Skip to main content

Political Science AB/Public Administration MPA(non-thesis)

The Double Dawgs program will give high-achieving undergraduate students the opportunity to earn their M.P.A with a top-ranked program (4th in the U.S. News and World Report’s 2016 rankings of more than 250 public affairs master's programs nationwide). In the program they will learn both the theoretical and practical aspects of public management and policy in order to prepare them for careers in public service with government agencies and nonprofit organizations. The M.P.A degree greatly expands the employment outlook for graduates, with over 96% of UGA M.P.A alumni finding employment within six months of graduation. Furthermore, many government positions now prefer and even require a master’s degree for entry and graduates from M.P.A programs nationwide have increased earning potential by $18,000 per year over those who only possess a bachelor’s degree.

While the academic opportunities within the program are unmatched, the professional relationships that Double Dawgs students will be able to forge outside the classroom cannot be underestimated. Students will interact and network with employers and public sector professionals through UGA M.P.A alumni events, internships, as well as with the department’s cosponsor, the Carl Vinson Institute of Government.

While most students seek the M.P.A as their final professional degree, the Double Dawgs Program will also allow students to earn their M.P.A with the ability of later entering Ph.D. or other advanced degree programs and pursuing careers in academia.

Sources:
http://publicservicecareers.org/career-resources/employment-salary-trend/
http://spia.uga.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Employment_Fact_Sheet-1-1.pdf

View 5-year Sample Program of Study

Admission to Program

We expect that most students meeting the admission requirements below will apply for the program in the fall semester of their third year at UGA. To be approved, a preliminary plan of study must be approved by the undergraduate advisor and the departmental graduate coordinator.

To be admitted into the dual degree pathway: Students must have completed at least 60 hours of resident credit at UGA, at least 9 hours of the 30 required political science credit hours completed or in progess, and have at least a 3.5 UGA GPA at the time of application.

Curriculum

Graduate-level courses that may be used to satisfy undergraduate and graduate program requirements.

Any four (3 hour) 6000- or 7000-level graduate courses may be used to satisfy the undergraduate requirements, but at least two of the four courses must be from the following list of the public management core courses:

PADP 6910 Public Administration and Democracy
PADP 6920 Public Personnel Administration
PADP 6930 Public Financial Administration
PADP 6950 Economic Foundations of Policy Analysis
PADP 6960 Public Management

Additional requirements that are unique to this Double Dawgs program:

None.

Admission to Graduate Program

Students will apply to the M.P.A program during the summer or fall after their junior year so that they are admitted and dual enrolled as both an A.B./M.P.A student before the spring of their 4th year at UGA. Students will follow the same guidelines and procedures as required for the current M.P.A students (http://spia.uga.edu/degree/master-of-public-administration-mpa/).

To be admitted into the M.P.A program: The admission application requires completing a Graduate School application that includes a resume, statement of purpose (conveying how this program is a good fit with career and educational goals), and three letters of recommendation. The application also requires students to submit their transcripts and Official GRE general test score report. TOEFL scores will also be required from any applicant whose primary language is not English.

Program Advisor

  • Name: Aaron Redman
  • Email: aredman@uga.edu
  • Phone: 706-542-1098
  • Address: 188 Baldwin Hall
Email Program Advisor
Express Your Interest
Apply to Pathway

Undergraduate Major Information

  • Major: Political Science A.B.
  • Department/College: School of Public and International Affairs

Advising Contact

  • Name: Paul Welch
  • Email: pdwelch@uga.edu
  • Phone: 706-542-4114
  • Address: 103 Candler Hall

Graduate Major Information

  • Major: Public Administration M.P.A.
  • Department/College: Public Administration and Policy

Advising Contact

  • Name: Aaron Redman
  • Email: aredman@uga.edu
  • Phone: 706-542-1098
  • Address: 188 Baldwin Hall