Urban Studies and Public Administration B.A. plus M.P.A. 5 year program

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

At-a-Glance

Degrees granted: Bachelor of Arts and Master of Public Administration

Advising: designated college adviser for Phases I and II, phone: 216-687-3884; for Phase III, phone: 216-523-7522

Student organizations: Pi Alpha Alpha

Additional Information:

The five-year B.A.+ M.P.A. is a fast-track program designed for high-performing undergraduates in Urban 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 BA program.

Admission Requirements

Students submit an application for admission to the BA+MPA program through the Levin College advising office. 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.

B.A. Program

Phase I

Upper Division College Requirements (8 credit hours)

Required Courses (16 credit hours)

Public Management Required Courses (27 credit hours)

UST 452 - Management of Urban and Nonprofit Organizations
UST 459 - Budgeting and Policy Analysis
UST 515 - Introduction to Public Administration
UST 517 - Public Administration and the Political Process
UST 518 - Public Human Resources Management

Plus two chosen from:

Phase II Transition

UST 490 - Urban Internship
UST 516 Public Finance and Economics
UST 5XX Public Administration Elective (4 credits)

Note(s):

The B.A. in Urban Studies is awarded with 128 credit hours earned and completion of all General Education, college and major-field requirements. In order to advance to Phase III, the cumulative GPA must be at least 3.0 with grades of B or better in all 500-level courses.

M.P.A. Program

Phase III

MPA Requirements

Core (8 credit hours)

UST 601 - Applied Quantitative Reasoning I
UST 604 - Organizational Behavior

Complete one specialization chosen from:

General Public Management (10-12 credit hours minimum)

Elective (4 credits)
Elective (3-4 credits)
Elective (3-4 credits)

City Management (11 credit hours minimum)

UST 619 - Seminar in City Management
UST 633 - Budget Policy and Management
Elective (3-4 credits)

Note(s):

The M.P.A. degree is awarded upon completion of a minimum of eight graduate courses taken during Phase II (B.A.) and Phase III (M.P.A.) for a minimum of 30 graduate credit hours. All Graduate College and M.P.A. Program rules regarding academic standing and graduation apply.