Academic Catalog

Policy Summary

Establish the option for graduate students to pursue concurrent or dual degrees. Defines concurrent and dual degree programs and the parameters for admissions, program curriculum and design (including culminating experiences), and requirements for counting units of credit toward both degree programs.

Reason for Policy

To provide opportunities for students and faculty to identify shared learning experiences between graduate-level disciplinary areas in a manner that may reduce the overall units of credit students would be required to take if they complete both graduate programs.

Entities Affected by this Policy and Those Who Should Know this Policy

• Deans
• Associate Deans
• Center for International Education
• Chairs/Directors
• Enrollment Management (Admissions and Financial Aid)
• Faculty
• Graduate Program Coordinators
• Graduate Program Directors
• Institutional Research and Analysis
• Office of Curriculum and Assessment
• Office of Graduate and Professional Studies Coordinators
• Office of the Registrar
• Student and Department Account Services
• Graduate Students
• University Advising

Definitions

Concurrent Graduate Degrees - A concurrent graduate degree arrangement allows a student to pursue or complete two graduate degree programs either simultaneously or sequentially. Concurrent degree combinations are not formally established as linked degree pathways in the academic catalog. In select cases, academic units may approve the sharing of a limited number of units of credit between the two degrees when the coursework is relevant to both programs. Any shared credit must be approved by the appropriate graduate coordinators, advisors, and academic unit administrators for each program. The approved overlap of coursework may reduce the total number of credits required compared to completing each degree independently.

Dual Graduate Degrees – A dual graduate degree is a formally approved combination of two graduate degree programs, such as two master's degrees or a master's and doctoral degree, intentionally designed by faculty and published in the academic catalog as an integrated degree pathway. Dual degree programs are available to qualified students who meet the admission requirements for both programs in the approved degree combination. A formal catalog description identifies the participating degrees and specifies the coursework or credit hours that may be applied to both programs. The intentional sharing of curriculum is designed to reduce the total number of credits required compared to completing each degree separately. Students pursuing a dual graduate degree must follow the requirements of a single catalog year for both degrees.

Policy

A. Concurrent Graduate Degrees

A.1. Admission to Both Programs

Students must apply to and be accepted by both programs as soon as possible, but no later than the date the student applies for graduation for the first degree.

A.2. Coursework and Shared Units of Credit

Coursework common to both programs must constitute a well-planned and meaningful part of each of the programs. Graduate Academic Advisement Reports (AAR) will be required for both programs.

For two concurrent master's degrees, up to 9 units of credit may be shared, or counted, toward the completion of both degree programs.

For concurrent master's and doctoral degrees, up to 15 units of credit may be shared, or counted, toward the completion of both degree programs.

A.3. Culminating Experiences

Culminating experiences (e.g., capstone courses, theses, applied projects) and comprehensive examinations cannot be shared between concurrent programs.

B. Dual Graduate Degrees

B.1. Program Design

Faculty may design dual degree programs that are pre-defined and approved through faculty governance and added to the academic catalog, with the goal of providing multiple graduate credentials to the graduate student while reducing the overall requirements for the degree.

B.2. Admission to Both Programs

Students apply to both graduate degrees. The Dual Degree Admissions Committee determine admissions status for prospective students. Students are required to apply for graduation for both graduate degrees. A student is eligible to graduate from one or both degree programs if graduation requirements have been met for the identified graduate degree program. For students who have started their identified graduate degree and want to start a dual degree, the respective admissions committee will review their application to determine dual degree admission status.

B.3. Curriculum Design

The curriculum is proposed by faculty of both degree programs and placed through the curriculum proposal process, resulting in pre-defined graduation requirements.  

For Dual Master’s Degrees, up to 9 units of credit may be shared, or counted, toward the completion of both degree programs.

For Dual Master’s and Doctoral Degrees, up to 15 units of credit may be shared, or counted, toward the completion of both degree programs.

