Accelerated Bachelors Masters Program The Graduate College Outreach Program

Accelerated Bachelors Masters Program Program Background/Intention Eligibility 150 Distinct Hours Processes Financial Aid Issues Program Combinations 5 Year Degree Possibilities

Program Background/Intention The ABM program was started in 1999 to give qualified undergraduate students the opportunity to begin a graduate degree in their senior year and simultaneously satisfy some remaining requirements for their bachelors degree.

Program Combinations There is no official list of program combinations. Graduate program admission criteria may determine (ex. MSW accrediting requires an earned bachelor’s for all applicants) matching combinations. Appropriateness of graduate courses counting in undergraduate program need to be considered.

5 Year Degree Possibilities With proper student advisement and planning you can create a pipeline from an undergraduate program into a graduate program. Key is working with students early to ensure they take correct courses and keep GPA high. If your program lays out the “pipeline plan” clearly it could be a recruitment tool for both your undergraduate and graduate programs. Make sure all of your faculty and advisors are aware so they can advise students.

Eligibility Have completed at least 18 hours of coursework at Kennesaw State. Have a KSU undergrad GPA of 3.5 or better. Be within 30 semester hours of graduation. Have written permission of the chair of the department of the undergraduate major to use the graduate level courses as acceptable substitutes to fulfill related requirements of the bachelor’s degree (students must satisfy all prerequisites for those graduate courses). Meet all requirements for admission into the specified graduate program (except for receipt of the undergraduate degree).

150 Distinct Hours SACS requires that students have a minimum of 120 hours in their undergrad degree and a minimum of 30 hours in their graduate degree for a combined 150 “distinct” hours between the two degrees. For most (typical UG-123 and GR-36 = 159) that will leave 9 hours that can count in both programs, however it will not work for all combinations and hours may be limited for some students.

Process Student completes application (which includes Dual Credit form) indicating courses to count in both programs. Student gets approval from undergraduate degree department chair and graduate program director. Student submits all graduate program admission requirements. Completed application to Graduate Admissions with application fee. The Graduate College will have final approval and will notify the student.

Financial Aid Issues Student remains an undergraduate in Banner and is charged undergraduate tuition for all courses until bachelor’s degree graduation. Financial Aid will not cover graduate courses for undergraduates. Financial Aid will usually want verification that the graduate courses are counting in the undergrad program. Dual credit form satisfies this. Premium price programs are very difficult to work with in ABM program since student remains an undergraduate until graduation.

More Info Website with link to application: ources/abm.php ources/abm.php Contact: David or Nikki