Department of Political Science
West Chester University
Contact Info:
Tara Easterling
610-436-2743
teasterling@wcupa.edu
- Political Science Home
-
- Introduction
- Degree Requirements
- Mission and Learning Outcomes
- 4-5 Year Fast Track Program
- Course Listing and Description
- BA Political Science & Teacher Certification
- Political Science Minors
- Master of Public Administration
- Advising
- Internships and Careers
- Faculty
Undergraduate Fast Track Program
5-year Program Completion Template for B.A. in Political Science and M.P.A.
Overview of the Program:
- Complete the B.A. in Political Science with a total of 126 undergraduate credits
- Maintain at least a 3.0 in the major
- Complete 12 credits (two courses during each summer session) of graduate coursework in the summer after you finish your B.A.
- Complete 9-12 credits per semester for one academic year to earn your MPA
- At the end of five years, you will have both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree
Details of the Process:
The following template is intended to aid in planning a course completion sequence for those students intending to pursue both a BA in Political Science and an MPA at WCU only. For other graduate school plans, please see your departmental advisor.
The advising sheet already in place for the department should be used to plan the first three years of your undergraduate degree. During your senior year, however, you will begin taking two graduate courses under the advisement of the MPA Director. Please note that you can still pursue a minor, a double minor, or even a double major under this plan since there are numerous slots for electives. You can also take 3-15 credits of internship under this plan. The only significant difference compared to the regular BA is that you will complete six additional credits.
Six credits of graduate courses may be taken for undergraduate credit. Upon completion of your Bachelor’s degree, these course requirements will be waived when you begin the MPA program. These credits must be earned as undergraduate credits in addition to the 120 credits you earn for a Political Science degree. You will need to complete 126 credits by the time you graduate in order to complete the program in five years.
In order to complete the 126 credits for your BA, you need to complete 15 credits per semester for 6 semesters and 18 credits per semester for 2 semesters. Alternatively, you can take 2 summer courses so that you only have 15 credits per semester for all semesters.
The following template demonstrates how you can complete the program and earn both degrees in five years. There are many other options you can pursue in terms of electives and general education courses, this is merely a template to demonstrate the distribution of credits. The MPA Director can help you select specific electives and courses that will help you complete your program.
5-year Program Course Sequence Template (BA in Political Science and MPA)
General Concentration (Human Resources and Nonprofit Administration concentrations are also available)
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First year, Fall (15 credits) Second year, Fall (15 credits) Third year, Fall (18 credits) Fourth year, Fall (15 credits) Fourth year, Summer I (6 credits) Fifth year, Fall (9 credits) |
First year, Spring (15 credits) Second year, Spring (15 credits) Third year, Spring (18 credits) Fourth year, Spring (15 credits) Fourth year, Summer II (6 credits) Fifth year, Spring (12 credits) |
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- 700 South High St, West Chester, PA 19383
- 610-436-1000
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