New Accelerated Master’s Program develops public service leadership

UCCS political science majors will have a new opportunity to earn an accelerated master’s degree in public administration in a new program between the School of Public Affairs and the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science will be able to count nine credit hours of coursework to the Master of Public Administration. The new Accelerated Master’s Program is designed for students to cultivate self-awareness and understanding of their local, national and global impact, and be prepared to participate effectively in a society that encompasses diverse political experiences, perspectives, and realities. Graduates will be prepared to take leadership roles in the public and nonprofit sectors.

“We are excited to offer the political science to MPA accelerated program for talented political science majors who want to continue on to the graduate degree,” said Catherine Simmons, MPA program director and associate professor in the School of Public Affairs. “The MPA program helps students develop the knowledge, skills and values necessary to apply evidence-based solutions to a range of social conditions in the public and nonprofit sector. Partnering with political science is a natural fit and a wonderful opportunity for students interested in public leadership.”

he Bachelor of Arts in Political Science degree enables students to understand and write about political and legal questions of governance of global, national, regional, and local significance. The MPA degree is multidisciplinary and designed to provide graduate professional education for individuals who wish to prepare themselves for administrative and/or policy careers in public, nonprofit, national security and criminal justice systems. Together, the BA in Political Science to MPA Accelerated Master’s Program helps students cultivate self-awareness and understanding of their local, national, and global impact, and be prepared to participate effectively in a society that encompasses diverse political experiences, perspectives, and realities. Graduates will be prepared to take leadership roles in the public and nonprofit sectors.

Enrollment in the accelerated political science to MPA program will begin for the fall 2019 semester. Political science students can declare their intent for the program by applying through the UCCS Graduate School.