faculty. Upon successful completion of the fourth year and transition term, students are awarded the BA in Urban and Regional Studies. In order to be admitted to the final year of the BA+MPA Program, students must complete the BA with a cumulative GPA of 3.0, receive grades of B or better in designated coursework, and take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) with scores that meet standard MPA admission.

For more information and curriculum plans, please consult the Public Affairs Student Services Center, at 216-687-3884 or urbanprograms@csuohio.edu.

Students who are accepted for an accelerated 4+1 program may apply or transfer a maximum of 12 graduate credit hours taken while an undergraduate. No additional graduate credit hours taken as an undergraduate may be applied or transferred to the graduate record.

Students submit an application for admission to the B.A. + M.P.A. program through the Public Affairs Student Services Center.
A complete application is comprised of the 4+1 application form, official Graduate Record Exam scores, and two letters of recommendation from faculty.
Minimum qualifications: 90 hours earned, grade-point average of 3.25 or better, GRE scores at the 40th percentile (verbal and quantitative combined) and an Analytical Writing score of 4.0 or better, plus completion of core competencies (economics, public policy and statistics) by earning a grade of B or better in UST 300, UST 302, UST 404, and UST 405.

Program Requirements

B.A. Program

School Requirements (4 Courses)

UST 200 - Introduction to Urban Studies
UST 404 - Urban Data Analysis
UST 405 - Methods of Research and Evaluation
UST 490 - Urban Internship

Required Core Courses (5 Courses)

UST 290 - Urban Geography
UST 300 - Economics of Policy Analysis
UST 302 - Contemporary Urban Issues
UST 458 - Urban Policy
UST 489 - Advanced Senior Seminar

Public Management Required Courses (8 Courses)

UST 452 - Management of Urban and Nonprofit Organizations
UST 459 - Budgeting and Policy Analysis
UST 515 - Foundations in Public Administration and UST 571 - Urban Colloquium (taken concurrently)
UST 516 - Public Sector Economics
UST 517 - Public Administration and the Political Process
UST 518 - Public Human Resources Management
UST 5XX - Public Administration Elective (4 credits)

Plus one course chosen from:

UST 410 - Proposal Writing
UST 425 - Economic Development Finance
UST 428 - Fire and Emergency Services Administration
UST 433 - Negotiation and Conflict Management
UST 451 - Fundraising and External Relations for Nonprofit Organizations
UST 453 - Managing Urban Diversity
UST 455 - Gender and Leadership
UST 473 - Columbus Seminar
UST 474 - Washington Seminar
UST 481 - Public Safety Management
UST 494 - Levin Chair Seminar

Note(s):

The B.A. in Urban and Regional Studies is awarded with 120 credit hours earned and completion of all General Education, Urban Affairs, and major-field requirements. In order to advance to the M.P.A. Program as a graduate student, the cumulative GPA must be at least 3.0 with grades of B or better in all 500-level courses.

M.P.A. Program

Students complete seven additional graduate courses in fulfillment of the M.P.A. Program Core, Public and City Management Specialization, and M.P.A. Capstone.

Crosslisted Courses

The following pairs of courses are crosslisted; admitted 4+1 students may register for the 500-level versions while completing BA requirements.

UST 515 - Foundations in Public Administration - Taken for UST 600
UST 571 - Urban Colloquium - Taken for UST 671 . Corequisite: UST 515 .
UST 518 - Public Human Resources Management - Taken for UST 630 .
UST 516 - Public Sector Economics - Taken for UST 603
UST 517 - Public Administration and the Political Process - Taken for UST 617

Note(s):

The M.P.A. degree is awarded upon completion of all required graduate courses taken during the B.A. and M.P.A. Program for a minimum of 30 graduate credit hours. All Graduate College and M.P.A. Program rules regarding academic standing and graduation apply.