The Accelerated BSPA to MSCP program is an opportunity for talented students who are interested in city and regional planning to complete their Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs (BSPA) and Master of Science in City Planning (MSCP) degrees in five years. Students who have applied and been accepted into the program begin taking MSCP courses their senior year and can count them toward their BSPA and MSCP degrees.

The Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs major prepares students to analyze problems and effectively solve issues with the principal goal of enhancing all aspects of public life. It prepares students to tackle social justice issues and uplift our communities both domestically and internationally. The emphasis is on establishing a strong foundation of skills focusing on policy, advocacy, and analysis/critical thinking.

The Master of Science in City Planning graduate degree prepares students from a variety of academic and professional backgrounds to excel in careers in urban affairs and city planning. The MSCP provides students with an academic credential appropriate for planning-related employment in the public, non-profit/community, and private sectors. Through its core

courses, the program provides a strong foundation of practical and theoretical training for professional work in planning for the creation and management of sustainable, equitable cities and human settlements. Through the choice of a breadth requirement and electives, the program offers students the opportunity to tailor their curriculum to their career interests.

Admissions and Enrollment Process

BSPA students with a 3.0 GPA can apply when they have completed 60 credits (usually spring of their junior year) and the following pre-requisites:

PAF 1250 Citizenship and Public Affairs or POL 1101 American Politics
ENG 2150 Writing II
MTH 1023 or MTH 1030 or placement higher than 1030
MTH 2140 or 2160 or 2001 or 2003 or 2009 or 2206 or 2207 or 2600 or 2610 or BIO 2100 or PSY 2100 or STA 2000

Marxe School advisors will provide accepted students with a curriculum map for completing both degrees. Accepted students can begin taking MSCP courses once they have been accepted to the MSCP degree (usually their senior year).

Accelerated BSPA to MSCP Curriculum (144 Credits)

The accelerated BSPA to MSCP curriculum requires 144 credits total (including an internship) and includes all 39 credits (including an internship) of the MSCP degree. Graduate courses can fulfill 6 credits of undergraduate General Electives and 9 credits of BSPA electives. Students can be waived from PAF 9270 in the MSCP core if they take PAF 3015 and PAF 3401 and demonstrate the Excel skills necessary for PAF 9271. 

* Students completing the Accelerated BSPA to MSCP program will fulfill 6 credits of their general electives by completing two MSCP courses.

 ** Students completing the Accelerated BSPA to MSCP program will fulfill 9 credits of their BSPA electives by completing three MSCP Core courses, or two MSCP Core courses and the one Depth course requirement.

 *** The MSCP is a total of 39 credits (with internship). Students can replace general and BSPA electives with 15 MSCP credits so the total number of MSCP credits that they will take, as distinct from their BSPA credits, is 24.

 **** The pre-req for PAF 9271 and PAF 9272 is PAF 9270. Students can only be waived from 9270 if they take PAF 3401 and PAF 3015 in the BSPA Core. If they would like to take PAF 9271, they must complete a required assignment demonstrating they have the Excel skills required to enroll in PAF 9271. If students are waived from PAF 9270, they will select an approved MSCP elective in place of this requirement so they still complete the 39 graduate credits.