The MPA in Public and Nonprofit Management 4+1 accelerated pathway offers qualified undergraduate students an expedited and cost-effective opportunity to pursue a graduate degree in Public Administration. The pathway initiates graduate-level coursework at the undergraduate level, providing qualified students with a seamless entry to the master’s degree program and an accelerated course of study toward an advanced degree.
About the Pathway
Candidates in the 4+1 pathway begin graduate coursework during their senior year of undergraduate study. The Master of Public Administration (MPA) in Public and Nonprofit Management 4+1 accelerated pathway allows bachelor’s degree candidates to complete course requirements for their bachelor’s degree while taking select graduate-level coursework during their senior year. Students accepted to the pathway must follow the curriculum map as outlined below in order to stay on track and to have senior-year graduate-level coursework included in undergraduate tuition rates.
Courses to complete senior year
Students take the following classes in their senior year:
- Fall Semester: PAD 735 Public Organizations
- Spring Semester: PAD 500 Public Administration & Policy and PAD 680 Research Methods in Public Administration
Students must earn a minimum grade of B in the graduate courses to remain in MPA 4+1 pathway.
Students are formally admitted to the Master of Public Administration in Public and Nonprofit Management by the Graduate School following submission of the online application and verification of bachelor’s degree. Upon formal acceptance in the MPA, earned graduate credits are applied to the graduate course of study, and all graduate policies and privileges apply. Graduate application fees are waived for students in the 4+1 accelerated pathway.
What You'll Learn
The core courses of the MPA program combine theory and practice of
- public administration
- public budgeting
- human resource management
- quantitative and qualitative research
- strategic planning
The Public Administration track prepares students for careers at all levels of government. The Nonprofit Management track prepares students for careers in nonprofit agencies.
Applying
Students are eligible to apply after completion of 75 credit hours. Students must complete at least 90 UG credit hours and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 before enrolling in graduate courses in the MPA 4+1 pathway.
Note: Undergraduate students who have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 and completed Buffalo State’s Public Administration and Nonprofit Minor with an earned GPA of 3.0 or above for all Public Administration and Nonprofit Minor courses are guaranteed admission into the 4+1 Accelerated Pathway.
Qualified students interested in applying to the MPA 4+1 accelerated pathway should contact Dr. Suparna Soni, MPA Program Coordinator at sonis@buffalostate.edu or (716) 878-3879.