B.4. Culminating Experiences

Based on the shared design of the program, faculty may determine that culminating experiences and comprehensive exams may be shared between the programs, as outlined in dual degree proposals submitted through the curriculum proposal process.

C. Program Fee Structure

Students enrolled in a concurrent graduate degree or dual graduate degree program are responsible for paying all applicable program fees associated with each academic program in which they are enrolled. Program fees remain in effect for the duration of a student's enrollment in the applicable program, including periods in which the student is simultaneously enrolled in multiple graduate degree programs. Students enrolled in two programs that each assess a program fee are required to pay both program fees until all requirements for the respective degrees have been completed and the student graduates from the programs.

D. Maintaining Eligibility

For concurrent and dual master’s degrees, students must maintain the standards, academic requirements, and criteria set forth in NAU Policy 100811: Requirements for Master’s Degrees for both degrees.

For concurrent and dual Master’s and Doctoral degrees, students must maintain the standards, academic requirements, and criteria set forth in NAU Policy 100811: Requirements for Master’s Degrees for the master’s degree, and the appropriate doctoral-level policy for the doctoral degree.

E. Time Limits for Completion and Transfer Credits

E.1. Time Limits for Completion

Students must complete all requirements for concurrent and dual master’s degrees within a six-year period. 

Students must complete all requirements for concurrent and dual master’s and doctoral degrees within a ten-year period.

To request an extension of the time limit, either for completion of the degree or applying previously earned graduate credit for courses completed beyond the time limit, students must follow the procedure outlined in NAU policy 100811: Requirements for Master’s degree.

E.2. External Transfer Credit

For concurrent degrees, graduate credit transferred from another institution, or through prior learning assessment, may be applied toward only one of the graduate programs, at the discretion of each graduate program. See NAU Policy 100336: Transfer Credit – Graduate.

E.3. Use of Prior NAU Credit Toward Degree Progress

For concurrent and dual graduate degree programs, students may apply either undergraduate-level or graduate-level credit previously earned at Northern Arizona University, provided the credit was not used to satisfy requirements for a previously awarded degree. The applicability of such credit is subject to graduate program approval and all university policies governing the use of prior NAU graduate coursework.

F. General Procedures for Students

Students seeking to pursue a concurrent or dual graduate degree must complete the following steps:

1. Consult with Academic Units: Meet with a graduate advisor, graduate coordinator, or designated representative in each degree program to discuss degree requirements, academic planning, shared-credit opportunities, time-to-degree implications, program fees, and applicable university policies.
2. Obtain Program Approval: Receive approval from each participating graduate program in accordance with program-specific admission and enrollment requirements. Approval of pursuing a concurrent or dual degree does not guarantee admission to either program.
3. Apply and Be Admitted: Submit all required admission materials and satisfy the admission requirements for each degree program. Students must be formally admitted to all participating programs before pursuing a concurrent or dual degree pathway.
4. Develop an Approved Degree Plan: In consultation with advisors from each program, establish an approved plan of study that identifies degree requirements, any approved shared coursework, and the sequence of enrollment necessary to complete the degree(s).
5. Maintain Good Academic Standing: Remain in good academic standing and satisfy the academic, progression, and graduation requirements of each degree program and the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies.
6. Apply for Graduation: Submit a graduation application and satisfy all degree requirements established by each program and the university. Students in Concurrent and Dual Degrees may apply for graduation sequentially, or for both degrees at the same time.

To utilize coursework older than six years or take more than six years to complete a master's degree, graduate students should reach out to their advisor. Depending on the degree audit tool used for the program, the student may be directed to complete an Extension of Time Petition, or the department may process the approved exception directly on the student’s AAR.

Students need to submit the Accelerated and Internal Credit Transfer Form if they have previously earned graduate credit that was taken during their undergraduate career and was not used towards their undergraduate degree. If the courses were taken as a graduate student, they do not have to submit a petition. Instead, they will work with their advisor/department to identify the appropriate courses within their Academic Advisement Report (AAR).