AAAS/MPA Combined Degree AAASP majors have the opportunity to complete both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Public Administration in five (5) years. In order to qualify for the combined degree, students must: have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 and, a) Prior to their senior year, complete 96 credits that meet all of the undergraduate requirements including writing and general education plus all but 12 credits needed for the major. During the senior year, students will complete 12 credits in the major and the remaining 20 credits needed for the undergraduate degree, which will be satisfied by graduate level MPA coursework. b) Students should apply for the combined degree program no later than the beginning of the junior year, and admission decisions for the combined degree program will be made no later than spring of the junior year. Application and admissions processes are through the MPA program and the Graduate School . Upon acceptance to the program, students will need to successfully complete the BA in year four (including all General Education and major requirements); a “B” or better in all graduate courses; and satisfactory demonstration of skill and competency before placement in internships. c) Once admitted, the student will take 20 credits of course work in the MPA program during their senior year. These double count as undergraduate elective credits and MPA credits. That work constitutes the baccalaureate degree. d) The fifth year is all graduate coursework to complete the master's degree. All requirements of the master's program must be met, including maintaining a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA for graduate work. Graduate students in the Master in Public Administration Program (MPA) will have the opportunity to complete a Graduate Certificate in Asian and Asian American Studies while earning their MPA degree. Both the MPA degree and AAAS Certificate encourage work that is interdisciplinary, comparative, or global in methodology and theory, as well as specialized locally or regionally. The ability to combine these elements is advantageous to students interested in Asian and Asian American studies, those who seek employment in a public service agency in the U.S. , or work in a multi- or supra-national organization, as it provides greater knowledge about Asian populations and cultures not only in Asia, but also in the U.S. and the diaspora.