A Schedule That Works For You
The MPA is a 12-month program that starts in May of each year. During Summer Core, MPA students must complete nine required in-person courses at the UC Berkeley campus. Over the fall and spring semesters, students may complete the program in residence at the Goldman School or online.
The start date for Class of 2020 is Thursday, May 16, 2019, with Orientation classes on both May 16 and 17. There will also be events scheduled for that weekend on May 18 and 19.
Flexible Format
Students may customize the program to meet their schedule needs: by splitting the summer requirements over two summers, and by opting for online coursework in the Fall and Spring terms.
By spreading the summer requirements over two summers, students can choose an alternate schedule that integrates with commitments outside of school such as full-time work or family obligations. Students who choose this option will increase their time to graduation from 12 to 14 months.
Experience Berkeley In The Summer
The centerpiece of the MPA program is the summer core which emphasizes leadership skills, strategic thinking and multidisciplinary analysis. Students attend in-person courses with their cohort, which builds connections to the UC Berkeley campus, develops a strong sense of community among students and faculty, and enhances opportunities for networking.
MPA summer core classes run Monday through Friday for ~6 hours each day, with additional out-of-class work.
Summer A (5/21/19-6/28/19): complete 7 units in 6 weeks
Summer B (7/8/19-8/6/19): complete up to 6 units in 3-4.5 weeks
Fall and Spring - Elective Classes
In the Fall and Spring semesters, students take elective courses and the required Capstone course. MPA students also complete a minimum of six units of electives over the course of the program, taken either online or in-person**. The average MPA student typically completes 6 to 7 units each semester, which is about 20 hours per week of combined in and out-of-class time.
For exact dates, please see the 2019-2020 Berkeley Academic Calendar.
Minimum Unit Requirements For Degree Completion
MPA students are required to complete a minimum of 30 units over three or four consecutive terms (inclusive of summer). This breaks down to 21 units of core courses and at least 9 units of electives.
**International students enrolled at UC Berkeley (F-1 or J-1 visa holders) must follow these guidelines**
Fall: at least 3 of the units must be in residency
Spring: at least 4 of the units must be in residency