The Master of Public Administration Accelerated Graduate Degree Program at the School of Public Affairs and Administration at Western Michigan University allows undergraduate students to begin accumulating credits toward the completion of a Master of Public Administration degree while completing a bachelor's degree.
When admitted to the accelerated degree program with senior standing, you make take up to 6 credit hours of designated 5000- and 6000-level courses for graduate credit. These designated courses may be used in completion of both bachelor's and master's degrees. In addition, students may apply 6 undergrad PADM credits to their graduate program of study. The Master of Public Administration requires a total of 39 credit hours and so this effectively reduces the number of credit hours for the M.P.A. to 27.
Eligibility
This program is open to undergraduate students who:
- Are majoring in public and nonprofit administration;
- Have senior status and have earned a minimum of 30 credit hours at Western Michigan University; and
- Have an undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or higher (based on at least 30 hours earned at Western Michigan University)
If you have received your bachelor's degree, you will be ineligible to apply for this program and retroactively claim undergraduate credits to apply towards the master's degree. Instead, please get advising and apply during your junior year.
Undergraduate students enrolled in the accelerated program are expected to meet graduate expectations in their graduate courses. PADM 6001 would be taken in the first fall or spring semester after the student receives their undergraduate degree.
Enrollment
- As early as possible in the academic junior year, you should contact the MPA Director in the School of Public Affairs and Administration to discuss this option and review the requirements, timelines and application procedures.
- Meet with the undergraduate academic advisor to review current and anticipated credit hour status and make arrangements to conduct a pre-graduation audit (i.e., apply for graduation). This audit must be completed to enter the AGDP.
- Apply for admission to the accelerated graduate program and complete the necessary application materials for admission to the MPA program.
- Upon acceptance, you should meet with the MPA Director to prepare an appropriate program of study that meets the requirements for both your undergraduate and graduate degrees.
- A form advising which graduate courses be counted toward both degrees will be prepared by you and to the SPAA Director, who'll send the form to the registrar, who will directly register you for the "double counted" courses.
Requirements for Continuing Eligibility and Graduation
- In order to progress automatically into the graduate program, you must achieve a grade of B or better in each of the graduate courses being counted for the undergraduate degree and maintain a GPA of at least 3.25 in all your PADM coursework. If you do not meet this requirement, the earned credit applied to your undergraduate degree only. You may apply for readmission into the graduate program. If you complete the undergraduate degree including a B or above in the specified graduate courses, you will be admitted as a degree-seeking graduate student (with the relevant graduate credit) in the next semester or summer session after receiving the bachelor’s degree.
- It is expected that the baccalaureate degree will be awarded within one calendar year after initial enrollment in the accelerated program. If you do not meet this time constraint, you may reapply to be admitted to the graduate program.
- You must complete the requirements for the MPA degree within 36 months from the completion of the bachelor’s degree. If you are unable to meet this requirement, you may apply for an extension.