Registration

Students complete an MPA application during the first semester of the junior year. Students must receive written authorization from the assistant dean for undergraduate programs to register for graduate courses, regardless of academic major.

The Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA) notifies successful applicants of authorization to register for graduate courses before the end of the first semester of their senior year.

Students must earn a grade of B or better in the graduate courses taken in their senior year to receive credit toward the master of public administration (M.P.A.) degree.

Graduate courses available to eligible undergraduate students include (undergraduate students are limited to 15 graduate credits during their senior year):

20:834:501 Introduction to Public Administration (3)
20:834:515 Ethical Challenges in Public Affairs (3)
20:834:523 Human Resources Management (3)
20:834:541 Economic Issues in Public Administration (3)

These graduate courses may be taken during the spring semester of their junior year and fall and spring semesters of a student's senior year. M.P.A. courses taken as an undergraduate are charged at the undergraduate tuition rate and are double-counted for undergraduate and graduate credits if students earn a B or better. If students take graduate courses during the Summer or Winter Session, they will be charged the graduate-level tuition rate.

After receiving their undergraduate degree, students continue in the M.P.A. program, taking M.P.A. courses until completion of the required 42 credits for the M.P.A. degree. Post-B.S./B.A. degree credits carry the graduate tuition rate.