Early Entry Program

GET A JUMP ON YOUR GRADUATE EDUCATION

Exceptional undergraduate students attending UNC Charlotte are encouraged to apply to graduate programs and begin work toward their graduate degree before completion of the baccalaureate degree. In those programs offering this outstanding opportunity, undergraduate students can get a head start on their graduate degree.

An applicant may be accepted at any time after completion of 75 or more hours of undergraduate course work, although it is expected that close to 90 hours of undergraduate course work will have been earned by the time the first graduate course is taken.

Watch our video on the Gerald G. Fox MPA Early Entry Program to hear more about the benefits of the early entry program! https://youtu.be/4Mf5Xsqx4_I

BENEFITS

  • Early Entry students will have provisional acceptance to the graduate program, pending the award of the baccalaureate degree, and generally within two semesters.
  • Some early-entry programs are also accelerated. Under this model, up to twelve hours earned at the graduate level may be substituted for required undergraduate hours. In other words, up to twelve hours of graduate work may be “double-counted” toward both the baccalaureate and graduate degrees. Individual programs may allow additional hours at the graduate level to be substituted. In no case may more than 12 hours be double-counted.
  • Early Entry students are charged undergraduate tuition and fees for all courses (graduate and undergraduate) for which they register. Upon completion of the baccalaureate degree, students are charged graduate tuition and fees. NOTE: Students in graduate programs that carry a tuition increment will be charged. However, this fee will be removed after the add/drop deadline

REQUIREMENTS

  • To be considered for Early Entry admission, a student must complete and submit an application via the Graduate School’s admissions system, and supply supporting documents.
  • A student may be accepted at any time after completion of 75 or more hours of undergraduate course work, although it is expected that close to 90 hours of undergraduate course work will have been earned by the time the first graduate course is taken.
  • A student must have at least a 3.2 overall GPA (on a 4.0 scale)
  • Once admitted, a student must complete an Early-Entry Program Form and have it approved by both the Graduate Program Director and the Graduate School. Failure to obtain prior Graduate School approval negates a student’s ability to “double-count” courses in an accelerated Early Entry program.
  • If an early-entry student has not met the normal admission requirements of a 3.0 GPA at the end of his/her baccalaureate degree, she/he will be dismissed from the graduate program. Students accepted into an early-entry program will be subject to the same policies that pertain to other matriculated graduate students. Generally, it will be assumed that early-entry students will finish their baccalaureate degrees before they complete 15 hours of graduate work (two semesters not including summer terms). No courses taken before admission to the graduate program may be applied to a graduate degree.

The MPA Program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA).

For questions please contact:

Dr. Suzanne Leland, Director
704-687-5937
smleland@charlotte.edu

Contact Us

Master of Public Administration
9201 University City Boulevard
Charlotte, NC 28223-0001

Director
Prof. Suzanne Leland
Phone: 704-687-5937
smleland@charlotte.edu

Administrative Assistant
Tizoc Tenorio
Phone: 704-687-7948
ttenorio@charlotte.edu