Ordinarily, earning a bachelor of arts (B.A.) degree and a master of public administration (M.P.A.) degree at Rutgers University-Camden requires six years and 162 credits (120 undergraduate and 42 graduate credits) of full-time study. Under this accelerated program, the same result is achieved in five years with 153 credits, by counting some courses for the M.P.A. as well as the B.A.

In order to qualify for the dual-degree program, economics majors must have a minimum cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 and complete the three prerequisite courses for admission to the graduate program (statistics and economics). Statistics (and econometrics) and economics are already required for the economics major. American government must be taken as an undergraduate elective for the economics major before admission to the graduate school.

Students will apply for admission during the second semester of their junior year. Those who do not maintain a 3.0 GPA can have their admission revoked. Students must be cleared by the chairs of the economics department and the M.P.A. program in order to register for graduate credit in the second semester of their senior year. Students admitted to the M.P.A. program may count 12 of their graduate credits toward their economics requirements and their M.P.A. requirements, i.e., these courses will be double-counted toward the B.A. and M.P.A. degrees. This substitution has been approved by the economics faculty.

Once accepted into the B.A./M.P.A. program, a student must maintain a 3.0 GPA.

Our nationally accredited degree of master of public administration has provided hundreds of students with a first-class education, extensive contacts with our alumni at all levels of government, a pathway to law school, career advancement, and preparation for doctoral study. With concentrations in public management, health care management, and policy, and a nationally acclaimed international development administration concentration run with the Peace Corps, the M.P.A. program ensures a stimulating educational experience for all of our students. The M.P.A. graduates have entered or further enhanced their careers in public service. For additional information on the accelerated B.A./M.P.A. program, interested students are encouraged to contact the chair of the economics department at 856-225-6012 or by email at ichiu@camden.rutgers.edu.