The Accelerated Master’s (AM) Degree offers the opportunity for outstanding students to begin earning credit toward a master’s degree while still pursuing undergraduate studies. Our accelerated program allows a student to complete a master’s in less time and at a lower-than-average cost. The main feature of the program is that, while completing their undergraduate study, students may earn up to 12 semester hours of graduate credit that counts as dual credit for both the baccalaureate and master’s degrees.
Minimum Requirements
AM students must have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.2 to be conditionally admitted into a master’s degree program. Students may not enroll in graduate courses until they have 1) completed all requirements for the Core Curriculum; 2) completed a minimum of 90 hours of undergraduate work, including at least 15 hours of upper-level courses in the major; and 3) been conditionally admitted to a master’s program.
Conditional admission does not guarantee full admission to the program. Minimum criteria for full admission to the graduate program are:
1. Conferral of the baccalaureate degree;
2. Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.00; and
3. Satisfaction of all requirements for admission to the graduate program (entrance test scores, statement of purpose, recommendations, etc.).
Minimum Guidelines
1. An updated undergraduate plan of study, outlining all requirements for baccalaureate degree completion and listing the graduate courses that will be posted to the baccalaureate transcript, must be approved by the student’s academic advisor.
2. Before an undergraduate AM student may register for graduate courses, an AM Application Form indicating the courses to be taken for graduate credit must be approved by the College, the Department, and the Graduate School.
3. Graduate Coursework:
- AM students may apply a maximum of 12 graduate hours to the baccalaureate degree, depending on the graduate program. Graduate coursework in the following areas will not count in the AM program toward the baccalaureate degree: travel study, independent study/project/research, directed study, directed readings, practicum, internships, other fieldbased placement, or thesis;
- Grades earned in graduate-level courses must meet the minimum GPA required by the Graduate School of 3.00. Graduate courses in which a GPA is less than 3.00 may be counted towards satisfaction of the bachelor’s degree but not towards the master’s;
- To remain in an AM degree program, the student must maintain at least a 3.00 overall GPA in graduate coursework.
4. The graduate hours taken to fulfill baccalaureate degree requirements will be fully transferrable to the master’s degree and will show on both the graduate and undergraduate transcripts.
5. The baccalaureate degree must be awarded following the completion of the undergraduate degree requirements and at least two semesters before the graduate degree is awarded.
6. If an AM student requests admission to any other master’s program (or does not complete the approved master’s degree within the prescribed time), the joint hours posted to the graduate transcript will be removed.
7. Students may apply to the AM program at the end of their junior year (completion of 90 credit hours).
8. Admissions requirements to the AM program as an undergraduate include GPA = 3.2 or higher, completion of 15 credit hours in CHEM courses at the 3000/4000 level.
9. Graduate courses that will satisfy both degree requirements are indicated with an asterisk on the 5- Year Plan of Study
10. A student must satisfy all admissions requirements including 3.0 GPA at the end of their 4th Year and apply for full admission to the graduate program (after completion of the BS degree).
11. Students will meet with the Graduate Program Director for advising to map out an appropriate schedule.
12. All AM students will follow the non-thesis option.
