Accelerated Programs FAQ

What is an accelerated program?

An accelerated program is a program where an undergraduate student can replace up to 12 credits of undergraduate courses with 12 graduate credits. The graduate credits also count in the master’s degree. Accelerated programs have specific pathways and are found in both the Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs. These are not individualized programs; the students must take the courses listed in the catalog entry for the accelerated program of interest.

Who is eligible?

Each accelerated program has its own eligibility requirements including number of semester hours completed at the undergraduate level and current undergraduate GPA. The catalog entry for the specific accelerated program of interest should be reviewed for these details. Note: Not all undergraduate programs have an accelerated option. If you do not see an accelerated option for your program, you might still ask if one is being planned. Programs initiate accelerated options each semester, so it is possible that new ones are in development.

Who do I speak to about an accelerated program?

For general information, the undergraduate student can speak with their academic advisor about the possibility of an accelerated program. When the student has decided to pursue a specific accelerated program, the student should speak to the Graduate Program Director (GPD) of that master’s degree. The name of the program director can be found on the Graduate School’s website within the Find Your Program feature.

What is the general process?

The student should speak with the GPD of the master’s degree to determine admissibility for that degree. If approved, the GPD will submit an online form to the Graduate School. The Graduate School will apply an attribute in the student’s Banner record to show the student is in an accelerated program. This attribute then allows an undergraduate to enroll in graduate courses. The Graduate Program must enroll the undergraduate student into the graduate level courses. Undergraduates cannot self-enroll into graduate courses. The student should seek advice from the GPD about how to do this each semester. The student will apply for admission to the graduate program in the final semester of undergraduate enrollment prior to undergraduate graduation. Application deadlines for each program can be found on the Graduate School’s website within the Find Your Program feature.

How is full-time or part-time status determined for financial aid?

The Financial Aid office calculates status based on the number of credits enrolled at the undergraduate level. Full-time at the undergraduate level is 12 credits; if a student takes fewer than 12 credits, they will be considered part-time.

Can graduate credits be counted in my status for financial aid?

Yes. If the graduate level course is listed in the Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs in the entry for the specific accelerated program, the Office of Financial Aid can recalculate the status and may determine full-
time status is appropriate. If students believe their part-time/full-time status is being incorrectly calculated, the student should speak with the Office of Financial Aid and provide the course numbers at the graduate level that are going to also count in the undergraduate program.

Will I be billed as an undergraduate or graduate student?

Students who are classified as undergraduates are billed at the undergraduate rate for all credits, including graduate level credits. Some graduate level courses do have a differential tuition added to the cost of tuition. Students in accelerated programs do have to pay the differential tuition along with the regular undergraduate tuition rate. The differential tuition amounts are listed in the Tuition and Fees schedule for each semester. Students need to review this and calculate the differential tuition fees into their budget. Students using the accelerated option must still satisfy all undergraduate requirements (e.g., number of writing intensive courses) for their undergraduate degree.

When will my Degree Works audit show the graduate degree?

The Degree Works audit will show the graduate degree listing only after the student has been accepted into the master’s degree following application processes AND the undergraduate degree has been awarded.

Will I be considered an undergraduate student or a graduate student?

Before the undergraduate degree is awarded, the student is an undergraduate student who has permission to take graduate level courses. The student’s record does not indicate graduate student status while the student is finishing the undergraduate degree.

Can I be hired for/awarded a graduate assistantship?

No. Students in accelerated programs are undergraduate students who are permitted to take graduate-level courses and are not graduate students. Therefore, they are not eligible for graduate assistantships or graduate-level student loans. They would remain eligible for opportunities at the undergraduate level.

What is the benefit to me?

The accelerated program helps the student not only begin to take courses in the graduate curriculum early, but it allows the graduate degree to be finished about one semester sooner than if they were not in the accelerated program. This also introduces the student to higher level concepts in their field and provides networking opportunities with graduate students and graduate faculty. Students who are officially approved for an accelerated program can count the credits in both the undergraduate and graduate degrees. This means the student will save money and speed up the time to finish the graduate degree.