Enhance Your Master of Public Service With a Concurrent Degree

Add dimensions to your education with concurrent degree options in law, business, public health, or social work.

At the Clinton School of Public Service, we believe everyone’s public service journey looks different, and education shouldn’t be one-size-fits-all.

Our concurrent degree options in law, business, public health, and social work – each the first of their kind – are designed to add dimensions to your education and provide you with opportunities to hone your skill set while learning the critical practices of public service and gaining valuable, real-world experience.

You can earn your Master of Public Service concurrently with a Juris Doctor (JD), Master of Public Health (MPH), Master of Business Administration (MBA), or Master of Social Work (MSW) with our University of Arkansas partner schools. Each degree program offers the potential to simultaneously achieve overlapping credits for your separate degrees.

Please note: Concurrent degree options are only for the in-person MPS program and are not available through Clinton School Online.

For more information about concurrent degrees, email Academic Dean Susan Hoffpauir at sahoffpauir@clintonschool.uasys.edu.

Four Concurrent Degree Paths:

Juris Doctor/MPS Concurrent Degree
UA Little Rock Bowen School of Law

The JD/MPS concurrent degree, which can save students up to 18 credit hours, is perfect for students who are interested in practicing public policy law, public interest law, or serving as general counsel within government or public agencies. 

Students in the concurrent degree program must complete all the requirements for the Juris Doctor as specified by the Bowen School of Law and all requirements for the MPS as specified by the Clinton School of Public Service.

Master of Public Health/MPS Concurrent Degree
UAMS Boozman College of Public Health

The MPH/MPS concurrent degree, which can save students up to 18 credit hours, is ideal for students looking to serve the public in fields such as epidemiology, environmental health, health policy and management, and more. Graduates of the MPH-MPS concurrent degree program have enjoyed careers across the public health industry, including healthcare administration, health education, healthcare program design and management, and leadership positions at public health nonprofits.

Students in the concurrent program must complete all the requirements for the MPH degree as specified by the Boozman College of Public Health and all requirements for the MPS degree as specified by the Clinton School of Public Service.

Master of Business Administration/MPS Concurrent Degree
University of Arkansas Sam M. Walton College of Business

The MBA/MPS, which can save students up to 13 credit hours, is ideal for students who are interested in applying business knowledge to the public service sector. Notable career paths from alumni include social entrepreneurship, brand management, and leadership roles in business development. 

Students in the concurrent program must complete all the requirements for the MBA degree as specified by the Walton College of Business and all requirements for the MPS degree as specified by the Clinton School of Public Service.

Master of Social Work/MPS Concurrent Degree
UA Little Rock School of Social Work

The MSW/MPS, which can save students up to 18 credit hours, is ideal for students who want to impact their communities through social work. The MSW offers concentrations in Advanced Direct Practice (clinical) or Community and Organizational Impact.

Students in the concurrent program must complete all the requirements for the MSW degree as specified by the School of Social Work and all requirements for the MPS degree as specified by the Clinton School of Public Service.

How to Apply

New students wishing to enroll in a concurrent degree program must apply and be accepted to both the Clinton School and the partner school.

For Clinton School applicants who are also interested in pursuing a concurrent degree, please complete the application for your desired concurrent degree program. You can learn more about their respective applications, testing requirements, deadlines, and tuition costs below.

• UA Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law
• UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health
• University of Arkansas Sam M. Walton College of Business
• UA Little Rock School of Social Work

Ready to Make a Change?

For more information on earning your master’s degree in public service, contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@clintonschool.uasys.edu or by calling (501) 683-5220.

You can learn more about the Master of Public Service by visiting the MPS degree page.

Yes. Both merit-based scholarships and need-based federal aid packages are available for qualified MPS-admitted students. Enhanced cost-of-living stipends are also available.

More information on scholarships and funding opportunities can be found here.

The Clinton School’s emphasis on fieldwork, broad range of real-world applications, and diversity of available courses are a few of the significant distinctions that help us stand out among other public service and public affairs schools.

Most Master of Public Administration (MPA) students graduate from their programs with extensive classroom knowledge but miss the essential lessons, and real-world skills fieldwork provides.

Our Master of Public Service program includes a higher percentage of fieldwork, allowing students to tailor their educational experience to fit their goals and interests while supporting these experiences through rigorous coursework and developing high-demand leadership skills. In addition, our unique focus on project-based learning and community services and engagement creates broader career opportunities, with students going on to build thriving careers in local and state government roles and in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

In addition to the emphasis on fieldwork, our concurrent degree options prepare students to create new career paths while rooting themselves in a public service mindset that will help them serve others wherever they find themselves.