However, students in the MPIA program will on occasion get the opportunity to work part-time as researchers on faculty projects and program development. It does not provide any visas for potential foreign students. The MPIA program in Blacksburg is a full time program. The spring and fall semesters are considered regular academic semesters. During these semesters classes meet for three hours, once a week, for 15 weeks.
Summer sessions are different.
In each summer session classes generally meet for three hours, twice a week over 6 weeks. Summer I usually starts in the middle of May and runs until the end of June. Summer II begins in early July and runs until the middle of August, about a week before the regular Fall semester begins. The accelerated summer schedule requires that the student commit to a schedule that can be taxing so only one course is generally recommended if the student is working full-time. Students may take up to five years to complete their MPIA degree.