Fast-Track Master’s Degree Program
Save time and money while you advance your education toward a career in public service.
Our Fast-Track master’s program allows you to make progress toward a master’s degree while you complete your bachelor’s degree – quickly setting you up for a range of careers that serve the public good.
UConn undergraduate students in any major can accelerate their completion of a Master of Public Administration (MPA) or Master of Public Policy (MPP) by taking graduate-level courses as a junior or senior. Fast-track students can also count these graduate courses toward their bachelor’s degree requirements.
Through careful planning with their advisor, students can save time and money by obtaining their graduate degree in just one additional year after completing their bachelor’s degree.
Why Choose UConn
#12
National ranking of public finance and budgeting programs, U.S. News & World Report.
#44
National ranking of public affairs programs, U.S. News & World Report.
NASPAA
The only NASPAA-accredited school in Connecticut.
50+
Public service paid internship roles.
97%
Job placements 6-months after graduation.
Low Cost
Have one year of graduate school instead of two years.
Outcomes and Careers
UConn School of Public Policy alumni go on to successful careers where they make a lasting impact in the communities they serve. Our 1,000+ alumni are leaders in public, nonprofit, and private sectors across Connecticut, the nation, and the globe.
Pursuing the MPP at UConn allowed me to jumpstart my career via the fast-track program and graduate with ample connections and zero debt.
Katharine Morris '21 MPP
Governor’s IIJA Fellow, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Academics
Working closely with a School of Public Policy Fast-Track advisor, students can complete up to one year of the two-year MPA or MPP curriculum during their undergraduate studies by completing a minimum of 18 Public Policy graduate-level credits. For their "+1" year of graduate school, students are eligible to compete for our Internship and Professional Practice placements. In addition, Public Policy graduate-level courses can be used toward the 120 credits needed to complete a bachelor's degree, and can also be used to fulfill Honors and Minor in Public Policy requirements.
What is a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree?
A MPA degree will prepare you for leadership roles in government and nonprofit organizations by teaching you how to diagnose problems, collect and analyze information, choose among policy options, communicate findings, implement programs, and manage change. These skills are developed through an intensive quantitative, analytical, and managerial framework.
What can I do with a MPA degree?
Alumni of UConn’s MPA program work in governments at the local, state, and federal levels in a variety of policy areas, hold elected office, lead and manage nonprofit organizations, and conduct market research, among many other positions.
What is a Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree?
The MPP program is centered on analysis of real-world problems and the policies and programs that address them. The program will provide you with high quality instruction in quantitative methods, policy analysis, policy development, and program evaluation. A hallmark of our program is its focus on combining theory and practice so that you can thrive in a professional workplace.
What can I do with a MPP degree?
The MPP is appropriate for you if you seek an analytical career that requires you to be able to judge policies and programs, plan and evaluate alternatives, and implement changes. MPP graduates go on to pursue a wide variety of careers in all three employment sectors (public, private and nonprofit) and work in positions such as policy analyst, research associate, program analyst and finance/budget analyst.
Typical classes taken during undergraduate studies:
| Tracking to MPA (18 credits) | Tracking to MPP (18 credits) |
| PP 5340 Introduction to Public Policy and Management | PP 5340 Introduction to Public Policy and Management |
| PP 5375 Economic Analysis for Public Policy & Management | PP 5375 Economic Analysis for Public Policy & Management |
| PP 5376 Applied Quantitative Methods | PP 5376 Applied Quantitative Methods |
| PP 5370 Applied Research Design | PP 5331 Quantitative Methods for Public Policy |
| PP 5364 Public Finance and Budgeting | PP 5342 Policy Analysis |
| PP 5365 Human Resource Management | PP 53XX Elective |
Typical classes taken during the one year of graduate studies:
| Finishing MPA (24 credits) | Finishing MPP (24 credits) |
| PP 5345 Project Management | PP 5345 Project Management |
| PP 5365 Theory and Management of Public Service Orgs. | PP 5314 Causal Program Evaluation |
| PP 53XX Electives (x4) | PP 5347 Applied Policy Issues |
| PP 5390 Supervised Internship | PP 53XX Electives (x3) |
| PP 5390 Supervised Internship |
Admissions
Fast-track students must be current UConn undergraduates. The program is open to students in any major.
Students apply to the fast-track master’s program via the UConn Graduate School’s online application under "UConn Accelerated UG to Grad." There is no cost to apply.
Application Deadlines
Rolling admissions
Undergraduate fast-track applications are accepted year round.
Contact Us
For more information about our program, please contact:
Bryan Callender (Fast-Track)
Outreach Coordinator, School of Public Policy