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Guidelines for Combined Bachelor's/Master's Programs

The George Washington University offers a wide range of programs for qualified GW undergraduate students to complete both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in five years.  Students admitted to these programs can begin master’s level coursework during their senior year and apply these courses to both degrees, saving time and money as they prepare for their chosen careers.  The guidelines below describe the types of programs available, as well as processes and policies involved in pursuing a combined program.

General Information
Admissions Requirements and Processes
Tuition Costs and Financial Assistance
Academic and Curricular Requirements
Graduation

General Information

There are two types of combined bachelor’s/master’s programs:

  • A joint program awards both degrees simultaneously upon completion of both programs.  If you are admitted to a joint program, you will not be allowed to participate in University commencement until degree requirements have been met for both the graduate and undergraduate programs.  Participation as a “walk-through” in school-specific graduation events, upon completion of undergraduate degree requirements, is at the discretion of your undergraduate school dean’s office.   Additionally, you are eligible for graduation honors and awards only after completion of all requirements for both degrees.
  • A dual program awards degrees in different terms.  If admitted to a dual program, you will be awarded the bachelor’s degree upon completion of all undergraduate requirements and may participate in the next scheduled commencement ceremony.

Combined programs generally allow students to count a limited number of credit hours toward both degrees.  The maximum number of credit hours that may be doubled-counted varies by program.  In order for credit to be double-counted, all of the following conditions must be met:

a.     the course work must be approved by both your undergraduate and         graduate departments as meeting requirements in both programs;
b.     you must receive a grade of B or better; and
c.     the course work must have been taken for graduate credit.

Each combined bachelor’s/master’s program has a designated program director or advisor responsible for counseling, monitoring, and serving as a point of contact for prospective and current students.

For a current list of combined bachelor’s/master’s programs, as well as program type, application timeline, number of credit hours that may be double-counted, click here.

Admissions Requirements and Processes

To apply to a combined bachelor’s/master’s programs, you must have a strong academic record or present other evidence of your ability to meet the academic challenges of a combined program.  Specific guidelines for admissions to a particular program (e.g., academic credentials, standardized test scores, prior course work, work experience, other background or supporting documents) are available from the graduate admissions office or the graduate program contact.

To apply to a combined bachelor’s/master’s program, you must submit both a completed graduate admissions application and a Combined Bachelor’s / Master’s Program Application for Admission to the graduate admissions office.  You should also note on the application for admission form that you are applying for a second program, and indicate the school to which you are applying.

The timeline for applying and being admitted combined to bachelor’s/master’s degree programs varies, but is usually the junior year.  If admitted to a dual program, you will not be considered a graduate student until the first semester following the term in which it is anticipated that you will be awarded the undergraduate degree.  If admitted to a joint program, you are not considered a graduate student until the first semester after you have completed 117 undergraduate credit hours.  You will be expected to follow a program of study to ensure completion of your undergraduate degree by the stated admit term.  Should this timeline change, you must promptly notify both your undergraduate and graduate advisors and the graduate admissions office.

Combined bachelor’s/master’s applicants who are currently enrolled at GW as an undergraduate are not required to pay an application fee.  Further, a graduate enrollment deposit is not required.

Tuition Costs and Student Financial Assistance

Beginning the first term of enrollment as a graduate student in a combined bachelor’s/master’s program, students are charged standard graduate tuition and fees.

Students are not eligible for undergraduate Federal or institutional financial aid once they have matriculated into the graduate program and will also become ineligible for this aid if more than one-half of the total credit hours taken in any given semester or summer session are graduate courses.  Additionally, students are not eligible for graduate student support until they are enrolled as a graduate student.  However, at that point, students may be eligible for both graduate student support (e.g., teaching/research assistantships, fellowships) and graduate student loans.

Academic and Curricular Requirements

If you are admitted to combined bachelor’s/master’s program you will, at a minimum, be required to meet the academic standards and timeline for completion in place for each component of the program.  Most combined programs require higher grade-point averages (GPAs) than normally required for admission to the graduate program.  To ensure timely completion of degree requirements, you should meet with your undergraduate and graduate advisors as early as possible after admission to the program to develop a program of study that appropriately sequences and schedules your coursework.

Prior to the start of the graduate year, you will be formally evaluated to reconfirm that you are qualified, well-prepared, and still committed to beginning the graduate program.  Formal admission to the graduate portion of the program may be deferred until you have successfully completed all prerequisites.  Further, if your undergraduate performance does not meet the established standards, or if you no longer wish to pursue the master’s degree, you will be transferred out of the combined program.

Each school has established policies and processes for students whose plans or academic standing change during their combined program.  These guidelines cover students who elect to drop out of a combined degree program, as well as those who are not approved to continue beyond the bachelor’s level or are suspended or dismissed from one of their combined programs.

Graduation

As noted above (under General Information), the type of program (joint vs. dual) will determine whether a student in a combined program is awarded the two degrees concurrently or sequentially.  Students in dual degrees are welcome to participate in the first commencement ceremony following completion of their undergraduate program; those in joint programs can participate in commencement only after graduate requirements are met for both degrees.

Academic Affairs
September 2006

   

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