Accelerated Master’s Degree and Combined Baccalaureate/Master’s Degree Programs
The University of Scranton offers outstanding undergraduate students the opportunity to earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree through an Accelerated Master’s Program or a Combined Baccalaureate/Master’s Degree Program.
Accelerated Master’s Degree Programs
These programs allow an undergraduate student who has an excellent academic record to enroll in graduate courses while completing requirements for the baccalaureate degree. University policy allows accelerated students to apply up to 12 graduate credit hours toward the completion of their undergraduate degree requirements. Individual programs, however, may allow fewer a number of graduate hours to fulfill undergraduate degree requirements; programs determine which undergraduate degree requirements may be fulfilled by graduate coursework. Students will earn their undergraduate degree upon completion of all undergraduate requirements and will then continue with graduate study.
The student’s undergraduate advisor, in consultation with the graduate program director, will identify graduate coursework that will meet undergraduate requirements. Graduate courses may not be used to fulfill undergraduate degree requirements that have been satisfied by previously completed coursework. The selection of the graduate course work and the number of credits to be applied toward an undergraduate degree requires the approval of the graduate program director in the student’s academic discipline, the student’s undergraduate program advisor, the chair of the department housing the student’s undergraduate program, and the appropriate dean who is responsible for the undergraduate program.
Program advisors will develop an individualized curriculum for each student based upon opportunities for graduate courses to meet undergraduate degree requirements and space in the student’s course schedule. Students typically enroll in 3 graduate credits per term but may enroll in additional credit hours in a term with the approval of the graduate program director. Accelerated undergraduate students may register for a maximum of 15 total credit hours during any semester that he/she is registered for a graduate level course unless the dean who is responsible for the undergraduate program has given his/her approval. While a student is enrolled in the accelerated program, grades earned in graduate-level coursework will be calculated in the student’s grade point average in both the undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Combined Baccalaureate/Master’s Degree Programs
These programs allow an undergraduate student who has an excellent academic record to complete requirements for the baccalaureate, while also electing graduate courses. Graduate work attempted while the student is in an undergraduate phase must satisfy undergraduate degree requirements (not to exceed a total of 12 credit hours). Students typically enroll in 3 graduate credits per term but may enroll in 3 additional graduate credit hours per term with the preapproval of the graduate program director and the dean. A Combined BS/MS student may register for a maximum of 15 total credit hours during any semester that he/she is registered for both graduate and undergraduate courses. Students will earn their undergraduate degree upon completion of all undergraduate requirements and will then continue with graduate study. While a student is enrolled the combined program, grades earned in graduate-level coursework will be calculated in the student’s grade point average in both the undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Admissions Requirements for Accelerated Master’s Programs or the Combined Baccalaureate/Master’s Degree Program:
- Completion of an application for Graduate Admissions
- Completion of the Accelerated/Combined Master’s Degree Program Curriculum Approval Worksheet
- Three Letters of Recommendation
- A Statement of Purpose
- Completion and submission of any program specific admission requirements.
NOTE: A student, who has earned credits elsewhere, including transfer of credit from other colleges and 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.