Program: Public Policy + Urban and Public Affairs (4+1), BA/BS-MA - University of San Francisco

2024-2025 Catalog

Apr 01, 2025

The Public Affairs/Policy 4+1 program is designed as an efficient, practical preparation for students interested in pursuing careers in public policy and policy-adjacent sectors. The five-year program is open to students of any undergraduate major who also complete the requirements of the Public Policy Minor. Students would then spend an intensive final year taking part in seminars in the Masters of Urban and Public Affairs program as well as completing a capstone project.

The program provides students with substance, skills, and experience. First, the program provides content focused on policy making in general and exploring specific issues. Second, the program introduces tools of analysis, research, and communication. The undergraduate experience with the Public Policy Minor provides the foundation. In the fifth year, students produce a graduate capstone project which investigates an aspect of policy either in the form of a master’s thesis or professional report. Finally, students will be required to complete a significant number of hours in one or more internships. The hands-on experience of the internship provides both an introduction to policy in the real world as well as enabling students to get a head start on building their professional network.

Constructed in this manner, the Public Affairs and Policy 4+1 program prepares graduates to embark on a variety of different public service careers. We anticipate graduates to secure positions working in government agencies, for elected officials, policy consultants, nonprofits service providers, and advocacy groups. Having already secured an advanced degree, graduates of the program are more competitive on the job market.

Admission

Students should apply to the 4+1 program by the first semester of their junior year. Please contact the Politics Department Chair for more information on enrolling in the 4+1.

Students in the 4+1 program can declare any major at USF. They complete the Public Policy Minor requirements before entering the MA in Urban and Public Affairs (UPA) program. No more than 8 units of graduate-level courses may be counted toward both the Minor and the MA.

The UPA degree is 33 units. 4+1 students can complete the requirements by:

A grade of B or higher in POLS 395 will be substituted for UPA 650
A grade of B or higher in a 400-level policy research course will be substituted for a 600-level UPA elective

This means that after finishing the minor in Public Policy, 25 units remain to complete the Masters Degree in Urban and Public Affairs. Final matriculation into the UPA program is contingent upon finishing the minor in Public Policy with a minimum GPA of 3.25.

Program Learning Outcomes

Please see the Public Policy Minor and Urban and Public Affairs, MA .

Public Policy Minor + MA in Urban and Public Affairs 4+1

Students complete the following requirements for the 4+1 program:

Undergraduate Major

Students may select any undergraduate major USF and complete all relevant graduation requirements, including the Core curriculum.

Public Policy Minor (20 units)

Undergraduate students complete the Public Policy Minor in addition to their major. Please see the Minor page for course details.

Urban and Public Affairs, MA (25 units)

In the fifth year, students complete the following requirements for the MA in Urban and Public Affairs.

Please note:

In order to graduate with an MA degree in five years, students are advised to complete their internship requirement before the fall semester of their 5th year. See below for additional details on the internship
A grade of B or higher in POLS 395 will be substituted for UPA 650
A grade of B or higher in a 400-level policy research course will be substituted for a 600-level UPA elective

UPA 630 - Urban Power Seminar
UPA 633 - UPA Colloquium I
UPA 634 - UPA Colloquium II
UPA 651 - Rhetoric for the Common Good
UPA 652 - Masters Capstone Project
Students also complete 12 units of UPA electives. Please see the Urban and Public Affairs, MA page for course options.

Internship Requirement (200 hours)

A minimum of 200 documented hours working in an approved internship setting is required for completion of the graduate degree. A portion of these hours may be completed alongside the undergraduate curriculum, but they must be in addition to the 4-unit internship requirement for the Public Policy Minor. Students have the option of completing two internships, or any of the McCarthy Programs, USF in DC, USF in Sacramento, or McCarthy Fellows in SF. The internship requirement can also be fulfilled during the summer between the fourth and fifth year. Students should contact the Urban and Public Affairs Faculty Director for more information.