Agricultural Economics-MPSA | 5-Year (3+2) Degree Program

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The Bush School of Government & Public Service and the Department of Agricultural Economics offer a 5-year (3+2) degree program in which students admitted into the Agricultural Economics undergrad major apply to earn a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics (B.S. AGEC) and a Master of Public Service & Administration (MPSA) graduate degree, with a track emphasis in Public Policy Analysis (PPA), in five years. The program includes a total of 152 hours with 16 hours double-counting to both degrees.

Description | Eligibility Requirements | Curriculum | AGEC Required | MPSA Required | Admissions | Advising

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Description

Students begin their studies at Texas A&M University in the Agricultural Economics department taking 104 credit hours toward their undergraduate degree. Throughout the course of the student’s three years at Texas A&M, the student works with their undergraduate advisor to ensure they satisfy all eligibility requirements listed below prior to applying to the MPSA in the fall of their junior year (when classified as a U3).

If admitted, students must ensure they fulfill the rest of the requirements listed below by the time they enter The Bush School in the fall of their senior year at Texas A&M University when classified as U4. In the student’s fourth year, they take 24 credit hours of Bush School graduate level courses; 13 credit hours of which will double count toward their bachelor’s degree and a 600-level AGEC elective course that double counts as an MPSA elective course. In the student’s fifth year, they are re-classified as a G-7 graduate student and take the remaining 24 credit hours left to satisfy the requirements for the MPSA degree.

After successful completion of both degrees, students receive both their Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics (B.S. AGEC) and a Master of Public Service & Administration (MPSA) at the end of their second year at The Bush School. Although they earn both, students will only walk for their MPSA graduation.

Students who choose not to finish the MPSA degree after starting the 3+2 degree program may exist the program at any time. Completed Bush School courses will be applied to their bachelor’s degree in AGEC, as appropriate. Failure to complete the MPSA program will in no way impede the student’s ability to attain a bachelor’s degree when the requirements for that degree are completed.

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Eligibility Requirements

To apply to the 3+2 MPSA/AGEC degree program, students must:

• be classified as a U3 majoring in Agricultural Economics at Texas A&M University, and
• have a 3.25 GPA or above by the start of the fall semester in which they will enter the 3+2 program (if admitted), and
• work with their undergrad advisor to map out courses the student must complete prior to entry into the 3+2 program (if admitted), and
• has (or will have) 66-78 credit hours of their undergrad degree completed by the start of the fall semester in which they will enter the 3+2 program, and
• is predicted to have at least 104 credit hours of their undergrad degree completed by the start of the fall semester in which they will enter the 3+2 program, and
• is in good academic standing with their undergrad department, and
• is not expected to graduate or complete their undergrad degree during the academic year in which they are applying, and
• understand that failure to satisfy ALL of these requirements will result in admission (if offered) being revoked to the 3+2 program.

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Curriculum

The curriculum for the 3+2 MPSA/AGEC degree consists of 152 total credit hours; 104 credit hours of AGEC undergrad courses, 13 credit hours for Bush School MPSA courses can double count toward the student’s bachelor’s degree. One AGEC 600-level elective course double counts as an MPSA elective course. This means students must complete approximately 104 credit hours (of the required 120 credit hours) for their bachelor’s degree requirements prior to the fall semester of their fourth year when they begin the 2-year MPSA program. Please use the 3+2 AGEC/MPSA Course Planner in consultation with your undergraduate advisor to help plan courses in preparation for applying to the 3+2 AGEC/MPSA program.

Five-year students will be enrolled in Bush School graduate courses with an undergraduate classification (U4) during their fourth year and will be re-classified as a degree-seeking master’s students (G7) prior to the start of the fall semester of year five.

Admitted 3+2 students are required to complete the same 2-year, 48-hour curriculum as other MPSA students pursuing the Public Policy Analysis (PPA) track, starting in the fall of their senior year when classified as a U4. The MPSA curriculum combines 10 core courses (30 credit hours) with six electives (18 credit hours), one of which must be selected from AGEC 604,606, 607, 610, 614, 633, or 562. Students are encouraged to select from one of our concentration options or create their own area of interest. Those without professional experience must compete a non-credit bearing professional internship in the summer between their fourth and fifth year (first and second year in the MPSA). A capstone project for a “real world” client in the final two semesters concludes the learning experience.

