Public Affairs or Political Science B.S. or B.A./M.P.A.
Advance your public service career with our combined bachelor's and master's degree
program.
If you're majoring in Political Science or Public Affairs, you can earn an M.P.A.
in just one extra year with UND's combined degree program. Learn to understand and
act upon the policy and management issues confronting governments and non-profit organizations.
Study at one of the nation's top-ranked online policy programs.
Complete the required courses, and you'll earn both your bachelor's and master's degrees
at the same time. You’ll declare your program of study as an undergraduate student
and follow a straightforward plan to graduate with a master’s degree.
Incoming freshman or transfer students apply to UND as an undergraduate student.
The Political Science or Public Affairs undergraduate programs are offered on campus
or online. Qualified students can apply for entry to the master's program after completing
60 credits. You may be able to complete the requirements for both degrees in about
five years.
Courses needed to complete the M.P.A. are offered on campus and online. Even if you
choose to participate online, you'll enjoy the same attention from faculty and in-class
interaction you're used to receiving on campus.
Network and build skills outside the classroom in the Pi Sigma Alpha honor society
and Public Affairs Club. Graduate students can participate in Pi Alpha Alpha, the
national public administration honor society, or UND's MPA Student Organization.
Earn hands-on experience through internships. Students have worked in city, county
and state government, non-profit groups, NGOs and more.
Complete applied research alongside UND faculty members.
Learn in the new Nistler Hall. It’s a modern and inviting building for UND's business
and public administration students.
Join a student group for an immersive government study experience in Washington, D.C.,
or travel with Pi Sigma Alpha to Bismarck, ND, to explore the North Dakota state capital.
Receive personalized career support through the Pancratz Career Development Center. The center is dedicated exclusively to career development for online and on-campus
Nistler College of Business & Public Administration students.
What can I do with an accelerated M.P.A. program?
105k
Median annual salary for administration services and facilities managers, 2023
Number of M.P.A. grads either employed or pursuing further education within 6 months
of graduation
UND Nistler College of Business & Public Administration
Employers recognize that candidates with an M.P.A. understand the leadership and policy
challenges facing governments and non-profit organizations and how to achieve greater
efficiency. You'll find career options in fields such as:
City and county administration
Hospital administration
Human resources
Management consulting
Nonprofit management
A Public Affairs or Political Science degree gives you the strategic skills you need,
including:
Strategic Planning
Event Planning
Legal Research
Policy Analysis
Public Policies
Accelerated M.P.A. Courses
POLS 500. Research Methods. 3 Credits.
A statistics course or consent of instructor. This course will first focus on various approaches to analyzing political phenomena with the goal of developing students' ability to think analytically and to distinguish between empirical and normative analysis. The course will then introduce techniques of empirical research including research design, measurement, data gathering, and data analysis. Prerequisite: A statistics course or consent of instructor.
POLS 533. Administrative Ethics in the Public Sector. 3 Credits.
This course examines the challenges faced by public administrators in establishing personal standards of conduct in the administrative environment. Issues such as moral versus political accountability, social justice and whistle blowing are among the topics that will be explored in this course.
POLS 538. Public Budgeting and Financial Administration. 3 Credits.
This course will encompass the normative and descriptive budgetary questions in public administration. Orthodox, prevailing, and alternative budget theories are presented in generalized and applied settings.
POLS 561. Creation and Management of Social Enterprises. 3 Credits.
This course provides an overview of social entrepreneurship and social enterprises, including nonprofit. The course covers methods and techniques of social entrepreneurship, including organizational strategy, design, management, strategic planning, and leadership for social enterprises; legal foundations of social enterprises in the U.S.; and methods of social enterprise program evaluation. F, odd years.
POLS 532. Public Policy. 3 Credits.
A discussion of the initiation, formulation, adoption, implementation, and evaluation of American public policy. Various policy areas such as agriculture, education, environment, and welfare will be analyzed.
The Public Affairs and Political Science bachelor's both have flexible asynchronous
classes; whereas the M.P.A. has live synchronous courses.
With asynchronous classes, you do not attend class at a set time. If you need to balance
work, family and other commitments, this flexible format allows you to learn anywhere
at any time.
Depending on your instructor, you’ll learn online through:
Lesson modules
Streaming video content
Virtual libraries
Posted lectures
Online simulations
There will be times when you interact with your instructor and classmates through
online discussion boards, polls and chat rooms.
Your learning revolves around materials that can be accessed on your own time within
a set time frame. However, this is not a self-paced course. You’ll have structure
and deadlines.
Synchronous classes are held in real-time. If you’re the kind of learner who likes
active discussion and immediate feedback through live interaction, you’ll enjoy this
online course format.
Every class is different, but generally, you’ll log into a virtual classroom at scheduled
times to:
Listen to a lecture
Ask questions
Participate in class discussions
Conduct group activities
Participate in video-sharing
Have chat conversations
Use interactive whiteboards
Take live polls
You should prepare for your classes by finishing any assigned readings, compiling
questions for your instructor and thinking about how to contribute to the next live
class.
Top-Tier Online Student Resources
Over a third of UND's student population is exclusively online; plus, more take a
combination of online and on-campus classes. You can feel reassured knowing you won't
be alone in your online learning journey, and you'll have resources and services tailored
to your needs.
No matter how you customize your online experience, you’ll get the same top-quality
education as any other on campus student.
Same degree: All online programs are fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Your transcript and diploma are exactly the same as our on-campus students.
Same classes: You’ll take courses from UND professors, start and end the semesters at the same time
and take the same classes as a student on campus.
Real interaction: You can ask questions, get feedback and regularly connect with your professors, peers
and professionals in the field.
Your own academic advisor: As an invaluable go-to, they’re focused on you, your personal success and your future
career.
Free online tutoring: We're here to help you one-on-one at no cost. Plus, get access to a variety of self-help
online study resources.
Unlimited academic coaching: Need support to achieve your academic goals or feeling stumped by a tough course?
We'll help with everything from stress and time management to improving your memory
to achieve higher test scores.
Full online access: Dig into virtual research at UND's libraries. Improve your writing skills with online
help from the UND Writing Center. Get online access to career services, veteran and
military services, financial services and more.
24/7 technical support: UND provides free computer, email and other technical support for all online students.
Networking opportunities: Our significant online student population means you’ll have a large pool of peers
to connect with. UND has numerous online events and activities to keep you connected.
Best Online College
Our high alumni salaries and job placement rates, with affordable online tuition rates
make UND a best-value university for online education. UND's breadth of online programs
rivals all other nonprofit universities in the Upper Midwest making UND one of the
best online schools in the region.
UND ranks among the best online colleges in the nation for:
Affordability
Student satisfaction (retention rate)
Academic quality (4-year graduate rate)
Student outcomes (20-year return on investment per Payscale.com)
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