The Humphrey School of Public Affairs has launched a first-of-its-kind accelerated graduate pathway partnership for the University of Minnesota Twin Cities with St. Catherine University in St. Paul that will allow qualified St. Kate's undergraduate students to complete both their bachelor’s degree and a Humphrey School master’s degree in five years.
Humphrey School Dean Nisha Botchwey, St. Catherine University President Marcheta Evans and Provost Denise Baird signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlining the specifics of the new Accelerated Pathways Program (APP) on May 7.
The program is open to St. Kate’s students majoring in public policy. Participating students will begin graduate-level coursework in one of the Humphrey School’s master’s programs while completing their bachelor's degree. They'll finish their master's in one additional year, reducing both the time and cost typically required to complete the two degrees separately.
St. Catherine University, a private women-centered institution in St. Paul, shares the Humphrey School’s commitment to preparing leaders to advance the common good.
“The Humphrey School is proud to partner with St. Catherine University to create a more accessible and affordable pathway into graduate education for students committed to public service,” said Botchwey. “This partnership reflects our shared belief that talented future leaders should be able to see themselves in graduate education and have clear opportunities to pursue it. By creating a direct pathway into our master's programs, we're helping students build the knowledge, skills and experiences needed to make a difference in their communities.”
Botchwey and Evans both say they hope to use the APP as a model for partnerships with other colleges and universities in the near future.
“Partnerships like this are exactly how we reimagine the future of higher education — by creating innovative, student-centered pathways that remove barriers, accelerate opportunity, and prepare the next generation of leaders for meaningful impact,” said Evans. “This partnership with the Humphrey School reflects our shared commitment to academic excellence, access, and developing diverse leaders who will help shape public policy and strengthen communities for generations to come.”
How it will work
Through the program, interested St. Kate’s public policy students will apply to one of five master’s programs at the Humphrey School — in public policy; development practice; human rights; science, technology, and environmental policy; or urban and regional planning. They will follow the same process as other applicants to the University’s graduate programs.
Once accepted, the students will begin master’s-level coursework during their senior year while completing their undergraduate degree. They will then take one additional year at the Humphrey School to complete their master's degree.
The two institutions are committed to supporting the success of the APP students, said Diana Beck, the Humphrey School’s assistant dean for graduate education.
“This type of partnership calls for a high level of shared responsibility and transparent communication on the part of our schools, to ensure these students successfully complete their degrees,” Beck said. “We’re dedicated to supporting their academic, professional and personal development throughout their educational journey.”
Applications for the program will open in mid-January, and the first cohort will enter the Humphrey School in fall of 2027.
