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Robert M. La Follette
School of Public Affairs
1225 Observatory Drive
Madison, WI 53706

Telephone:  608.262.3581
Fax: 608.265.3233


Last updated:
September 30, 2008

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© 2006 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System

Accelerated MPA or MIPA Program

Undergraduate students committed to public service careers can pursue a master's degree (MPA or MIPA) from the Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs with one year of additional study beyond the bachelor's degree. Students who have completed courses in microeconomics, statistics and American government with a B or above and have a 3.6 GPA are eligible to apply.

 

Program Requirements

La Follette School master's degrees require 42 credits. An undergraduate may earn up to 18 credits toward a master's degree. No more than two public affairs graduate courses, 6 credits, may be taken each semester as a senior. The remaining 24 credits are taken as a graduate student.

 

Example of an accelerated MPA or MIPA Curriculum

Senior Year

Summer between Senior year and graduate school

Internship (1-3 credits)

Graduate Year

Semester I (12 credits)

Semester II (9 credits)

The La Follette School student services coordinator and the associate director advise students on course selection. The associate director determines any requirements to be waived or substituted. Participating undergraduate departments ar urged to count the graduate courses taken at the La Follette School in the student's fourth year toward the undergraduate major.

 

Admission Policy and Procedures

Application for admission to the Accelerated Program for MPA or MIPA must be made directly to the La Follette School after five semesters of undergraduate study. Applications should be received in the La Follette School admissions office by the third Friday in March, earlier applications will be considered as they are completed.

Students enrolling in an accelerated program also must formally apply for regular Graduate School admission during their final year of undergraduate study by filling out the graduate school online application and submitting an updated resume and a final official transcripts to the La Follette School.

 

Admission Requirements

The following items are required for consideration, in addition to the application for admission. Applicants do not need to resubmit them when seeking formal Graduate School admission: