The joint Bachelor of Arts or Science and Master of Public Administration (BA or BS/MPA) degree provides qualified students with the opportunity to earn a master's degree in public administration by taking 12 credits of the MPA as an undergraduate student.

The program is designed for highly motivated students with the desire to build career options into their undergraduate curriculum. The program is especially relevant to public service majors but is also suitable for a wide variety of undergraduate majors. All undergraduate major fields are applicable to the work of public policy implementation.

The breadth of MPA degree applications derives from the MPA degree focus on public, nonprofit, and regulated sectors. Organizations implementing and enforcing public policies include federal, state, local, and special district governments, nonprofit organizations, and regulated industries. The MPA degree is useful in organizations engaged in making laws and regulations; delivering public services; providing access to art, music, and other amenities; developing and sustaining communities; providing education, health care, and public safety; holding corporations and public officials accountable; and advocating on behalf of environmental, social, safety, community, and political issues. The MPA degree's reach is global. By graduating with a combined undergraduate/MPA degree, the student is graduating ready for career entry and poised to make a difference.