Academic Catalog

Policy Summary

Defines the curriculum design, degree completion, tuition, admission, and withdrawal/ineligibility parameters for Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s programs.

Reason for Policy

Northern Arizona University’s accelerated bachelor’s and master’s degree programs provide the opportunity for students who possess a strong academic background to earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in an accelerated manner.

Entities Affected By This Policy and Those Who Should Know This Policy

• Associate Deans
• Chairs/Directors
• Enrollment Management (Admissions and Financial Aid)
• Faculty
• Graduate College Coordinators
• Graduate Program Coordinators
• Graduate Program Directors
• Institutional Research and Analysis
• Office of Curriculum & Assessment
• Office of the Registrar
• Student and Department Account Services
• Undergraduate Students
• University Advising

Policy

The accelerated bachelor to master’s degree program provides an opportunity for a high achieving student to complete two degrees (a bachelor’s and a master’s degree) in a shorter timeframe.  Students may complete up to 18 graduate units in undergraduate status (with a maximum of 12 units of coursework applying to both the bachelor's and master's degrees; note that academic units have discretion to share fewer than 12 units). By counting up to 12 units of coursework in both the bachelor’s and master’s degree, the student is able to complete both programs in a shorter timeframe. The following policy includes the parameters for curriculum design (designation of the accelerated coursework), admission, continuing student requirements, enrollment, and graduation.

If an undergraduate student would like to enroll in graduate level courses outside of the accelerated program they should review the policy Undergraduates in Graduate Courses for enrollment details in 500/600 level courses.

A. Program design

Academic programs have flexibility within the parameters of this policy to build the admissions requirements and the course structure for their accelerated programs.  The curriculum proposal process will be used to implement or update any of the following requirements for accelerated programs.

Admission:

Admission to an accelerated program must at least be as rigorous as the admission requirements for the master’s program. 

Curriculum design

The Accelerated Program structure will follow the breakdown below for the maximum of 12 units of coursework shared between the bachelor’s and master’s degrees:

• 0 - 6 units may be at the 400-level per Policy 100332 (Graduates in Undergraduate Courses);
• 6 - 12 units of coursework may be at the 500- or 600-level;

For a maximum of 12 total shared units. Note that academic units have discretion to share fewer than 12 units between the bachelor’s and master’s degrees.  

Courses numbered 600 through 699 are graduate courses not available to undergraduate students per ABOR’s policy 2-226, however, the academic programs may use 600-level courses only if the student begins the 600-level coursework after being accepted into the accelerated bachelor’s to master’s program. 

Examples of common approaches to the design of accelerated bachelor’s to master’s programs are as follows:

• 6 units of 400-level coursework and 6 units of 500- or 600-level coursework
• 3 units of 400-level coursework and 9 units of 500- or 600-level coursework
• 12 units of 500- or 600-level coursework;
• Any other combination wherein a maximum of 6 units of 400-level courses are counted, and a maximum of 12 units of credit are applied toward both degrees.

Note that while most accelerated master’s programs do not contain a thesis track, if the student is applying to an accelerated degree that has a thesis track, the student may need to form their thesis committee during their senior year.

B. Degree Progression

B.1. Academic level Classification Tuition and Financial Aid

Students will be considered undergraduates until the requirements for baccalaureate degree are completed per Policy 100801 (Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees) and a degree is awarded. 

After completion of all baccalaureate requirements, including the conferral of the undergraduate degree, and upon acceptance to the graduate program, students will be granted graduate status, be charged at the graduate tuition rate, and be eligible for graduate assistantships.

Note that Financial Aid follows federal law for disbursement in relation to undergraduate or graduate seeking students.  Check with the Financial Aid office in relation to your financial aid benefits when pursuing an accelerated program.

B.2. Undergraduate and Graduate Academic Level Course Progression  

While in Undergraduate Status:

After admission to the accelerated master’s degree program, students will be permitted to complete up to 12 units of coursework that applies toward both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Students may complete up to 18 graduate units in undergraduate status (with a maximum of 12 units of coursework applying to both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees; note that academic units have discretion to share fewer than 12 units). 

