Public Policy 4+1 (BA/MPP)

Admissions to the BA/MPP

A. Admission requirements

Current undergraduate students enrolled in the BA in Public Policy or Honors BA in Public Policy program are eligible to apply to the accelerated BA-MPP program after completing 60 credits, which is typically the fall of their junior year.
Admission decisions for the BA-MPP program are made by an admissions committee of SPPA faculty. Students will be admitted based on enrollment availability, their perceived fit within the program, and their ability to meet the following minimum recommended entrance requirements:
An undergraduate GPA of 3.3 or higher (on a 4.0 scale)
GRE scores that are similarly distributed on the quantitative and verbal aptitude portions, with a priority on the demonstration of strong analytical ability. GRE scores are viewed in the context of the applicant’s complete record. GRE may be waived by the admissions committee for applicants with a GPA of 3.5 or higher.
International applicants: a minimum TOEFL score of 600 (paper-based) or 100 (TOEFL iBT) is generally required. SPPA does not accept IELTS scores.

B. Prior degree requirements

C. Application deadlines.

Applicants must submit their completed application through the Graduate Admissions website (https://grad.udel.edu/apply/) by November 1 for the following spring semester start; or April 1 for the following fall semester start. Applications should designate desired admission into the 4+1 BA-MPP program.

D. Special competencies needed

Students must be enrolled in, or have completed, the introductory course sequence of UAPP110, UAPP225, and UAPP325 by the time they apply to the program.

E. Admission categories

All accepted students would have dual enrollment status in both the Bachelor of Arts program and the MPP program. No provisional admissions will be granted.

F. Other documents required

The BA-MPP student applicants should complete the “short form” for admission, which requires a plan of study that indicates the courses intended to be shared across the two programs.
The application requires a written statement of goals and objectives (the personal statement) that clearly identifies the applicant’s educational objectives and explains how admission to the program will facilitate his or her professional interests.
Three letters of recommendation must be submitted, including one letter desired from a current or former employer who can speak to the applicant’s professional capabilities, and one letter desired from a faculty member familiar with the student’s capabilities in public policy study.
Applicants must complete an interview with the MPP Program Director prior to submission.

G. University statement

Admission to the graduate program is competitive. Those who meet stated requirements are not guaranteed admission, nor are those who fail to meet all of those requirements necessarily precluded from admission if they offer other appropriate strengths.

Students in the BA-MPP program must complete the degree requirements of the BA in Public Policy and the degree requirements of the MPP.
In the BA-MPP program, 15 credits would be shared across the two degrees, as we do with the 4+1 Master of Public Administration (MPA) program. The shared credits would be MPP core courses that would count for electives in the BA-Public Policy major.
All graduate courses must be completed for the MPP degree; there is no difference in graduate curriculum for MPP direct-admit or BA-MPP students.