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.
Applications are due January 1 and will be accepted after that on a rolling basis based on available space in the program.
How to apply for accelerated admissions
Application for admission to the accelerated MPA or MIPA program 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. They should instead apply to the 2-year MPA or MIPA program.
Apply to the Accelerated Program
We are currently accepting applications to start at the La Follette School in Fall 2024. You will need to be logged into UW Google Workspace to complete the application.
Requirements for admission
The following items are required for consideration for the accelerated degree:
- Accelerated degree program application including a prerequisite check to provide the admissions committee with information about courses you completed and preparation you have done that satisfies La Follette School prerequisites.
- Quantitative essay: Write a 150-word statement (approximately half a page double spaced) about current or past professional work requiring quantitative or analytic skill or experience and how it has prepared you for graduate study in public affairs. If you do not have this background, please leave the essay blank.
- Personal statement of purpose. The statement of purpose provides you with the opportunity to demonstrate your motivation to pursue an Accelerated Master of Public Affairs (MPA) or Accelerated Master of International Public Affairs (MIPA) degree and your commitment to a career dedicated to public service. Your clear and concise narrative need not reiterate information we can gather from your transcripts and resume. In 250 words or less (1 page double spaced), respond to the question below: How have your background and life experiences, including cultural, geographical, financial, educational, or other opportunities or challenges motivated your decision to pursue a graduate degree at the Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs? How would this academic preparation help you progress toward your personal and/or professional goals and further the Wisconsin Idea?
- Two academic letters of recommendation
- Applicants should have faculty letter writers send their letters to the admissions@lafollette.wisc.edu email address with the applicant’s name in the subject line.
- A University of Wisconsin–Madison transcript showing a grade point average of 3.6 or higher
- Resume
Other considerations
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 resume. 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.
Prerequisites
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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)
Learn about the La Follette School
Ask questions and schedule an in-person or virtual visit
Watch sample lectures and learn about life at La Follette
Download course info, job placement data, and more
Admissions events
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Oct02
La Follette School at UW-Milwaukee @ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Student Union, 1st Floor, Booth 5, 2200 East Kenwood Blvd. Milwaukee WI 53211 View Map
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Oct03
Graduate School Micro Fair @ 11:00 am - 1:30 pm 850 Pleasant Street, Beloit, WI 53511 View map
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Oct11
DC Select Graduate Fair @ 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm The Washington Center 1005 3rd St NE Washington, D.C. 20002 View map
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Oct17
Prospective Graduate Student Information: October Session @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Online event
Information session recording
Contact admissions staff
Email: admissions@lafollette.wisc.edu
Phone: 608-262-9163
Contact students and alumni
Haoyan (Ken) Wang, MIPA
"I was drawn to La Follette mainly because of its faculty expertise, alumni network, and most importantly, many professional opportunities offered to its students."
Angela Maloney, MPA
"Learning more about the human impact of policy as well as the benefit of being able to obtain an MPA with just one additional year post-undergrad were huge draws for me."
Troy Wilson, MPA
"I would like to use my La Follette education and previous experience in legislative and NGO settings to make a difference and promote the Wisconsin Idea."
Evan Steck, MPA
"I met with the incredibly kind and accommodating faculty at the La Follette School and was blown away by the tightly knit academic community they have cultivated."
Katie Pollock, MPA
"The small class size has allowed me to meet some amazing people who have helped make virtual learning easier."