BA-MPA and BA-MUP with Global Liberal Studies

Interested in a career in public service? As a Global Liberal Studies student, you already have an edge in the field with your global and interdisciplinary lens for problem-solving. Make a bigger impact by working toward Master’s in Public Administration or a Master's in Urban Planning while completing your undergraduate degree. Through the BA-MPA and BA-MUP program offered by NYU Wagner in partnership with the NYU Liberal Studies, you can fast track into a meaningful career in public service. 

Admission to the dual-degree program is open to GLS students who have completed 64 credits toward the B.A. degree, with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and who have completed at least 32 of these credits in GLS.  Interested? See the GLS website.

ADVISING

NYU Wagner Student Services

Global Liberal Studies Advising

Adrienne Smith, Assistant Director of Student Services and Bloomberg Fellowship Program

CURRICULUM

As part of the BA-MPA and BA-MUP track, you can complete up to 21 credits toward the 45 credit graduate degree as an undergraduate student. This can include the undergraduate course equivalents below:

* UPADM-GP 101, 111, & 103 are NYU Wagner undergraduate courses

** BA-MUP students should delay completing these requirements if they are planning to complete the MUP in one additional year

*** Undergraduate students must take the undergraduate version of CORE-GP 1020 Management and Leadership (UPADM-GP 103 Intro to Managing Public Service Organizations)

**** Not accepted for MUP degree

If you complete the maximum 21 credits during your undergraduate career and take a prescribed sequence of coursework in consultation with an advisor, you can finish the MPA or MUP degree in one full-time year. With any less completed, your time at Wagner would be extended by one year and you also have the flexibility to complete the MPA or MUP in up to five years part-time. For more information about planning your coursework during undergrad and other policies, please see our Advising and Policies page.

APPLYING TO WAGNER

If you’re accepted to the BA-MPA or BA-MUP track, you are not guaranteed admittance to the Wagner graduate program. You must complete the graduate application in your final undergraduate year by the priority deadline at the end of the fall semester. 

As part of the admissions process, you may be asked to participate in an interview to help us better understand your candidacy which may not be fully captured in your application materials. If invited to interview, it then becomes a requirement for admission and will be held early- to mid- February. 

Please see our admissions website for more information about the graduate application.

DEFERRAL

Wagner graduate students come from a variety of professional backgrounds - many have several years of substantial experience in public service before starting a Wagner graduate degree. We believe that this real-world experience strongly enriches the Wagner education in and outside the classroom. As a result, our graduate admissions team may accept you into the MPA or MUP program with the requirement that you defer 1 year to gain full-time professional experience in a public service field.

You may also choose to defer your enrollment for up to 2 years in order to gain additional experience.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Pursuing a graduate dual degree is an investment in the future and a serious commitment of time and money. All Bachelor’s-Master’s track applicants will be considered for scholarships and funding as part of the graduate application. You can also apply for the the Georgina and Charlotte Bloomberg Public Service Fellows Program in the graduate application - a full-tuition scholarship opportunity.