Accelerated Master’s Program Guidelines

Accelerated Master’s Programs allow qualified UNL undergraduate students to take UNL graduate courses during their senior year that count toward both the bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in the same or closely related discipline. Students are therefore able to complete the master’s degree in a reduced amount of time.

Admission Eligibility

Undergraduate students may apply to an Accelerated Master's Program during their sphomore year. Full admission to the master's program will follow the completion of the bachelor's degree requirements.  Departments, schools or colleges at UNL offering an Accelerated Master’s Program will select from among eligible undergraduates meeting the minimum requirements established by the UNL Graduate Council. Individual programs may impose more rigorous requirements in addition to the following minimum requirements:

1. Undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher.
2. Maintain enrollment as a full-time undergraduate student.
3. Submission of a graduate application and payment of a graduate application fee.

Enrollment Criteria

Once admitted to the Accelerated Master’s Program, students will be considered undergraduates until they complete the undergraduate degree requirements.

1. Prior to receiving the undergraduate degree, students may take up to 12 credit hours of approved graduate coursework that applies toward both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Students will be charged the graduate tuition rate for graduate courses applied to the bachelor’s degree.
2. Prior to receiving the undergraduate degree, students retain eligibility for undergraduate scholarships and financial aid.
3. Students in an accelerated program are expected to meet the academic requirements of the graduate degree program.
4. After completion of all bachelor’s degree requirements, students will be enrolled in the Graduate College, be charged at the graduate tuition rate, and be eligible for graduate assistantships and fellowships.
5. After completion of all bachelor’s degree requirements, students must take at least 18 credit hours at the graduate level to meet master’s degree requirements.

Coursework Requirements

1. No more than 12 credit hours of graduate coursework may count toward both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees. The graduate courses must be currently offered.
2. Students may choose 12 hours from the 15-18 credit hours approved at the time of proposal. No course substitutions are permitted.
3. Courses must be currently and regularly offered.
4. Students may not take 900 level courses.
5. Dual-listed courses (400/800) are acceptable, but not required. If dual-listed courses are included in the Accelerated Master’s Program, seniors must register at the 800-level and complete all graduate-level requirements. Dual-listed courses previously taken and completed at the 400-level will not be retroactively changed to the 800-level.

Creating a New Accelerated Master’s Program

The graduate committee in the department, school or college offering the master’s degree is administratively responsible for the Accelerated Master’s Program. Proposals for new Accelerated Master’s Program (proposal worksheet) must include supporting documentation that indicates approval from the department chair/head and college dean offering the bachelor’s degree and master’s degree.

The proposal and supporting documents will be submitted to the Dean for Graduate Studies for review by the UNL Graduate Council and Executive Vice Chancellor.