Highly qualified Mason students doing a BA in government and international politics or a BS in public administration may apply to the accelerated master's degree program. If accepted, students will be able to earn the BA or BS and the MPA after satisfactory completion of 150 credits.
Degree Requirements (Catalog Year 2012-2013)
While undergraduate students, accelerated master’s students complete the two graduate courses indicated on their Accelerated Master’s Program Application with a minimum grade of 3.00 in each course. They must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.00 in all coursework and in coursework applied to their major. On completion and conferral of the undergraduate degree in the semester indicated in the application, they submit the Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Transition Form and are admitted to graduate status.
As graduate students, accelerated master’s students have an advanced standing. They must meet all master’s degree requirements except for the two courses (6 credits) they completed as undergraduates. Students must begin their master’s program the semester immediately following conferral of the undergraduate degree.
Reserve Graduate Credit
Students may take up to 6 additional graduate credits as reserve graduate credit. These credits do not apply to the undergraduate degree. The ability to take courses for reserve graduate credit is available to all high achieving undergraduates with the permission of the department. Permission to take a graduate course for reserve graduate credit is normally granted only to Mason seniors within 15 hours of graduation.
To apply these credits to the master’s degree, students must request that the credits be moved from the undergraduate degree to the graduate degree using the Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Transition Form.
Requirements may be different for earlier catalog years. See the University Catalog archives.