Dual BA/MA Program

Political Science/Political Science

The combined B.A./M.A. program in political science/political science provides an opportunity for students of recognized academic ability and educational maturity to fulfill integrated requirements of undergraduate and master's degree programs from the beginning of the junior student to earn the B.A. and M.A. degrees within nine semesters.

The combined program requires a minimum of 143 credits, of which at least 32 must be graduate credits. In qualifying for the B.A., students must meet all University and school requirements, including the requirements of the major described previously, the minor requirement, the minimum 90-credit liberal arts and sciences requirement, general education requirements, and residency requirements. In qualifying for the M.A., students must meet all University and school requirements as outlined in the Graduate Bulletin, including completion of a minimum of 38 graduate credits and any other conditions such as field seminars and Master's Essay (R Pos 698), professional experience, and residency requirements. Up to 9 graduate credits may be applied simultaneously to both the B.A. and M.A. programs.

Students may apply to the combined degree program in political science/political science at the beginning of their junior year or after the successful completion of 56 credits. To be eligible for admission, the student must have completed at least one semester in residency at this University.

The student must also have completed at least 6 credits of course work in political science at this University. A cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher, a grade point average of 3.20 or higher in course work completed at Albany, and three supportive letters of recommendation from faculty are required for consideration.

Political Science/Public Administration

The combined B.A./M.P.A. program in political science/public administration provides an opportunity for students of recognized academic ability and educational maturity to fulfill integrated requirements of undergraduate and master's degree programs from the beginning of the junior year. A carefully designed program can permit a student to earn the B.A. and M.P.A. degrees in one less semester than is normally required.

The combined program requires a minimum of 154 credits, of which at least 46 must be graduate credits. In qualifying for the B.A., students must meet all University and school requirements, including the requirements of the major described previously, the minor requirement, the minimum 90-credit liberal arts and sciences requirement, general education requirements, and residency requirements.

In qualifying for the M.P.A., students must meet all University and school requirements, as outlined in the Graduate Bulletin, including completion of a minimum of 46 graduate credits and any other conditions such as a research seminar, thesis, comprehensive examination, professional experience and residency requirements. Up to 12 graduate credits may be applied simultaneously to both the B.A. and M.P.A. programs.

Students may apply to the combined degree program in political science/public administration at the beginning of their junior year or after the successful completion of 56 credits. To be eligible for admission, the student must have completed at least one semester in residency at this University. The student must also have completed at least 6 credits of course work in political science at this University. A cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher, a grade point average of 3.20 or higher in course work completed at Albany, and three supportive letters of recommendation from faculty are required for consideration. The Graduate Record Exam is not required. Of the 36 credits required for the B.A. degree in political science, at least 18 credits must be from courses taken in political science on this campus.

Political Science/Public Affairs and Policy

The combined BA/MA joins the undergraduate major (BA) in Political Science (POS) with the Master of Arts in Public Affairs and Policy (MA) in the Department of Public Administration and Policy. This program will allow a student to earn a BA in POS and the MA in Public Affairs and Policy in approximately one less semester than otherwise would be required.

In order to complete the combined degree program, students would need to meet all the requirements for the BA in Political Science, including all major requirements, the minimum liberal arts and science graduation credit requirement, the residency requirement, the General Education requirement, and a 400-level writing intensive course. Students could take up to 12 graduate credits during the senior year which would be applied toward the credits required for the BA in Political Science, as well as to the 40 credits required for the MA degree. Finally, students would need to meet the requirements for the MA. Applicants to the program would need to have a 3.2 GPA and, as in the case of the other programs, the GRE would be waived.