Interested in a career in Public Service? The MPA program prepares students for rewarding, high impact careers in government, nonprofit organizations, international institutions and private sector businesses that are dedicated to the public good.

The accelerated Bachelor’s and Master in Public Administration degree will give students the opportunity to complete their degree in five years. Students from any major have the ability to apply to this program. Please inquire with your Advisor or Program Director Ginger Gold Schnitzer, gschnitzer@saintpeters.edu for information on the MPA Program.

The Accelerated Bachelor’s to MPA degree program offers several advantages. The program:

• Accelerates the attainment of an advanced degree
• Facilitates seamless transition to a master’s degree
• Increases students’ marketability in the field of public service
• Saves students time and money (first 9 credits are included in full-time undergraduate tuition for a savings of around $9,000.)

Admission Requirements

Any student may apply to the program upon completion of 60 credits, and upon acceptance, take three graduate courses (9 credits) within their last 30 credits.

Specific admission requirements include:

• Successful completion of 60 credits
• Cumulative major GPA of 3.3 or higher, Major GPA of 3.0 or higher, and Cognate Course GPA of 3.0 or higher;
  at the time of application and when the BA degree is completed
• Complete the Bachelor’s degree in four (4) years or less
• Submission of the graduate application, and personal statement (250+ words)
• Official transcript(s) will be obtained from Enrollment Services upon completion
• Two letters of recommendation from school of Undergraduate Degree
• An interview may be required

Students may apply to the program by November 1st, but not later than March 1st, prior to their last 30 credits.

Credits and Curriculum

The Masters of Public Administration degree program is a 36-credit program. If accepted into the accelerated program, students will take up to nine graduate credits in either the fall or spring trimester within their last 30 credits. (Note: Undergraduates cannot take graduate courses during the Winter Trimester.) Graduate courses taken while an undergraduate are billed at the undergraduate tuition rate and fulfill course requirements for the Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.

Students will meet with the MPA program advisor to choose from the courses listed below. The bachelor’s degree will be awarded upon successful completion of all requirements for the undergraduate degree. Note: The University will apply the initial 9 graduate credits to the graduate transcript upon completion of 12 additional graduate credits.

Upon completion of the bachelor’s degree, students take all graduate courses and will enroll in at least two courses in each of the subsequent trimesters until completed. All graduate courses are billed at the graduate tuition rate. Upon successful completion of the remaining graduate credits, the student will be awarded a Master of Public Administration.¹

PA-501 Introduction to Public Administration	PA-530 Public Sector Finance and Budgeting
PA-510 Ethics and Society	PA-540 Leadership in Public & Non-Profit Sectors
PA-520 Research and Analytic Methods	PA-550 Quantitative Methods

¹Students can complete the program in ONE YEAR after receiving their bachelor’s degree.