4+1 B.A. to M.A. or M.P.A.
What is a 4+1 program?
The Department of Government, Law & Policy offers an accelerated path for students working on their Bachelor's of Arts in Political Science to achieve a Master's of Arts in Political Science or a Master's of Public Administration in one additional year following graduating. This program cuts a full year off of the typically two-year commitment of a master's degree, meaning a student will complete their both degrees in just five years.
How does the program work?
An undergraduate involved in the program will be given special permission to enroll in graduate-level courses, from which they will receive the credit on their transcript as a requirement for their bachelor's degree. Upon graduating with their Bachelor's of Arts, up to 12 credit hours of graduate-level work will transfer to the Graduate Program, from which the final year will focus exclusively on the completion of the master's degree of choice. A participant is not technically a graduate student until this final year, meaning the benefits like qualification for a Graduate Assistantship does not apply till the Undergraduate Degree is earned.
How do I apply?
For an undergraduate student to qualify for this program, they must have at least 60 credit hours completed before the proposed start of their first 4+1 year, be in good-standing, and be actively majoring in Political Science. Qualified students must submit an admissions application to the Graduate School at the link below:
https://www.astate.edu/dotAdmin/#/edit-page/content?url=%2Findex.dot
To be admitted into this program, a student must present:
- Statement of Interest
- Resume
- Academic Writing Sample
- Three letters of recommendation
Acceptance into the 4+1 program is conducted on a rolling basis, and admitted students can begin the program during the Spring or Fall semesters.
