Combined Degree Programs in the Master of Arts in Community and Economic Development

Enrollment in a combined program allows highly qualified, current SUNY Empire State College students to work on the Master of Arts in Community and Economic Development while completing the bachelor’s degree. Up to 12 credits of designated master’s courses are incorporated into the bachelor’s degree program and will count toward both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Program Requirements

The combined program requires 148 credits total, of which 36 are master’s credits leading to the M.A. in Community and Economic Development. Students must meet all college, AOS and relevant concentration guidelines.

The program requires careful planning that should begin in the first term of a student’s undergraduate career at Empire State College. The student and the primary mentor should consult in planning the undergraduate degree program so that these requirements are met during undergraduate study and that the 12 credits of master’s study from M.A. in Community and Economic Development program are also included in the degree plan. Students must meet master’s expectations for academic progress and grade point average in their master’s level courses to remain in the combined program. 

Combined Program Admission

Admission into the combined program is highly selective. Matriculated undergraduate students may apply to the combined program and will complete all of the application requirements for the master’s degree program. The admission application process includes a review and recalculation of the most recent 60 credits earned (minimum GPA of 3.2), two recommendations (one must be from his/her SUNY Empire State College undergraduate primary mentor), and two application essays.
A concurred degree plan is not required to apply for the combined program.

Prerequisite Courses

Applicants must include undergraduate level courses in statistics (3 credits) and macroeconomics (3 credits) in their degree program.

Combined Program Courses

Empire undergraduate students incorporate these first 4 graduate courses (12 credits) into their undergraduate program. These 12 credits count toward both the undergraduate and graduate degrees.

B.A./B.S./B.P.S. Business, Management and Economics and M.A. Community and Economic Development

  • Policy Process, 3cr
  • Public Policy Analysis, 3cr
  • Principles of Community and Economic Development, 3cr
  • Stakeholder-sensitive Business Models, 3cr

B.A./B.S./B.P.S. Public Affairs and M.A. Community and Economic Development

  • Policy Process, 3cr
  • Public Policy Analysis, 3cr
  • Principles of Community and Economic Development, 3cr
  • Stakeholder-sensitive Business Models, 3cr