Public Administration AMP (Accelerated Master's Program)

All students must meet the Requirements for the Accelerated Master's Degree Programs

Overview

The Accelerated Master of Public Administration Program is designed for UVM undergraduate students who are interested in jump starting their graduate degree. In the junior year, students apply to the MPA with the admission requirements for all applicants. The goal is to be accepted by May 15th in their junior year. In certain cases, students can apply in the first semester of their senior year.

In their final undergraduate year, students may earn 9 graduate credits, all of which can also be counted as undergraduate credits. With a summer internship and 4 classes in the two post undergraduate semesters, students can graduate in May, one year after receiving their undergraduate degree.

If you are interested in details of this program, please contact the CDAE Graduate Student Specialist or MPA Director, Dr. Christina Barsky, to go over the requirements so that the student will be able to determine if this program interests them. The best time to set up an appointment is in a student’s sophomore year or first semester junior year.  The program closely integrates both programs (undergraduate and graduate) of study, and enhances competitiveness in a marketplace stressing broad undergraduate and focused professional graduate education. The AMP-PA welcomes students majoring in administrative, behavioral, health, environmental, organizational, social science and related disciplines requiring graduate work in administration, or planning and policy capacities in the public service. Application to the program is typically made during a student's junior year.

Specific Requirements

Requirements for Admission to Graduate Studies for the Degree of Master of Public Administration for Accelerated Students

The Accelerated Master’s Program requires that students fulfill the same entrance requirements as for all master’s candidates for the MPA Program and be accepted in order to matriculate and advance to candidacy.  The following criteria is used to determine admission: a sound academic record, three letters of recommendation attesting to the candidate’s academic performance; and a strong motivation and academic potential for graduate work articulated in a statement of purpose.  Required academic prerequisites include course work in economics, statistics, and American government. These prerequisites can be completed at any accredited institution of higher education.  Admission into the MPA program is not contingent on completion of these prerequisites, but they must be completed within the first year of course work. Following formal Graduate College admission to the Accelerated Master's Program, up to nine credits of approved graduate course work may be counted toward both the undergraduate and graduate degree requirements.

Admissions and Candidacy

• Students must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 at the beginning of the second semester of their junior year to stand for possible admission to the AMP-PA program.
• Students must meet with Dr. Christina Barsky, Director of the MPA Program, and fill out the AMP Permission Form, which can be found at https://www.uvm.edu/graduate/accelerated-entry-masters-degree-programs. Applicants to the AMP-PA program must submit the standard Graduate College Application form. Completed applications (including three letters of recommendation and an official copy of their undergraduate transcript) will be reviewed and a formal decision on admission will be rendered by the PA faculty.
• The standards of procedure and academic expectation for a student to be accepted for candidacy will remain the same as for regular MPA students. In every instance, there will be no distinction in terms of academic requirements, performance standards, or deadlines between AMP-PA and regular MPA students.