Students who have not yet completed their undergraduate requirements or been conferred their undergraduate degree, yet have completed 18 graduate units, will only be able to enroll in undergraduate courses until their undergraduate requirements are completed and their undergraduate degree is conferred.

While in Graduate Status:

Students are required to complete at least one semester and a minimum of 9 graduate-level units (500-, 600-, or 700-level) while in graduate status prior to graduate degree conferral.

B.3. Undergraduate Academic Level Continuing Eligibility

While an undergraduate, students are required to keep their undergraduate and graduate coursework cumulative GPA at 3.0 or higher to be admitted to the master's program.  Academic units have discretion to require higher cumulative or major GPAs for admission to their specific academic programs.

C. Admission Requirements

Note that policy 100221 (Undergraduate Student Classifications) is used to identify the year of the student in terms of units of credit completed. 

All student admissions into an accelerated master’s degree program are conditional based on performance at the undergraduate level and until completion and posting of their eligible bachelor’s degree. Programs will select from among a qualified pool of applicants, based on the following criteria. Individual programs may have more stringent or additional requirements:

• An undergraduate cumulative GPA and major GPA of 3.00 or higher on a 4.00 system.  Courses taken for audit may not be included in the total number of units counted for eligibility or admission. 
• Completion of a minimum of 60 undergraduate units of credit (as NAU or transfer credit), or junior status, will be required at the time of application; a minimum of 90 undergraduate units of credit (as NAU or transfer credit), or senior status, will be required at the time of entry into the accelerated master’s degree program.
• Completion of at least 12 earned units of NAU undergraduate course work in the major.   Units still graded Incomplete, units graded Pass/Fail or units taken as audit will not count toward the requirement of the 12 undergraduate units in the major.
• Completion or near completion of Liberal Studies or General Studies Program requirements.
• Submission of a graduate application and payment of a graduate application fee. 
• Expectation to complete the undergraduate degree within one to two years of application to the accelerated bachelor’s to master’s program.
• If approved for admission, students must earn at least a “B” (3.0) in each course that applies to the graduate degree.  Students who do not receive a minimum grade of 3.0 (B) in graduate course work taken in undergraduate status will be reviewed for possible dismissal from the accelerated program.
• The final step of the admissions process to become a full student in the graduate program is to apply for graduation from the undergraduate degree program.  The awarding of the baccalaureate degree is a distinct step that students must complete before officially moving into the graduate program.

D. Maintaining Eligibility

• Students may be ineligible to participate in the accelerated program if their grade point average in either their undergraduate or graduate coursework drops below a 3.0, they do not get accepted to the master’s program, if they fail to demonstrate adequate academic progress as defined by the academic program, and/or if they select to opt out of the accelerated program.
• Students granted permission to participate in a bachelor’s/master’s accelerated program who have a cumulative GPA of less than 3.00 at the time of undergraduate graduation will be placed on academic probation (see Policy 100319) in their first semester in the master’s program and will be subject to dismissal from the program if they do not achieve a graduate level GPA of 3.0 in courses related to their program of study after 9 units of graduate coursework attempted.

E.  Opt-out:

• Students are permitted to opt out of the Accelerated Program at any time by submitting the voluntary withdrawal form, at which point they would complete only the undergraduate portion of the program.
• If a student would like to apply up to nine units of graduate coursework completed as an undergraduate student for a future graduate degree (see Policy 100327 Undergraduates in Graduate Courses), then they will need to work with their academic advisor and/or the Office of the Registrar to ensure the graduate courses are not being counted in the undergraduate degree.

Responsibilities:

Advisors/Graduate Program Coordinators: Understand and explain admission, academic continuation (program of study/Academic Advisement Report) and graduation requirements to all interested students. If the accelerated master’s program contains a thesis track, notify the student of the need to determine when they need to form their thesis committee, as they may need to form a thesis committee during their senior year, and direct them to work with the Department/School’s Graduate Program Coordinator/Director.

Graduate Program Coordinators/Directors: Guide the student about whether they would be a successful candidate in the graduate program.  Meet with prospective undergraduate students who are interested in applying for the accelerated master’s program; ensure they understand the admission requirements, process and policy, and how it impacts them.  If the accelerated master’s program contains a thesis track, the Department/School’s Graduate Program Coordinator/Director may need to assist the student in forming their thesis committee during the senior year of their undergraduate program.

