5-year Accelerated Bachelors/Masters
Earn your bachelor’s & graduate degrees in 5 years
The 5-year Accelerated Bachelors / Masters program is designed for UTK undergraduates who wish to earn both their bachelor’s degree and the MPP or MPA degrees within approximately five years.
About
The Baker School offers a five-year bachelor and master program for qualified students. Students may apply for admission to the Master of Public Administration (MPA) or Master of Public Policy (MPP) degrees as part of the accelerated program. The primary component of the program is that qualified students may take up to 9 hours of approved graduate courses for their senior undergraduate electives and have them count toward both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Tennessee. Students are typically considered for conditional admission to the program, during, or immediately after, their third year of undergraduate study at UTK.
For questions regarding the accelerated program, please contact Graduate Program Coordinator Zoe Crihfield.
Admissions Requirements
To be considered for conditional admission to the 5-year Accelerated Program
- A student must have a minimum GPA of 3.40 or above and completed 90 credit hours.
- Conditional admission of a student into the graduate accelerated program must be obtained before taking a graduate course that is to be used to satisfy the requirements of both the bachelor’s degree and the graduate degree. Students will be informed of the outcome of their application for conditional admission prior to the beginning of their fourth year of undergraduate study.
Admissions Timeline
Students who are conditionally admitted to the MPP/MPA accelerated program may, during the fourth year of undergraduate study, complete up to 9 credit hours of graduate credit that count towards the bachelor’s degree and towards the MPP/MPA requirements, provided that these graduate credit hours were approved both by the Department Head (or designee) and by the Graduate School prior to satisfying all requirements for the bachelor’s degree. Conditional admission into the MPP/MPA accelerated program does not guarantee acceptance into either the Graduate School or the MPP program.
Students who have been conditionally admitted to the MPP/MPA accelerated program must apply for admission to the Graduate School and to the MPP/MPA program during their fourth year of undergraduate study, following the standard application procedure. Students will be fully admitted to the MPP/MPA accelerated program after they have been accepted both by the Graduate School and by the MPP/MPA program. Once fully admitted to the MPPMPA program, accelerated students are required to complete the standard curriculum for the MPP program.
Once Admitted to Program
Conditional admission into the 5-year accelerated program does not guarantee acceptance into either the Graduate School or the MPP/MPA program. Students who have been conditionally admitted to the graduate accelerated program must apply for admission to the Graduate School and to the MPP/MPA program during their fourth year of undergraduate study, following the standard application procedure. Students will be fully admitted to the graduate accelerated program after they have been accepted both by the Graduate School and by the MPP/MPA program.
Once fully admitted to the MPP or MPA program, accelerated students are required to complete the standard curriculum for the MPP/MPA program.
Current Students
Skye Gerhart
“The 4+1 BA/MPPA Program has given me the opportunity to get a head start on my graduate education at the undergraduate level. It has pushed me academically and given me the chance to further explore future career paths within public administration while also finishing up my undergraduate degree! This program truly has been the best of both worlds and I can’t wait to continue full time with the MPPA Program.”
Lucas Johnson
“The accelerated program at the Baker School has provided me with countless opportunities for personal and professional growth that I would not have otherwise found, and I am excited to continue my journey in the field of public administration.”