Blended BA Political Science + Master of Public Policy

A blended program provides an accelerated route to a graduate professional degree, with simultaneous conferring of both Bachelor's and Master's degrees. Students in the blended program are provided with a seamless process whereby they can progress from undergraduate to graduate status. Students are required to complete all requirements for both degrees, including senior project for the Bachelor’s degree.

Eligibility

Students majoring in BA Political Science are eligible for the blended program in Master of Public Policy.

Participation in a blended program is based upon prior academic performance and other measures of professional promise. Refer to Graduate Education for more information and for the minimum criteria required to be eligible for a blended program at Cal Poly. Contact the Graduate Program Coordinator in the Political Science department for any additional eligibility criteria.

Application Process

Students should plan to take graduate level classes for at least two years, which means applying no later than a student’s junior/3rd year. Students will then complete the graduate classes and their remaining undergraduate classes in years 4 (what would have been the last year of their undergraduate degree) and year 5. 

To apply, students must submit the following through email to the Program Director:

(1) a letter of interest that addresses how the MPP degree will help them accomplish their career goals,  

(2) at least one letter of recommendation from one of the department faculty who do not teach the core graduate classes (POLS 510, 515, 518, and 560) and

(3) a copy of their informal transcript (a screenshot of the Poly Profile is sufficient).

Students are required to have an overall GPA of 3.25 or better and a Political Science GPA of 3.5 or better. Students must have completed POLS 351 (or, if 351 is not feasible, another policy relevant course such as POLS 440, POLS 455, or POLS 451 with director approval). All lower division requirements for the POLS major and STAT 217 must be completed with a C- or better.

Applications are due through email on April 1st of the spring BEFORE starting the program (so, April 1st of a student’s junior year).

For more information about the blended program, please contact Dr. Nancy Arrington, MPP Program Director.