The La Follette School of Public Affairs provides selected UW-Madison undergraduates an opportunity to jumpstart the Master of Public Affairs or Master of International Public Affairs program. If accepted, a student can take a small number of advanced courses in the last year of their undergraduate program. After the student completes their undergraduate requirements and graduate with their bachelor's degree, students begin a fifth graduate year, devoted to full-time graduate study with the La Follette School. The Accelerated MPA Degree Plan and the Accelerated MIPA Degree Plan provide a detailed look at the courses and timeline for the accelerated program.
Application Process
Application for admission to the accelerated program for MPA or MIPA must be made directly to the La Follette School after five semesters of undergraduate study. Students who plan to complete their undergraduate degree in 3 years are not eligible for the accelerated program. Applications are due Friday, February 11 and will be accepted after that on a rolling basis based on available space in the program.
Students who receive an admission offer to the accelerated program can accept or decline the offer of admission but cannot defer. Students enrolling in the accelerated program also must formally apply for regular Graduate School admission during their final year of undergraduate study by filling out the Graduate School online application and submitting an updated résumé. Because accelerated students are in a program that has special approval and has been vetted by the Graduate School, accelerated students are not eligible to complete dual, double, joint, or combined degree programs. Applicants to the accelerated program are not considered for fellowships, assistantships, or scholarships. However, it is not uncommon for accelerated students to find graduate assistantships in other departments on campus in their second year in the program as matriculated graduate students.
The following items are required for consideration for the accelerated degree. Applicants do not need to resubmit them when seeking formal Graduate School admission. All materials should be sent electronically to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.:
- Accelerated degree program application
- Personal statement of purpose
- Two academic letters of recommendation
- A University of Wisconsin–Madison transcript showing a grade point average of 3.6 or higher
- Résumé
- All application materials submitted by the applicant and their letter writers should be emailed to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Prerequisites
MPA Prerequisite Courses (A strong MPA applicant has taken these courses and earned a B or above.)
- Introduction to microeconomics or course equivalent to Microeconomics 101 or Agricultural and Applied Economics 215
- Introduction to statistics or calculus or course equivalent to Statistics 301 or Math 211 or Math 221 or Sociology 360 or Psychology 210
- Introduction to American government or course equivalent to Political Science 104
MIPA Prerequisite Courses (A strong MIPA applicant has taken these courses and earned a B or above.)
- Introduction to microeconomics or course equivalent to Microeconomics 101 or Agricultural and Applied Economics 215
- Introduction to macroeconomics or course equivalent to Macroeconomics 102
- Introduction to statistics or calculus or course equivalent to Statistics 301 or Math 211 or Math 221 or Sociology 360 or Psychology 210
- Comparative politics or international relations or course equivalent to Political Science 120 or Political Science 140
- Three semesters of language study (or a year or more experience of living abroad) Find out more about public affairs.
Curriculum
Final Undergraduate Year: In addition to courses needed to complete a BA or BS, students take 3-4 courses depending on their undergraduate course work:
- Fall: 4-7 credits, students choose from core courses
- Spring: 3-6 credits, students choose from core and elective courses.
Graduate Year:
- Summer: Optional internship (0-3 credits)
- Fall: 9-12 credits
- Spring: 9-12 credits
Accelerated students and graduate certificates:
- It is difficult and uncommon for students in the accelerated program to pursue a graduate certificate along with their accelerated master's degree. This is due to scheduling constraints in the reduced credit accelerated program as well as policies in other departments that limit the eligibility of undergraduate students to take credits toward a graduate certificate. If you wish to discuss your options further, you can contact the Admissions & Advising Coordinator at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. after you have been admitted to the accelerated program.
