Which degree is right for you?
Master of Public Policy
Master of Public Affairs
Doctoral Program
Undergraduate Programs
Global and Executive Programs
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
Student Groups
Alumni
Directories
Faculty
Publications
Working Papers
Centers
News Center
Employment Stats
Career Advising
Career Resources
Client-based Projects
For Employers
About GSPP
Events
Make a Gift
Find a Program
Find a Faculty Member
Find a Center
A Schedule That Works For You
The MPA is a 12-month or 14-month program that starts in mid-May of each year. During the Summer Session, MPA students must complete core and elective courses in-person on the UC Berkeley campus. Please note that for the cohort beginning in 2020, we changed the in-person requirement. To address COVID-19 issues, Summer Session was instructed exclusively online. Over the fall and spring semesters, students may complete the program on-campus or online.
The Summer Session is full-time. However, fall and spring semesters are part-time.
The start date for the incoming cohort is Thursday, May 20, 2021, for Orientation. The entire cohort attends Summer Session A from mid-May to July 2, 2021. Students in the 12-month program will begin Summer Session B on July 6, 2021.
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 (Full-Time Student)
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 from 8am to 4pm, for 6-8 hours each day, with additional out-of-class work. The dates for the cohort beginning 2021 are expected to be:
Summer A: May 24, 2021 to July 2, 2021
Summer B: flexible, students choose to take classes for at least 2 of 3 tracks running
B1: July 12 - July 23
B2: July 26 - August 3
B3: August 5 - August 13
Fall and Spring (Part-Time Student) - 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 2021-2022 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 19 units of core courses and at least 11 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