The Benefits of an Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree

A grasp’s diploma is turning into more and more beneficial in the case of working your means right into a high-paying profession, however there is a draw back: two extra years in class means extra misplaced revenue and possibly extra pupil debt, as properly. Accelerated grasp’s levels save majoring college students the associated fee and examine time of graduate admission exams, software charges, and additional programs. By making use of for an accelerated grasp’s program, you can begin taking programs towards your grasp’s in your junior or senior 12 months and get twin course credit score for each your undergraduate and grasp’s diploma. 

Accelerated Grasp’s Program Admission Necessities

Accelerated grasp’s levels will usually have powerful admission requirements, and also you usually have to attend till no less than your undergraduate sophomore 12 months to use. Usually, a grade level common (GPA) above 3.5 is important for consideration, and desire is given for college students already enrolled in that college, says Counsel of Graduate Colleges Dean in Residence, Dr. Invoice Weiner. The reason being that colleges need to retain their higher echelon of scholars for his or her grasp’s applications; college students who expertise tutorial success at their college of their undergraduate programs will probably do properly of their graduate faculty.

Dedication

Earlier than you enroll in an accelerated grasp’s program, you’ll want to analysis your subject totally. You do not need to get during a grasp’s diploma after which discover out via work expertise that you just’d relatively pursue a unique profession path. Thus, profession planning begins right this moment. Full a summer season internship, speak to your profession counselors and tutorial advisors, and prepare shadow days.

Academically, take no less than one course in your main every semester. Be a part of skilled organizations with on-campus pupil chapters such because the American Advertising Affiliation or Society of Skilled Journalists. These organizations supply implausible alternatives to community with professionals working in your potential profession subject. 

Course Credit score

Some programs could depend towards each levels in your senior 12 months. Schools have various ranges for the time wanted to finish your diploma and the variety of programs that can earn you twin credit score, however the twin credit score may help you full a bachelor’s diploma in Could and your grasp’s as early as December of the identical 12 months.

For instance, in case you end your undergraduate diploma with 12 graduate credit and your grasp’s diploma requires 36 credit for completion, you possibly can full your graduate diploma after your undergraduate commencement by taking 12 credit over the summer season and 12 within the fall. In case your college permits six credit out of your bachelor’s diploma to depend towards your grasp’s diploma, you could not full a grasp’s in seven months, however no less than you will nonetheless have a six-credit head begin.

It’s a must to be further diligent to earn no less than a “B” in dual-credit programs. Whereas a “C” in a course can earn you credit score in a bachelor’s program, many accelerated grasp’s applications require “Bs” or above to earn credit score and generally to keep away from program expulsion.

Profession Development

The distinction between a bachelor’s and a grasp’s diploma in job alternatives after commencement is great. Dr. Weiner says that somebody enrolled in an accelerated grasp’s program in human sources may graduate as a hospital administrator as a substitute of a human sources supervisor. Equally, accounting majors want a grasp’s diploma to turn out to be CPAs. Plus, research counsel that staff with grasp’s levels earn significantly extra all through their careers. 

Value Financial savings

Whereas annual prices fluctuate by college, it can save you some huge cash by decreasing your faculty course necessities. The typical value of attendance (primarily based on information from the Nationwide Middle for Training Statistics), together with tuition, charges, and room and board for first-year, full-time, undergraduate college students at public colleges is $19,204.

When you save six months by finishing a semester’s value of credit throughout your undergraduate diploma, you possibly can save your self greater than $9,500. The precise quantity you save will fluctuate primarily based on the price of tuition at your faculty, scholarships, and grants awarded, and the variety of credit required to your grasp’s diploma.

Scholarships

Undergraduate scholarships are more likely to cowl graduate-level programs that dually depend in the direction of your undergraduate diploma. Nonetheless, you will want to use for brand new monetary help for once you formally graduate from the undergraduate portion of your program. As quickly as you resolve, you need to pursue an accelerated grasp’s diploma program, meet with a monetary help counselor to debate graduate faculty grants, Stafford Loans, scholarship applications, and PLUS Loans. The sooner you start your analysis, the higher off you will be. 

The Backside Line

If you understand you need to pursue a grasp’s diploma, particularly inside your main, accelerated grasp’s applications can prevent money and time. Nonetheless, ending sooner ought to by no means imply giving up profession exploration alternatives. You’ll want to solidify your profession path with subject examine as quickly as attainable and do as many shadow days and work internships as you’ll be able to handle. Stability your work expertise by focusing in your GPA. With top-notch grades, training, and internships, you will sail into your first post-graduate place.