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Mailing Address:
135 Western Avenue
Albany, NY 12222

Phone: 518-442-5255
Fax: 518-442-5298

Combined Programs

BA in Sociology/MPA

The combined program allows you to finish your B.A. in sociology and simultaneously work on a master's in public administration. You take graduate courses during your senior year which count toward both the B.A. and the M.P.A.

The Advantages

You can be admitted to graduate school during your junior year, without taking the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).

You can complete a master's degree more quickly. The combined program should allow you to finish the master's degree in about one-and-a-half years after completing the bachelor's degree.

Why a Master's in Public Administration?

A master's in public administration will help you develop a wide range of job possibilities. Long-term prospects for jobs in federal, state, and local governments and non-profit organizations remain strong. Here's what some of our graduates are doing:

Budget Examiner, Executive Office of the President Evaluator, U.S. General Accounting Office Project Director, Nutrition Consortium of New York State Environmental Associate, Environmental Planning Lobby.

The University's program in public administration has a national reputation. It provides excellent training in public administration in various specialized fields. Concentrations include Public Management, Public Finance, Human Resources Management, Health Administration, Comparative and Development Administration, Policy Analysis, Information Resources Management, and Legislative Administration.

Further, students in our program get practical job experience by serving in an internship in a state agency, legislative office, public interest group, or non-profit organization.

Program Requirements

Requirements for the combined program are straightforward. First, you must meet all the regular requirements for the B.A. in sociology. These include a minor requirement, the minimum liberal arts and sciences graduation credit requirement, the residency requirement and the general education requirements.

Second, you can take up to three graduate courses during your senior year which can be applied to the 36 credits needed for the B.A. in sociology, as well as the 11 courses and two Professional Competency Modules required for the M.P.A.

Third, you must meet the requirements for the M.P.A. These include taking core courses and comprehensive examinations or capstone experiences, and serving an internship.

Combined Program Admission

The best time to apply is during your junior year. You can apply after you have completed 56 credit hours.

Admission Requirements:

You must have a 3.2 grade point average.
You should submit three letters of recommendation from your undergraduate instructors.

Note: You do not need to take the GRE.

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Sample Program

Here is one example of a program that meets all the requirements.
Please remember that this is just a sample. You have a great deal of flexibility to design a program that fits your interests.
First Year
Soc 115M Introduction to Sociology* Soc 221 Statistics for Sociologists*
Second Year
Soc 223 Introduction to Social Research* Soc 335 Sociological Theory*
Third Year
Three from the following list: Soc 200 Political Sociology Soc 340 Social Control Soc 341 Social Inequality Soc 360 Processes of Socialization Soc 370 Social Demography Soc 373 Community and Urban Sociology Soc 375 U.S. Urban Neighborhood Diversity Soc 380 Sociology of Deviant Behavior Soc 381 Criminology Soc 384 Sociology of Aging *And* One Sociology 400 level writing intensive seminar*
Fourth Year
Pad 500 Institutional Foundations of Public Administration* *Plus*, two graduate sociology courses such as: Soc 540 Urban Policy in the United States Soc 551 Demography Soc 553 Social Stratification Soc 654 Complex Organization and Bureaucracy Soc 661 Political Sociology
Fifth and Sixth Years
You will take (or, where eligible, waive and substitute electives for) the five remaining public administration core courses, plus three courses in your selected concentration. During the sixth year, you complete a one-year internship. Core Courses Pad 501 Public Economics and Finance II* Pad 503 Public Economics and Finance I* Pad 504 Data, Models and Decision Making I* Pad 505 Data, Models and Decision Making II* Pad 506 Foundations of Public Management* Professional Compentancy Modules Pad 507 Professional Applications I * Pad 508 Professional Applications II * Pad 509 Professional Applications III *

*Required

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To Apply
For complete instructions please go to the Admissions page.

For More Information

If you have questions about the M.P.A. or are ready to design a program, call the Interim Assistant to the Chair, Kara Pangburn at, 518-442-5396 or email kpangburn@uamail.albany.edu.

For answers about how this will affect your undergraduate program, call 518-442-4665.

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