The Advantages of a Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree
| 7 Min Read
A faster path to a leadership career in public service is closer than you think. With the right program, you can get a head start toward the position you’d like most and expand opportunities to better your community. A combined bachelor’s and master’s degree program allows you to graduate with two degrees at once in just five years. Many prospective students see these programs and wonder if they’re good candidates, and the answer depends on several factors. Read on to discover if a combined degree program is right for you.
What is a Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree?
These accelerated degrees are specially designed to meet the requirements of both a bachelor’s and master’s degree by graduation. While specifics will vary depending on the educational institution, students usually enter a combined bachelor’s and master’s degree online program after completing some of their undergraduate coursework, so they can be sure of their career path.
Combined bachelor’s and master’s degrees are known as 4+1 degrees or 3+2 degrees. Both pathways are similar. Typically, in a 4+1 program, students complete four years of undergraduate and one year of graduate education. A 3+2 degree (such as EOU’s) means that students would complete three years of undergraduate and in their fourth year of study, they start taking graduate courses. Whichever program pathway is taken, the total to complete both your bachelor’s and master’s is just five years.
Benefits of a Combined Bachelor’s + Master’s Program
Many students pursue a combined degree for several reasons, such as the ability to specialize their knowledge, finish their degrees faster and advance in their careers sooner.
- Focused Curriculum. Combined programs are a great way to build your education around the career you’re most passionate about. With two degrees from the same institution, your courses will naturally lead to one another and give you comprehensive preparation for the field. In programs such as EOU’s combined bachelor’s + master’s program, you can take the time to immerse yourself in local and regional issues that impact the communities closest to you.
- Accelerated Degree. On average, students take four years to complete a bachelor’s degree and two years to complete a master’s degree. With a combined bachelor’s + master’s program, you’ll earn two degrees in just five years. An accelerated degree can also lead to opportunities for boosting your career sooner.
- Career Advancement. Graduate sooner than you would if you had to complete two programs. Those who complete combined MPA degree programs enter roles as policy analysts, urban planners and public health administrators—often faster and with more opportunities for advancement.
Inside the 3+2 Program: B.S./B.A. PPPA + MPA
Eastern Oregon University’s fully online 3+2 program: B.S./B.A. PPPA + MPA combines the rigors of undergraduate education with the depth and specialization of graduate studies, offering a seamless transition for driven individuals seeking to maximize their academic and professional potential. In this fully online program, students study at times and places convenient for them and complete their degree as they maintain other commitments.
Throughout the first three years at EOU, students work closely with their faculty advisor, completing coursework in the online B.S./B.A. in Politics, Policy and Public Administration program. Ultimately, students meet the admission requirements for the master’s program in their third year and can apply for the online Master of Public Administration (MPA). Students may also transfer from other majors to the 3+2 B.S./B.A. PPPA + MPA pathway, although they will still need to complete the B.S./B.A. PPPA coursework.
If admitted to the MPA program, students will finish their undergraduate coursework in their fourth year, taking courses that fulfill both the bachelor’s and master’s degree requirements. The fifth year of the 3+2 program consists of the remaining MPA credit hours. When they graduate, students will have both a B.S./B.A. in Politics, Policy and Public Administration and an MPA.
Who Is the 3+2 Program Designed For?
EOU’s 3+2 program is designed for ambitious students interested in a career in public administration and nonprofit management. You’ll learn how to meet the needs of your community while solving problems unique to their circumstances. If the following program outcomes are beneficial for the career you’re aiming for, then the 3+2 program could be a good fit.
- Become a leader in public governance and public policy.
- Participate in and contribute to the policy process in a variety of settings.
- Learn to analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems and make decisions.
- Articulate and apply a public service perspective through your work.
- Communicate and interact productively with a diverse and changing workforce and citizenry.
One of the most distinctive parts of EOU’s 3+2 program is a rural focus surrounding its roots in Oregon, which has several benefits.
- Gain focused knowledge. Eastern Oregon University’s accelerated degree program offers a rural-informed curriculum that stems from its roots in Oregon. Through this approach, you’ll learn how public policy affects many communities, including locally and regionally.
- Build hands-on experience. Your coursework includes opportunities for team collaboration and optional internships, which are great ways to boost your resume and connect your learning to real-world outcomes.
- Participate in project-based learning. Study alongside your peers and dive into how public policy impacts communities firsthand. Together, you’ll complete projects that tackle complex issues in the region.
- Choose optional on-campus electives. If you live close to campus, you can take advantage of on-campus learning opportunities through specialized elective courses offered in coordination with EOU’s regional centers around Oregon, our Offices of Enrollment Support Services.
Building off this immersive rural experience, you’ll take a “local to global” approach to public policy and public administration, connecting what you’ve learned to the broader world. You’ll graduate prepared to make a difference in many types and sizes of communities. Start your fast-track to a career in public service and explore our 3 + 2 program.
How to Join and Succeed in the 3+2 Program
You can join EOU’s combined bachelor’s and master’s degree online by applying in your third year of the bachelor’s degree. Work closely with your faculty advisor to plan the courses you’ll need for the combined degree. If you’re transferring to the EOU online program, connect with a program representative and faculty advisor to determine which courses apply to the program and which courses you’ll need to take moving forward.
To help you succeed in the online program and beyond graduation, EOU provides several career resources through Career Services. Some available services for EOU students are:
- Innovative Career Exploration Platforms. Leading-edge career exploration platforms utilize your responses to help you explore occupations, identify employment pathways and make informed career decisions. These platforms are free for all EOU students.
- Job Postings. Career Services can guide you to job postings on several sites and platforms, such as Indeed, Express Employment Professionals, WorkSource Oregon, Certified Personnel Services and more.
- Career Talk Podcast. EOU’s student-managed Career Talk podcast highlights experiential learning, student employment and internship activities. As guests on the podcast, featured employers frequently discuss job opportunities.
Fast-Track Your Future in Public Administration Careers
EOU’s combined bachelor’s and master’s degree online can help you advance in a variety of public administration careers. According to the Public Administration & Policy organization’s job guide, possible roles include:1
- City manager
- Community development specialist
- County manager
- Government program manager
- Government relations manager
- Grant administrator
- Legislative aide
- Policy analyst
- Public health administrator
- Public policy consultant
- Urban and regional planner
Enhanced knowledge and skills from your online degree can propel you toward leadership and higher salary potential in these top-paying MPA careers. EOU’s combined bachelor’s + master’s program is especially valuable to jobs in and around rural Oregon due to a unique local-to-global perspective that serves as pointed preparation for careers in the area. However, online students from any location can apply the local-to-global focus to their own community and its needs.
Ultimately, you’ll be prepared to lead with passion and empathy as you serve your community. And with EOU’s accelerated online 3+2 program, you could find yourself as a leader in one of these roles in just five years. If you’d like to reach your public administration and public policy career goals with EOU, you can learn more about the combined bachelor’s and master’s program online and connect with one of our program representatives by requesting more information today.
Source
- Public Administration & Policy. “Public Administration & Policy Jobs Guide.” Retrieved May 6, 2025, from https://publicadministrationpolicy.org/resources/jobs/.