Mar 28, 2024  
Undergraduate Catalog 2022-2023 
    
Undergraduate Catalog 2022-2023 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Accelerated Master’s Degree and Combined Baccalaureate/Master’s Degree Programs


Undergraduate students of the University with outstanding undergraduate records may apply for early admission to a master’s degree program through either the Accelerated Master’s Degree Program or the Combined Baccalaureate/Master’s Degree Program.

An undergraduate student, who plans to go on to graduate study in Community Counseling, Health Administration, Human Resources, Nursing, Rehabilitation Counseling, School Counseling,  or numerous programs in the field of Education may be eligible for admission to the Accelerated Master’s Degree Program. This program allows an undergraduate student who has an excellent academic record, to complete requirements for the baccalaureate, while also enrolling in graduate courses. In participating undergraduate programs, students may apply up to 12 of their accumulated graduate hours toward the completion of their undergraduate degree requirements. (Each participating department determines the maximum number of hours applicable to the undergraduate degree requirements.)  In some departments, graduate course work may be substituted only for elective undergraduate course work and cannot be used as substitution within the major. The student’s undergraduate advisor, in consultation with the graduate program director, will recommend graduate coursework that will meet undergraduate requirements. The selection of the graduate course work and the number of credits to be applied toward an undergraduate degree requires the approval of the student’s undergraduate program advisor, the chair of the department housing the student’s undergraduate program, the graduate program director in the student’s academic discipline, the appropriate dean who is responsible for the undergraduate program, and the Dean of the Panuska College of Professional Studies. Students will earn their undergraduate degree upon completion of all undergraduate requirements and will then continue with their graduate study.  Graduate coursework taken as part of the undergraduate program may also count toward the graduate degree program.

An undergraduate student, who plans pursue graduate study in Accounting, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Finance, Management, Marketing, Operations Management or Software Engineering, may be eligible for admission to the Combined Baccalaureate/Master’s Degree Program. This program allows an undergraduate student already enrolled in one of these fields, and who has an excellent academic record, to complete requirements for the baccalaureate, while also electing graduate courses. Departments participating in this program may allow some graduate work to satisfy undergraduate degree requirements (not to exceed 12 credit hours). The student’s advisor will recommend the undergraduate course work for which graduate credits may be substituted. The selection of the graduate course work and the number of credits to be applied toward an undergraduate degree requires the approval of the student’s undergraduate program advisor, the chair of the department housing the student’s undergraduate program, the graduate program director in the student’s academic discipline, the appropriate dean who is responsible for the undergraduate program, and the dean of the desired graduate program. 

The Accelerated Bachelor’s/MBA Program allows students enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences to pursue and accelerated master of business administration degree.  Students with a non-business undergraduate degree may be required to take up to 12 credits in qualifying courses and an additional 36 credits of graduate coursework to complete the MBA. degree.  The accelerated program affords students considerable cost and time savings by allowing them to complete graduate course requirements while still enrolled as undergraduates.

General Admissions Requirements for Accelerated and Combined Programs include:

  1. Completion of an application for Graduate Admissions
  2. Three Letters of Recommendation
  3. A Statement of Purpose

Program specific GPA and admission requirements may be obtained from the graduate program director, the Director of Graduate Education Services or the Director of Graduate Admissions.

Upon admission to a combined or accelerated graduate program students must complete a prospectus of study leading to the completion of graduate degree requirements.

The department that sponsors the particular graduate degree program will review the completed application and forward a recommendation to the dean concerning possible admission.

NOTE: A student, who has earned credits elsewhere, including transfer of credit from other colleges as well as AP courses taken in high school, may be considered for an accelerated or combined program. The student must have earned at least 32 graded semester hours at The University of Scranton within the indicated GPA requirements.


For further information concerning possible participation in the Accelerated Master’s Degree Program or Combined Baccalaureate/Master’s Degree Program, please refer to the Graduate Studies Catalog, or contact the Director of Graduate Education Services at (570) 941-7580.  You may also contact the academic department directly.