The Political Science Department offers an accelerated Masters Degree in Public Administration for current Undergraduates. Students accepted to an Accelerated Master’s Degree program can begin taking graduate coursework in their senior year up to a maximum of 12 hours in place of electives.  Students reduce the number of hours required to complete the Bachelor’s degree by the number of graduate hours they complete (up to a maximum of 12). They must meet all other degree requirements for their Bachelor’s degree while they work on their Master’s degree. None of the credit hours used for the Bachelor’s degree can be counted toward the Master’s degree.

Graduate coursework/credit will appear ONLY on the graduate transcript, and graduate course grades will be calculated at the graduate level.

Advantages of an Accelerated Degree:

• complete the Bachelor’s degree with up to 12 fewer credit hours, (must meet all other degree requirements for the Bachelor’s degree);
• begin work on the Master’s degree during the senior year;
• complete up to 12 graduate credits at undergraduate tuition rates;
• earn a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in less time.

Eligibility Requirements for Accelerated Master’s Degree Program

• must have completed at least 90 hours toward the Bachelor’s degree;
• must have at least a 3.30 overall undergraduate GPA;
• must have at least a 3.30 GPA in the major;
• must meet the admission requirements of the chosen Master’s degree program.

How to Apply

1. During the junior or senior year, eligible students should meet with their Undergraduate Advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies of their chosen Master’s degree program to develop an Accelerated Master’s Degree Plan of Study. The Plan of Study form is available from the Graduate College office or online at the Graduate College website. The completed, signed, and approved Plan of Study must be submitted to the Graduate College. Any changes to the Accelerated Master’s Degree Plan of Study must be approved by the Undergraduate Advisor and Director of Graduate Studies and submitted in writing to the Dean of the Graduate College.
2. The student’s acceptance into the Accelerated Master’s Degree program is subject to the approval of the Plan of Study by the Dean of the Graduate College.
3. Students accepted into the Accelerated Master’s Degree program should apply for admission to the chosen Master’s degree program for the first semester after the bachelor’s degree is awarded.  Applications should be submitted during the last semester of the senior year.

Requirements for Continuation in the Accelerated Master’s Degree Program
Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 for all graduate credit toward their Master’s degree program.

Withdrawal from the Accelerated Master’s Degree
A student may withdraw at any time from an approved Accelerated Master’s Degree program by informing the Undergraduate Advisor, the Director of Graduate Studies, and the Dean of the Graduate College in writing. A student’s status will then revert to the standard undergraduate degree program. Any graduate hours earned must be approved for use in fulfillment of bachelor’s degree requirements by the student’s Undergraduate Dean.

From Undergraduate to Graduate Student
Beginning with the semester after the student has earned the Bachelor’s degree and has been accepted into a Master’s degree program, the student is enrolled in the Graduate College and is assessed tuition and fees at the graduate rate. All rules regarding graduate education will apply to the student once admitted into the Master’s degree program.