The Double Dawgs program was created to give ambitious and motivated students a competitive advantage in today’s knowledge economy. By earning both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in five years or less, students can save time and money while positioning themselves for success after graduation. SPIA offers seven different Double Dawgs programs. For more general information about the Double Dawgs program, click here. For SPIA-specific programmatic information, see below or click here.

Learn More about UGA Double Dawgs Program

Discover which SPIA undergraduate programs qualify for the Double Dawgs program

How to Apply
+
  • All of these programs have a two-step application process. The first step is the Application to the Pathway. The requirements to apply to the Pathway are:
    • Minimum 3.5 UGA GPA
    • Minimum 60 hours in-progress with at least 30 hours of UGA coursework (excluding AP, IB, or transfer credits)
    • 9 hours of major coursework completed or in-progress
  • Once those requirements are met, an interested student submits an application to Paul Welch in 103 Candler Hall for initial eligibility review. Eligible applications are forwarded to the Double Dawg Coordinator of the graduate program for approval. Admission to the Pathway does not imply admission to the graduate program. The Pathway allows students to take graduate courses and the graduate program to test the student.
  • Accepted Pathway students begin graduate coursework as early as the fall term of the third year. 12 hours of graduate coursework applies towards both degrees, but only as general electives for the A.B. Graduate courses may not apply towards undergraduate major requirements. Students may take more than 12 hours of graduate courses before graduating with the A.B., but those credit hours beyond the 12 apply to the graduate program only. Students must graduate with the A.B. at the end of their fourth year.
  • SPIA will host further events with information specific to each graduate Double Dawgs program covering in-depth descriptions of the academics of each graduate program, differences in the Pathway, and time-lines for application to the Graduate School. There will also be information available via https://spia.uga.edu in the near future.
  • SPIA Double Dawgs Program Contacts:
    • Eligibility and A.B. Questions: Paul Welch [email protected]
    • Double Dawg Coordinators:
      • MPA Programmatic Questions: Presley Morello [email protected]
      • MA and MIP Programmatic Questions: Ashley Tiller [email protected]
      • MA Graduate Coordinators: Dr. Shane Singh (International Affairs) and Dr. Geoffrey Sheagley (Political Science)
A.B. in Criminal Justice
+

The Criminal Justice Studies Program at UGA is an inter-disciplinary undergraduate program jointly offered by the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Public and International Affairs. It provides students with a strong liberal arts education, with students completing coursework in theory and research methods alongside specialized courses in criminal justice topics from psychology, sociology, and political science. Students also participate in a semester-long internship with a criminal justice agency.

A.B. in Criminal Justice can be paired with:

A.B. in International Affairs
+

The A.B. in International Affairs focuses on how governments interact with one another (international relations) and the similarities and differences in political systems (comparative politics) with additional strengths in security studies, political economy, and issues of community. It is an especially appropriate major for those who want to understand politics on the world stage, including how politics and economics combine to shape policy outcomes, how nations and leaders strategize, cooperate and interact in times of peace and in times of conflict, and how nongovernmental organizations, political movements, and demographic changes influence global events.

A.B. in International Affairs can be paired with:

A.B. in Political Science
+

The A.B. in Political Science offers a broad and deep understanding of politics within a structured program of study. In addition to a liberal arts foundation, it focuses on a range of courses covering politics in the United States, important debates in political philosophy, legal and constitutional issues, research skills and other topics. Students focused on public service, public policy, government, politics, and law find a ready home in the program.

A.B. in Political Science can be paired with:

Majors outside of SPIA
+

There are many majors outside of the School of Public and International Affairs that can be paired with our graduate programs – MPA, MIP, and MA in Political Science & International Affairs.

Master of Public Administration can be paired with (outside of SPIA):

The Master of International Policy (MIP) can be paired with (outside of SPIA):

Have questions?

Learn More about SPIA Double Dawgs Program

The Latest News from SPIA

Compulsory Voting and Gender: New Research Reveals Unexpected Impact on Men’s Electoral Turnout
Innovative Classrooms, Lasting Impact: Active Learning at UGA’s School of Public and International Affairs
March 2025 MPA Student of the Month: Cammi Rogers