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B.S. in Agricultural Economics Course Requirements

Students admitted to the 3+2 MPSA/AGEC must complete 104 credit hours of their bachelor’s degree prior to enrollment in the MPSA in the fall of their fourth year when classified as a U4. Students complete the rest of their bachelor’s degree course requirements by double counting 13 credit hours of MPSA courses and a 600-level AGEC elective course (as an MPSA elective) toward their bachelor’s degree.

Courses to Complete PRIOR TO FOURTH YEAR (104 Credit Hours)

Students admitted into the 3+2 MPSA/AGEC degree must complete approximately 104 credit hours of their undergrad degree prior to enrollment in the Bush School’s MPSA in the fall of their fourth year.

Texas A&M Core: 45 Credit Hours	Major Area: 54 Credit Hours
AGEC 105 (3 hrs) (double counts as Social & Behavioral Science)	A total of 54 hrs required; only 38 should be completed before 3+2 entry
ENGL 103 or 104 (3 hrs)	AGEC 117 (1 hr) (W)
Communication (3 hrs)	AGEC 217 (3 hrs)
POLS 206 & 207 (6 hrs)	AGEC 314 (3 hrs)
MATH 140 & 142 (6 hrs)	AGEC 317 (3 hrs)
STAT 303 (3 hrs)	AGEC 330 (3 hrs)
Life & Physical Sciences (9 hrs)	AGEC 340 (3 hrs)
Language, Philosophy, & Culture (3 hrs)	AGEC 344 (3 hrs)
Creative Arts (3 hrs)	AGEC 350 (3 hrs)
US History (6 hrs)	AGEC 429 (W) (3 hrs)
Supporting Coursework: 21 Credit Hours	AGEC 452 or 453 (3 hrs)
ECON 202 (3 hrs)	AGEC 481 (1 hr)
ECON 203 (3 hrs)	Directed AGEC Electives (6 hrs)
ACCT 209 (3 hrs)	ECON Elective: AGEC 430 or ECON 311 (3 hrs)
ACCT 210 (3 hrs)	AGEC 600-Level Elective (3 hrs) *
ECON 323 (3 hrs)	*Double counts as MPSA Elective
Non-AGEC Elective (6 hrs)	AGEC Electives (13 hrs) *
Foreign Language: 8 Credit Hours (if needed)	*All 13 hours will double count to MPSA: BUSH 631,
2 years of same language in High School OR	BUSH 632 or 635, PSAA 622, PSAA 621, or ECON 607
2 semester college sequence

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MPSA Course Requirements

In the fall of their fourth year when classified as a senior (U4), admitted 3+2 students will enter the Bush School’s MPSA program and complete approximately 48 total credit hours; 16 hours of which will double count toward both degrees.

COURSES TO COMPLETE AFTER ENTRY to 3+2 Degree (48 Credit Hours)

As indicated above, students will double count courses taken in the Bush School as credit towards their MPSA degree and as substitutes for some of the AGEC electives and general electives required for the bachelor’s degree.

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Admissions

Agricultural economics majors who satisfy (or are expected to satisfy) all of the eligibility requirements listed above can apply to the 3+2 MPSA program in the fall of their junior year when classified as a U3. Admission criteria for the 3+2 MPSA program is the same as other MPSA students. To apply, visit our 3+2 MPSA Admissions page. If admitted, students begin the MPSA in the fall of their senior year.

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Advising

It is imperative for students interested in the 3+2 MPSA work with their undergrad AGEC advisor as soon as possible to ensure the student is on track to complete all necessary courses prior to entry into the program, if admitted. The Bush School Admissions Office can help answer questions about the admissions process, but cannot help answer questions about undergrad degree or course requirements. The MPSA department is available to help answer questions about the MPSA curriculum or courses and will be the student’s point of contact if admitted into the 3+2 program.

For questions about undergrad courses or degree requirements in preparation for applying to the 3+2 program:

• Contact Donna Adcock, Hannah Chavarria, Melyssa-Anne Stricklin, Kelsey Hirsch, and David Roach.
  • Visit https://agecon.tamu.edu/undergraduate/undergraduate/contact/

For questions about the MPSA curriculum or courses:

• Contact Elaine Lippard at elippard@tamu.edu or 979.862.8821.

For questions about admission into the 3+2:

• Contact the Bush School Admissions Office at bushschooladmissions@tamu.edu or 979.862.3476.