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

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The Bush School of Government & Public Service and the Department of Sociology offer a 5-year (3+2) degree program in which students admitted into the Sociology undergraduate major can apply to earn a Bachelor of Science or Arts in Economics and a Master of Public Service & Administration (MPSA) graduate degree in five years. The program consists of a total of 150 credit hours with 18 hours double-counting to both degrees.

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

Description

Students begin their studies at Texas A&M University in the College of Arts and Sciences taking classes toward their undergraduate degree. Throughout the course of the student’s first 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 Master of Public Service & Administration (MPSA) in the fall of their junior year (when classified as a U3). 

If admitted, students must ensure they fulfill the rest of the undergrad requirements listed below by the time they enter the MPSA in the fall of their senior year at Texas A&M University when classified as a U4. In the student’s fourth year, the take Bush School graduate level courses; 18 credit hours of which will double count toward their bachelor’s degree. In the student’s fifth year, they are re-classified as a G7 graduate and take the remaining courses left to satisfy the requirements for the MPSA degree.

After successful completion of both degrees, students receive both Texas A&M degrees, earning a B.A. in Sociology and a Master of Public Service & Administration at the end of their fifth year. 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 exit the program at any time. Completed MPSA courses will be applied to their bachelor’s degree in Sociology, as appropriate. Failure to complete the MPSA program will in no way impede a student’s ability to attain a bachelor’s degree when the requirements for that degree are completed.

Eligibility Requirements

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

  • be classified as a U3 majoring in Sociology 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 in the 3+2 program (if admitted), and
  • have approximately 66-78 credit hours completed by the time they apply to the 3+2 program in the fall semester of their junior year, and
  • have approximately 102 credit hours completed before entry into the 3+2 program in the fall of their senior year (including all required courses for Sociology major, college, and Texas A&M), and
  • be in good academic standing with their undergrad department, and
  • not be expected to graduate during the academic year in which they are applying, and
  • understand that failure to satisfy ALL of these requirements will result in 3+2 admission (if offered) being revoked.

Curriculum

The curriculum for the 3+2 MPSA/SOCI degrees consists of 150 total credit hours: 102 credit hours of undergrad courses and 48 credit hours of MPSA courses. A maximum of 18 credit hours from Bush School MPSA courses can double count toward the student’s bachelor’s degree. This means students must complete approximately 102 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. To help 3+2 MPSA students in the course planning process, we’ve created a B.A. 3+2 MPSA/SOCI course planner and a B.S. 3+2 MPSA/SOCI course planner they can use with the help of their undergrad advisor.

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 degree-seeking master’s students (G7) prior to the start of the fall semester in year five.

Admitted 3+2 students are required to complete the same 2-year, 48-hour curriculum as other MPSA students, starting in the fall of their senior year when classified as a U4. The curriculum consists of ten core courses and six electives. Students choose a track in Public Policy Analysis (PPA), Public Management (PM), or Nonprofit Management (NPM) and are encouraged to select from one of our concentrations or create their own area of interest. Those without professional experience must complete a non-credit bearing 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.

B.A. / B.S. Sociology Course Requirements

Students admitted to the 3+2 SOCI/MPSA must complete 102 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 18 credit hours of MPSA courses towards their bachelor’s degree. Nine credit hours double count toward Sociology elective and 9 credit hours double count toward general electives.

Those pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Sociology must also fulfill the foreign language requirement of two years of the same foreign language in High School, or complete a two-semester sequence (8 additional credit hours) of the same foreign language for university credit prior to enrollment in the MPSA in the fall of their fourth year.

COURSES TO COMPLETE PRIOR TO FOURTH YEAR (102 Credit Hours)

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; 18 hours of which will double count toward both degrees.

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

Admissions

Sociology 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 the other MPSA students. To apply, visit our 3+2 MPSA Admissions page. If admitted, students begin the MPSA degree in the fall of their senior year.

Advising

It is imperative for students interested in the 3+2 MPSA work with their undergrad Sociology 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:

For questions about the MPSA curriculum or courses:

For questions about admission into the 3+2: