The School of Government & Public Policy participates in dual degree program options available for MPA students. Each of these dual programs prepare graduates for positions in a variety of public, private, and non-profit organizations.
Pursuing a dual degree program requires admission to each program (2 applications of admission).
Dual Degree Options
This dual degree program with the School of Journalism provides a pathway for students to complete an MPA and MA in Journalism in 3 years.
The MPA/JD program prepares students for a public service career that emphasizes in public management and law.
This dual degree program allows students to share no more than 15 units of coursework toward both the MPA and JD degree requirements. The total units required for an MPA is 42, whereas 88 units are required for the JD program.
MPA students participating in this dual degree will only need to complete 24 units of core coursework and 3 units of capstone. Elective coursework will be completed under the Law program and applied toward the MPA degree requirements as indicated on the Master's Plan of Study; an internship will not be required for this dual program. In total, the duration of the program should be completed within four years.
It is recommended that students begin in their first year under the MPA program, taking 4 core courses in the fall semester followed by the remaining 4 core courses and capstone in the spring semester.
Fall MPA Core (semester 1):
- PA 501: Public Organizational Theory
- PA 503: Politics, Policy & Public Management
- PA 550: Statistics for Public & Nonprofit Administration
- PA 597H: Public & Nonprofit Human Resources Management
Spring MPA Core (semester 2):
- PA 500: Economics for Public Policy
- PA 505: Methods for Program Evaluation
- PA 508: Public & Nonprofit Financial Management
- PA 527: Leadership & Ethics for Nonprofits & Public Management
- PA 594: Capstone
After all MPA coursework is complete, start Law coursework exclusively for the next 3 years.
For more information on the JD program and law coursework for this dual degree, please contact Lisa Queen (Assistant Law Registrar) and Lynna Nguyen (Law Registrar & Dean) at law-registrar@arizona.edu.
For more information on the MPA program, please contact SBS-sgppmasters@arizona.edu.
This dual degree program with the Center for Latin American Studies provides a pathway for students to complete an MPA and an MA in LAS in 3 years.
This dual degree program with the School of Middle Eastern and North African Studies provides a pathway for students to complete an MPA and an MA in MENAS in 3 years.
This dual degree program with the School of Natural Resources & the Environment allows students to earn a Master of Public Administration (MPA) and a Master of Science in Water, Society & Policy (MS) within 3 years.
This program will provide a unique niche for graduate students to enhance their opportunities in industry, non-governmental organizations, and government by coupling a strong foundation in public administration with the rigor of a program focused on water science and water policy. This program will provide opportunities to explore and gain expertise in water science and resource management, policy analysis, economics, and the application of technology (e.g., assessment and analysis with GIS) to address key water-related challenges facing society.
MPA/WSP-MS Dual Requirements: 59 units total
- MPA requirements: 27 units
- 24 core units
- 3 units of Capstone (PA 594)
- WSP-MS requirements: 17 units
- 9 core units
- 2 seminar units (RNR 696W)
- 6 units of Master's Report (RNR 909)
- Dual elective requirements: 15 units (which can be shared between the two programs)
For questions regarding the MPA degree requirements, please contact the Graduate Programs Manager at SBS-sgppmasters@arizona.edu.
For questions regarding the Master of Science in Water, Society & Policy degree requirements, please contact Graduate Coordinator, Debbie Cross, at debbiecross@arizona.edu.