Accelerated Masters
The Accelerated Masters Program is a competitive program for outstanding SPEA undergraduate students. Students may apply to the Master of Public Affairs (M.P.A.) or the Master of Science in Criminal Justice and Public Safety (M.S.C.J.P.S.) early in their junior year.
Participation in this program allows students to fulfill some graduate program requirements during their senior year. Graduate courses count for both graduate and undergraduate degree requirements. Before starting the graduate program, students must have satisfied all general education and specific core requirements.
AdmissionThe program admits students from among the top tier of SPEA undergraduate majors. To be considered, a student must:
- Complete a minimum of 96 credit hours for the accelerated M.P.A. or 102 credits for the accelerated M.S.C.J.P.S. toward their undergraduate degree including specified general education, major, and elective requirements (see appropriate degree planning sheet below).
- Have no more than 30 transfer hours counted toward graduation requirements.
- Have a 3.2 undergraduate GPA and a 3.5 SPEA major GPA.
- Apply online for the M.P.A. or M.S.C.J.P.S. degree programs via the school's master's programs admission process.
- Submit at least three letters of recommendation from faculty members.
- Submit a personal statement.
- Accelerated M.P.A. Planning Sheet
(for undergraduate Civic Leadership, Management, Policy Studies, Media and Public Affairs, and Sustainable Management and Policy majors)
- Must complete a minimum of 96 specific undergraduate credits including general education, SPEA major courses, and elective requirements.
- Undergraduate SPEA major courses include:
- For Civic Leadership majors - SPEA V170, V264, V382, V412, V435, V263 or V362, V473
- For Management majors - SPEA V170, V348, V366, V372, V221 OR V264, V473, and one of the following: V346, V356, V369, V373, V379, V458, V412, V435, or V443
- For Media and Public Affairs majors - SPEA V170, V372, V378, V382, V438, V473, and one of the following: V221, V263, V412, JOUR J110, J210, J321, J423, J450, POLS Y215, J321, Y377, Y382, SOC R355, R356
- For Policy Studies majors - SPEA V170, V348, V372, V378, V412, V221 OR V362, V473
- For Sustainable Management and Policy Majors - SPEA V170, V222, V322, V323, V311, V379, V473
- The accelerated program allows students to double count 24 credits from the MPA towards the BSPA.
- Accelerated M.S.C.J.P.S. Planning Sheet
- Must complete a minimum of 102 specific undergraduate credits including general education, SPEA major courses, and elective requirements.
- Undergraduate SPEA major courses include:
- For Criminal Justice majors - SPEA J101, J150, J201, J202, J306, J321, J331, J301 OR J302, 1 CJ elective course (3 cr), and 1 Management and Policy course (see list on degree planning sheet)
- The accelerated program allows students to double count 18 credits from the M.S.C.J.P.S. towards the B.S.C.J.
- Accelerated M.S.C.J.P.S. Planning Sheet
- Must complete a minimum of 102 specific undergraduate credits including general education, SPEA major courses, and elective requirements.
- Undergraduate SPEA major courses include:
- For Public Safety Management majors - SPEA J101, J150, J202, J272/V272, J376, J387, J429, 1 PSM elective (see list on degree planning sheet), 1 management and policy course (see list on degree planning sheet).
- The accelerated program allows students to double count 18 credits from the M.S.C.J.P.S. toward the B.S.C.J.