Fast-Track with MPA Program

The MPA program offers "Fast-Track" opportunities for motivated UConn students currently pursuing their undergraduate degree at UConn. The Fast Track program allows UConn undergraduate students to enroll in graduate classes to reduce the time to complete the MPA degree. Some students have been able to complete the MPA degree, which normally takes two years of full-time study, in only one year beyond their bachelor degree.

MPA Fast-Track may be particularly appealing to students pursuing a public policy minor, students designing an individualized major in a policy-related area, and students in the UConn honors program. The Urban and Community Studies (UCS) program at UConn Tri-Campus has an existing Fast-Track agreement with MPA. Fast-Track arrangements with other majors at UConn are also possible on a case-by-case basis.

Students from all UConn campuses are welcome in the Fast-Track. Currently all MPA courses are offered at the Greater Hartford Campus in West Hartford.

There are many different ways that a Fast-Track program can be structured. The specific Fast-Track MPA courses are selected for each student on an individualized basis. The MPA program works with students to design the specific curriculum that best meets their interests, needs, and career goals. Below, by way of example, is a statement from one student about how she structured her Fast-Track.

Emily Shepard, an Example of an IMJR Major and MPA Fast-Track

“As a sophomore at UConn, I was unable to find a major that met my goals and interests. I decided to individualize my major in Human Rights and Family Policy. I developed a plan of study that integrated courses from Human Development and Family Studies, Political Science, Sociology, and Women’s Studies. As an Honor’s student, I wanted to choose classes that would count for honor’s credit so I looked into including graduate courses as well. The first graduate course I took as an undergrad was ‘Leadership and Management of Non-profit Organizations.’ It was in this class that I learned about the opportunity to Fast-Track through the Master of Public Administration program. I decided to apply, and once accepted, I was able to take a total of five graduate courses before I completed my undergraduate degree.

The courses I took were:
• Leadership and Management of Non-profit Organizations

• Administrative Functions of Local Government

• Analytic Tools for Public Policy

• Governmental Financial Administration

• Human Resource Management

In addition to developing a core set of skills for my MPA, I used several of my graduate credits towards my Honor’s degree. By the time I graduated with an individualized Bachelor’s of Science degree in Human Rights and Family Policy with honors in 2004, I had formally applied to, and was accepted into, the UConn MPA Program. I completed my MPA in one calendar year, along with a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management. I attended full-time each semester and finished over the summer to graduate in August of 2005. ”

Click here for information on applying to the MPA Fast-Track Program