University Curriculum Committee
GUIDELINES FOR COMBINED/ACCELERATED BACHELORS TO MASTERS PROGRAMS
NDSU offers combined/accelerated programs of study in a variety of academic disciplines. These programs provide an opportunity for highly-qualified students to earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in a cost-effective, high-quality and timely manner. The disciplines indicated at the link are currently available as combined/accelerated programs where requirements for each have been agreed upon by the faculty. Students may also apply to a master’s program in a different department to create an educational pathway that best suits their professional aspirations.
The following guidelines set the minimal expectations for combined/accelerated students and programs. Academic departments may set more stringent standards.
- Students must complete at least 60 credits prior to conditional admission to the College of Graduate and Interdisciplinary Studies.
- Students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 to be eligible for conditional graduate admission to a combined/accelerated program.
- Interested and eligible students must submit a Combined/Accelerated Program Degree Program Declaration form to the director of the graduate program of choice. The graduate program director will evaluate the student's proposed set of graduate classes to determine whether the student will be able to complete them as part of an accelerated program.
- Next, the student's undergraduate major or minor department chairperson/head will evaluate and approve the substitution of the graduate level courses into the undergraduate program as noted in the chart below. A maximum of 15 graduate student credits may be applied to the undergraduate degree.
| Undergraduate Credits Being Filled | Unit Approving the Substitution |
|---|---|
| Open electives | Major |
| Optional Minor | Minor |
| Required Minor | Major and Minor |
| Major | Major |
- After receiving the necessary approvals noted above, the student will submit this form to the Graduate College and formally apply for admission to the graduate program.
- All admissions to the Graduate College will be conditional. The minimum condition is completion of the bachelor's degree prior to full standing in master's program, and maintaining a 3.0 cumulative GPA in their graduate classes. Other conditions related to academic performance may be added.
- No undergraduate course may be counted toward a master’s degree.
- Students entering the master’s degree with a bachelor’s degree in hand may not use courses earned as part of the bachelor's program for master’s requirements, even if those courses were graduate level courses.
- Students must meet all of the requirements that would ordinarily be expected of those enrolled in the master’s program.
NDSU Accelerated/Combined Programs of Study Procedures
NOTE: Other programs that allow students to begin graduate studies prior to earning a baccalaureate degree include Architecture and Exercise Science/Athletic Training. However, these programs are not considered combined/accelerated as they do not allow for the double-counting of undergraduate/graduate credit.
Approved by Graduate Council, 2/13/2013
Approved by University Academic Affairs Committee, 4/16/2013
