Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master of Public Administration
Reach your goals, faster. The Maxwell School is pleased to introduce new accelerated options for talented and motivated Maxwell students to earn a Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) degree with just one additional year of study past a B.A., inclusive of a career-building internship.
By overlapping your coursework between a bachelor’s and a master’s you will:
- Save money. Up to 12 credit hours can be applied to both an undergraduate and graduate degree, saving up to 30 percent of the tuition cost for the M.P.A. Students will be considered for additional merit scholarships upon completion of their bachelor’s degree.
- Earn valuable internship experience. Students in the accelerated program are able to finish in 12 months inclusive of a required internship.
- Save time and create opportunities. With a reduced course load in your spring and fall graduate semesters, you will have added time to complete a second internship or add a Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) demonstrating specialized training or expertise.
Program Overview
Current undergraduate students of the Maxwell School in the following disciplines can apply to the accelerated M.P.A. program following the declaration of a major and completion of 75 credit hours toward their bachelor's degree—typically in their junior year—complete a summer internship, then apply up to 12 credits in their senior year to both an undergraduate degree and an M.P.A.
Students who are admitted to the program are enrolled in the M.P.A. upon completion of a B.A. in the following Maxwell majors:
- Anthropology (B.A.)
- Citizenship & Civic Engagement (B.A.)
- Economics (B.A.)
- Geography (B.A.)
- History (B.A.)
- International Relations (B.A.)
- Policy Studies (B.A.)
- Political Science (B.A.)
- Sociology (B.A.)
Please see the Course Catalog for a complete list of academic offerings and their requirements.
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Requirements
All regular requirements for the student’s undergraduate major along with the minimum 120 credit hours necessary to meet College of Arts and Sciences requirements must be satisfied.
The M.P.A. degree requires 40 credits, as outlined on the M.P.A. Curriculum page. However, up to four courses (12 credit hours) can be counted towards both the bachelor’s and the M.P.A. degrees. Please
consult the Syracuse University Course Catalog for complete program requirements and offerings.
Any 500, 600 or 700 level PAI course is eligible for dual credit, excluding 752: MPA Workshop and 753: Policy Leadership, which together constitute the capstone experience required for the M.P.A., will not be open to undergraduate students who have not fully matriculated into the M.P.A. program.
Sample Plan of Study
Below is a sample plan of study that would allow a student to complete the B.A. and M.P.A. degrees in five years. The plan assumes that a student would complete between 9 and 12 credit hours that would count towards both the bachelor’s and M.P.A.
degrees during fourth year. Which courses are taken in Year 5 would depend on which courses are selected during year four.
The sample plan of study below lays out one potential path, others are possible. Students who arrive at Syracuse University with substantial AP credit may be able to complete both degrees in four years.
Year Four
A student would take three or four PAI courses at the 500, 600, or 700 level that would count for both degrees.
Summer Between Years 4 and 5
A student would be able to do a summer internship under PAI 690, which is a variable credit course. The number of credits earned depend on the length of the internship.
Students will also participate in PAI 751: M.P.A. Colloquium, which is one credit course that takes place during summer session II.
Year 5 Fall and Spring
Students would take 7 to 8 graduate level courses (21 to 24 credit hours) to count toward the M.P.A. degree during the fall and spring semesters. Up to two of these course
(6 credits) may be taken outside the department of Public Administration and International Affairs.
Year 5 Summer Session I
PAI 752: M.P.A. Workshop
PAI 753: Policy Leadership
Accelerated B.A./M.P.A. Application Checklist and Deadlines
Application Deadline
The application deadline for the accelerated B.A./M.P.A. is March 15 of the year prior to completion of a bachelor’s (typically your junior year). For example, students who intend to complete the B.A. degree requirements in spring 2025 should apply by March 15, 2024.
Application Criteria
Student applications that show evidence of sufficient preparation in writing skills and quantitative analysis will have a greater chance of being admitted to the program. The preferred way to demonstrate this competence is by completing a “writing intensive” course and a course that requires quantitative analysis with a grade of B or better prior to applying. Examples of such courses include, but are not limited to MAX 123, MAX 132 and MAX 201.
Application Materials
- Completed graduate application
- Personal statement
- Résumé (preferred) or CV
- Three letters of recommendation: at least two from current or former professors; at least one from someone in your Maxwell academic department (e.g., an advisor, professor or program director)
- Transcripts from any coursework taken outside of Syracuse University: Unofficial transcripts may be submitted with the application; however, if admitted, official transcripts will be required in order to enroll.
- Not required: application fee, GRE, TOEFL
Financial Aid
Students are considered for merit-based financial aid upon completion of their undergraduate program. Support may come in the form of:
- Scholarships
- Federal and state loans and grants
- Graduate or research assistantships
- Part-time employment
To be considered for merit-based financial assistance from Syracuse University, simply check the appropriate box on your application for admission.