Instructors: review with the undergraduate student the rigor and workload expectations of the graduate course and officially record that required pre-requisites (where appropriate) have been waived on the Out of Career form.

Office of Curriculum & Assessment: run the curriculum proposal process for academic units to implement and update their accelerated programs and admissions requirements.

Office of the Registrar: develop and maintain the Out of Career form; upload to a student's record in Louie all completed and signed Out of Career forms.

Students: meet with their advisor to discuss degree progress implications of enrolling in a graduate course; meet with the instructor to discuss the rigor and workload expectations of the graduate course; and, obtain all necessary signatures on the Out of Career form.

Admission Processes

Admission Process for students with fewer than 90 units of NAU and transfer credit (students must earn at least 30 units in at NAU per policy 100332):

1. Students interested in an accelerated program should meet with the graduate program coordinator or other representative to discuss opportunities and implications.
2. Students typically begin this process in their sophomore or junior year of undergraduate study.
3. During the junior year, or upon earning a minimum of 75 units of credit, and a 0 cumulative and major GPA, students will apply for admission into the accelerated bachelor’s to master’s program by the advertised application deadline.  This ensures the student can begin taking the accelerated program requirements the first semester of their senior year.  Standard master’s application and admission procedures as outlined on the Graduate College website apply, including submission of a graduate application and payment of a graduate application fee.
4. Students would complete the graduate application and self-identify on their graduate application that they are part of a pre-approved bachelor’s/master’s accelerated program. 
5. If the student's GPA falls below 3.0 at the time s/he has completed 90 units, the student will not be admitted into the program.
6. To apply for graduation from the undergraduate degree program, follow policy 100338 (Applying for Graduation, Undergraduate Students).  It is necessary to apply for graduation from the undergraduate degree program at least one semester before finishing the master’s degree and with a minimum of nine units remaining in graduate coursework to ensure continued enrollment in graduate-level coursework for the master’s degree program.

Admission Process for students entering NAU as a senior with 90 or more units of transfer credit (students must earn at least 30 units at NAU per policy 100332):

1. Students interested in an accelerated program should meet with the graduate program coordinator or other representative to discuss opportunities and implications. Students typically begin this process during their application to the undergraduate program, or within the first weeks of their enrollment in undergraduate courses at NAU.
2. During their first semester at NAU, students will apply for admission into the accelerated bachelor’s to master’s program by that semester’s advertised application deadline.  This ensures the student can begin taking the accelerated program requirements the second semester of their senior year.  Standard master’s application and admission procedures as outlined on the Graduate College website  apply, including submission of a graduate application and payment of a graduate application fee.
3. Students would complete the graduate application and self-identify on their graduate application that they are part of a pre-approved bachelor’s/master’s accelerated program. 
4. If the student's GPA falls below 3.0 at the time s/he has completed 90 units, the student will not be admitted into the accelerated program.
5. To apply for graduation from the undergraduate degree program, follow policy 100338 (Applying for Graduation, Undergraduate Students). It is necessary to apply for graduation from the undergraduate degree program at least one semester before finishing the master’s degree and with a minimum of 9 units remaining in graduate coursework to ensure continued enrollment in graduate-level coursework for the master’s degree program.

Faculty Advisors/Graduate Program Coordinator Process for Using Program of Study or Academic Advising Report:

If the program is updated to the Academic Advising Report, double check the report to ensure it’s including courses accurately at the undergraduate and graduate level, with a maximum of 12 units shared between the bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. 

If the program uses a Program of Study, identify the courses that contribute to the maximum of 12 units shared between the bachelor’s and master’s degree programs with an “A.”

The Curriculum Proposal Process, used to design and implement new or changes to current accelerated programs can be found here.

Related Policies

ABOR Policy 2-226

Higher Learning Commission Criteria for Accreditation (Note Criterion 2.B.)

Federal Compliance with FDCR.A.10.020: Assignment of Credits, Program Length and Tuition