Accelerated Bac to Masters Pathways
Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Pathways
UNF provides exceptional undergraduate students with the opportunity to complete the requirements for both the bachelor's and master's degrees at an accelerated pace. Accelerated Pathways allow students to get a head start on their graduate education by taking graduate courses during their junior and senior undergraduate years.
Typically, up to 12 credit hours of graduate work may count toward a baccalaureate degree, thus reducing the time it takes to get both degrees. The number of shared hours is determined by the total graduate and undergraduate credits.
See sub tabs above for specific program requirements within each college.
Advantages
An Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s Pathway provides many benefits:
Students can save tuition money and time to graduation compared to the traditional track of enrolling in graduate coursework only after completing the baccalaureate degree.
Many programs reduce the graduate admission requirements for Accelerated Pathway students. For example, students might not need to take the GRE, saving time and money.
An Accelerated Pathway allows students to enter the job market more quickly and command a higher salary due to the graduate-level knowledge and skills desired by many employers.
Students may be able to use some forms of undergraduate financial aid to pay for the undergraduate tuition portion of graduate courses, especially if they entered UNF with Advanced Placement and/or dual credit towards their baccalaureate degree.
Students in Accelerated Pathways are eligible for the Exclusive Graduate Tuition Rate which provides about a third reduction in the cost of tuition, excluding fees, while taking graduate courses required for the Accelerated Pathway and maintaining continuous enrollment.
Students in Accelerated Pathways are also eligible for the UNF Pathways Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to help offset the cost of the graduate coursework while enrolled as an undergraduate. Students are automatically considered upon admission to an Accelerated Pathway and a separate application is not required.
Eligibility
Once you have attained junior status (at least 60 credit hours), you are eligible to start an Accelerated Pathway if you have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.00 overall and have submitted the Undergraduate Level Accelerated Application with approval from your advisor and the graduate program director. Specific programs may have more rigorous academic requirements for participation in an Accelerated Pathway. Eligibility for participation in an Accelerated Pathway does not guarantee admission into the graduate program (see section below).
Students must maintain admission criteria to continue in the Accelerated Pathway. Students who do not maintain minimum GPA standards are subject to removal from the Accelerated Pathway.
Exceptions to these requirements may be made on a case-by-case basis. Graduate program directors should contact the director of the Graduate School if an exception is needed.
Process
The core element of an Accelerated Pathway is the ability for undergraduates to enroll in typically up to 12 credit hours of graduate coursework that counts towards fulfilling both the graduate and baccalaureate degrees. (Note that the exact number of credit hours depends on the program.)
Meet with your undergraduate advisor and the graduate program director for the Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Pathway you would like to pursue. Consult with Financial Aid to determine any potential ramifications during the change from undergraduate to graduate standing (see section below), and the International Center if you are an international student.
Identify the graduate courses that will count towards fulfilling both the undergraduate and graduate requirements.
Request your advisor submit the Undergraduate Level Accelerated Application the term before you plan to start taking graduate courses.
Complete the designated graduate coursework your junior and/or senior year during which you will maintain undergraduate status.
Apply to graduate with your bachelor’s degree during your final term.
Request your advisor submit the Graduate Level Accelerated Application during your final term. It must also be approved by the graduate program director and the Graduate School. You must meet graduate program admission standards; admission to graduate school is not guaranteed.
Graduate with your bachelor’s degree and become a graduate student (if admitted). The graduate courses that were identified on the Accelerated Pathway application (with at least a B grade earned) taken as an undergraduate will be added to count toward your graduate degree requirements.
Complete the remaining graduate coursework.
Apply for graduation during your final term.
Graduate degree is awarded.
NOTE:
The graduate application must be for admission to the graduate program within three consecutive terms immediately after graduating with a bachelor's degree from UNF. Students may take additional graduate coursework beyond the courses approved for the accelerated pathway. However, these courses will not count towards both degree requirements.