Accelerated BS and MPP

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

W&M undergraduate students are able to earn both a Bachelor’s degree and a Master of Public Policy in five years. Candidates interested in this accelerated degree path must apply to and gain acceptance in their junior year. Acceptance into the accelerated degree path includes the intention that the graduate committee will recommend regular admission to the graduate program when the baccalaureate degree has been conferred. With advance written permission from the program’s graduate committee, up to nine graduate credits with a grade of C or higher taken by students in the BA/MPP accelerated degree path may be used to satisfy both graduate and undergraduate degree requirements. Students in the accelerated degree path may take additional graduate public policy classes during their fourth year; these classes will count exclusively toward the MPP degree requirements. Students may also earn up to 9 graduate credits through demonstrating competency in the following first year MPP classes: PUBP 601 , PUBP 602 , PUBP 603 . Competency will be demonstrated by passing the final exam of these courses with a grade of B or higher. Students who successfully demonstrate competency in these courses will receive course credit and a grade of P.

Degree Requirements for the Degree of Master of Public Policy

(See general College requirements in the section entitled ‘Graduate Regulations ’.)

The master of public policy (M.P.P.) degree program is a two-year, full-time, residential program requiring forty-nine hours of course credit. Students accepted for the degrees of MPP/JD, MPP/MBA, MPP/MEd, MPP EdD, MPP/PhD, MPP/MS in Marine Science, MPP/PhD in Marine Science, or MPP/MS in Computational Operations Research are required to have thirty-seven hours of MPP course credit.

The following core courses are required:

Internship:

Students are required to complete an internship (at least 10 weeks of full-time employment) in the summer after their first year of the program.

Additional Requirements:

In addition to the core, students in the MPP degree program are required to take 20 credit hours of electives, including a minimum of five 3-credit electives, at least one of which must be a 3-credit program approved School of Law course. Students accepted for the degrees of MPP/JD, MPP/MBA, MPP/MEd, MPP/EdD, MPP/PhD, MPP/MS in Marine Science, MPP/PhD in Marine Science, or MPP/MS in Computational Operations Research are required to take a minimum of 9 credit hours of electives, at least one of which must be a 3-credit program approved School of Law course. Law courses are second year electives. Students may pursue one of the suggested areas of emphasis below or an alternative set of courses developed with consent of the Director. Students must petition the curriculum committee for approval of alternative electives. Areas of emphasis include education policy, environmental policy, health care policy, international trade, regulatory policy, and state and local policy.