The combined program allows you to finish your B.A. in sociology and simultaneously work on a Master of Arts in Public Affairs and Policy (MPP). You take graduate courses during your senior year which count toward both the B.A. and the MPP.
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 an MPP?
The MPP program prepares students for careers as policy analysts and leaders in public service both in and out of government. The curriculum provides students with analytic and quantitative skills to frame policy issues, deal with their institutional and political contexts, and bring about effective action directed at the formulation, approval, implementation and evaluation of policy.
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 courses required for the MPP.
Third, you must meet all the requirements for the MPP, which include a minimum of 44 credit hours distributed among required courses, policy specialty and a Master's Essay, plus an internship.
A list of graduate courses that might count toward the credit hour requirements for both the B.A. and the MPP include the following:
From Sociology (potentially counting toward both the B.A. upper level or open electives and the MPP specialty courses):
SOC 509 – Research Methods
SOC 522 – Intermediate Statistics for Sociologists
SOC 535 – Qualitative Research Techniques
SOC 540 – Urban Policy in the U.S.
SOC 550 – Demography
SOC 553 – Social Stratification
SOC 560 – Families
SOC 575 – Ethnicity and Race
SOC 601 – Social Deviance
SOC 609 – Multivariate Statistics
SOC 627 – Urbanization
SOC 642 – Sociology of Work
SOC 645 – Selected Topics Gender Research
SOC 661 – Political Sociology
SOC 665 – Selected Topics in Demography
SOC 654 – Complex Organizations
Others, as approved by both BA and MPP advisors
From Public Administration and Policy (potentially counting toward both MPP core or specialty courses and the general B.A. electives):
PUB 504 – Data, Decisions, and Models I
PUB 505 – Data, Decisions, and Models II
PUB 506 – Implementation and Impact
PUB 509 – Citizen Participation and Public Policy
PUB 510 – Minorities and the Politico-Legal System
PUB 520 – Welfare Policy and Management
PUB 528 – U.S. Housing Policy
PUB 555 – Disaster, Crisis and Emergency Management and Policy
PUB 606 – Social Capital and Public Policy
PUB 612 – Nonprofits and Public Policy
Others, as approved by both BA and MPP advisors
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. |
