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Accelerated Degree Programs


Accelerated Degree Programs

The Accelerated Degree Programs (ADP) are designed to provide undergraduates a more efficient means to obtain a graduate degree or certificate. Minimum academic criteria are established by each participating unit for students who have a high academic potential (typically 3.000 or above) and want to start taking graduate-level courses during their undergraduate careers, some of which count toward both their undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Participating undergraduate students are granted early admission to the Graduate School, the Graduate School of Management, or Health Science Professional programs, and are allowed to take specified graduate-level courses during their junior year and/or senior year.

Admission Process

Academic programs that offer an accelerated program may approve a maximum of 40% of graduate credit hours for graduate programs. These hours can be applied by individual students toward both the undergraduate and graduate degree. Requests for any exceptions to these limits would go to the assistant dean of the Graduate School.

Undergraduate students in an accelerated program apply for formal admission to the Graduate School using regular procedures.

An accelerated degree student is officially considered an undergraduate student until the baccalaureate degree is awarded. While an undergraduate, the student may enroll for graduate credit but pays the appropriate undergraduate tuition for graduate courses.

Academic units define satisfactory academic progress for undergraduates in the accelerated degree program. Contingent on students maintaining satisfactory academic progress, acceptance in the accelerated degree program is a promise of formal admission to the Graduate School and the academic unit after completion of the bachelor’s degree. Students who fail to make such progress may be dropped from the program.

Undergraduate students who complete the undergraduate degree may claim their status as graduate students in the next term or session after receiving the bachelor's degree. At that time, the Graduate School will matriculate the student as a graduate student.

Following admission to the Graduate School, credit for pre-approved courses completed successfully while an undergraduate is transferred on behalf of the student and department by the Graduate School.

Academic Advising and Records

Academic units that want to participate in the ADP develop a clear admissions and advising process for their accelerated degree program.

Students admitted to an accelerated program are required to complete and submit an approved program planning form to the Graduate School while the student is still an undergraduate.

Admission Procedure

Each academic unit with an accelerated program develops admission criteria based on the following guidelines:

  1. Minimal criteria for admission and continuation in the program is established by each participating program.
  2. Each academic unit establishes the point in an undergraduate career when a student may apply for admission to the accelerated degree program, but in no case may it be earlier than the completion of the sophomore year.
  3. The student must apply for admission to the accelerated degree program through the Graduate School. This admission, if approved, includes admission to the graduate degree granting academic unit.
  4. International students who are admitted into the accelerated degree program work with the Graduate School and the Office of International Education in order to apply for the appropriate visa.

Dual Counting of Undergraduate and Graduate Credits

With the approval of the applicable academic unit and the Graduate School, graduate credits that are used to satisfy a student's undergraduate career requirements may be applied toward completion of up to 40% of a graduate degree. Students may request that the same graduate credits earned while an undergraduate be used toward satisfying the requirements of multiple graduate degrees. Requests for any exceptions to this limit would go to the assistant dean of the Graduate School.

None of the graduate courses taken in this program may be applied to the undergraduate Marquette Core Curriculum (MCC).

Graduate courses taken outside of an accelerated degree program as an undergraduate student may be considered for transfer into a graduate program if they have not also been counted toward the undergraduate degree. In no case may total credits transferred from an undergraduate degree exceed 50% of course work credits required for the graduate degree.

Programs Administered Through the Graduate School

  • Applied Statistics; B.S. and M.S. for information contact the Department of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences.
  • Biomedical Engineering; B.B.E. and M.S. for information contact the Department of Biomedical Engineering.
  • Chemistry; B.S. and M.S. for information contact the Department of Chemistry.
  • Civil Engineering/Construction Engineering; B.C.E. or B.C.N. and M.S. for information contact the Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering.
  • Communication; B.A. and M.A. for information contact the College of Communication.
  • Computer and Information Science; Bachelor's degree and M.S. for information contact the Department of Computer Science.
  • Criminal Justice Data Analytics; Bachelor's degree and M.S. for information contact the Department of Social and Cultural Sciences.
  • Data Science; B.S. and M.S. for information contact the Department of Computer Science.
  • Electrical and Computer Engineering; B.E.E. and M.S. or B.S. in Physics and M.S. for information contact the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
  • English; B.A. and M.A. for information contact the Department of English.
  • Exercise and Rehabilitation Science; B.S. and M.S. for information contact the program of Exercise Science.
  • History; B.A. and M.A. for information contact the Department of History.
  • International Affairs; B.A. and M.A. for information contact the Department of Political Science.
  • Mechanical Engineering; B.M.E. and M.S. for information contact the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
  • Neuroscience; B.S. in Biomedical Sciences majors and Ph.D. for information contact the Graduate School.
  • Philosophy; Bachelor's degree and M.A. for information contact the Department of Philosophy.
  • Political Science; B.A. and M.A. for information contact the Department of Political Science.
  • Public Service; Bachelor's degree with a minor in Urban Affairs and M.A.P. for information contact the program of Public Service.
  • School Counseling, B.S. in Educational Studies and M.A. for information contact the Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology.

Programs Administered Through the Graduate School of Management (GSM)

  • Accounting; B.S. and M.S.A. or M.S.A.A. for information visit the Accounting website or Accounting Analytics website.
  • Business Administration; Bachelor's degree from any college with appropriate Business prerequisite course work and M.B.A. For information visit the M.B.A. website.
  • Corporate Communication; B.A. and M.A. for information visit the Corporate Communication website.
  • Economics; B.A. or B.S. and M.S.A.E. for information visit the Economics website.
  • Finance; Bachelor's degree from the College of Arts and Sciences or the College of Business Administration and M.S.F. for information visit the Finance website.
  • Management; Bachelor's degree and MiM for information visit the Management website.
  • Supply Chain Management; Bachelor's degree from the College of Business Administration and M.S. for information visit the Supply Chain Management website.

Programs Administered by the College of Health Science Professional

Health Science Professional Programs website

  • Doctor of Occupational Therapy; O.T.D.
  • Doctor of Physical Therapy; D.P.T.
  • Master of Athletic Training; M.A.T.R.
  • Master of Physician Assistant Studies; M.P.A.
  • Medical Laboratory Science; Certificate

Pre-dental Scholars and Pre-law Scholars programs are discussed in detail on separate pages in the bulletin.