Graduate School - University of South Florida

List of Available Programs

Forms:
Accelerated Degree Program Interest Form
Accelerated Degree Program Application Form

FAQs - click here

Students
How would you like to get your Bachelor's AND Master's degrees in less time?

An Accelerated Degree Program allows superior students to complete up to one-half of a graduate major while enrolled as an undergraduate. Approved graduate hours may satisfy degree requirements for both a bachelor’s and master’s degrees.   Sound good to you?  Check the list of available programs.  If yours is listed and you want to take advantage of the Accelerated Program then do the following:

1)  File an Accelerated Degree Program Interest Form
2)  Submit the Interest form to your undergraduate advisor
     (instructions are on the form)
3)  When the time comes to apply for the graduate program
     submit the Accelerated Degree Program Application.

Financial Aid Opportunities

Faculty Advisors
Need assistance helping a student enter/complete the Accelerated Degree Program?

Has a student contacted you to participate in an Accelerated Degree Program?

Undergraduate Faculty Advisors:
1.  Have the student complete an
      Accelerated Degree Program Interest Form. 
2.  Make sure the information is complete. 
3.  Sign it and forward to the Graduate Faculty Advisor
      of the Graduate Program. 
4.  Monitor the student's undergraduate progress and
      advise them when it is time to submit the
      Accelerated Degree Program Application Form.

Note!  The change in status from undergraduate to graduate may affect a student's financial aid.  See FAQ's for more information!

Graduate Faculty Advisors:
1.   When you receive an Accelerated Degree Program
       Interest Form, review the information
2.   Make sure the graduate information is complete
3.   Sign it and forward to Graduate Admissions for
       processing
4.   Graduate Admissions will assign an Attribute Code,
      which will allow the student to enroll in graduate 
      courses
5.   When you receive an Accelerated Degree Program
       Application Form, review the information
6.   Sign it and forward to Graduate Coordinator for
       College for processing and submission to Graduate
       Admissions
7.   Graduate Admissions will assign a Major Code,
      which will formally admit the student to the graduate
      program

Faculty
Interested in turning your program into an Accelerated Degree Program?

Interested in developing an Accelerated Degree Program?  Review the Guidelines below:

Accelerated Degree Program Guidelines

FAQs
  

Q: What is an Accelerated Master's Degree Program?

A: Accelerated graduate programs allow superior students to complete up to one-half of a graduate major while enrolled as an undergraduate. Approved graduate hours may satisfy degree requirements for both a bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Q: Why should I participate in an accelerated bachelor’s/master’s program?

A: The program allows you to explore graduate work before making a decision to complete a graduate degree. If you continue in a graduate program, you may save several full semesters of graduate enrollment.
 
Q: At what point do I enroll in graduate courses?
A: Contact your undergraduate adviser and complete an Accelerated Graduate Program Interest Form. If approved, you may begin to take graduate courses any time during the junior and senior years.

Q: What is required to have the graduate course work also count toward my master's degree?
 
A: To apply the graduate credit to both degrees, you must be admitted to graduate study. A graduate faculty adviser can provide the admission requirements for a particular department.

Q: At what point in the undergraduate program should application be made for formal graduate admission?

A: Depending on the program, you can apply as early as the end of your junior year or as late as the end of your senior year. For some graduate programs, formal admission takes place at the 120 hour mark. Contact the graduate faculty adviser for admission requirements for a particular department.

Q: If I do not continue in graduate school, will the graduate work satisfy undergraduate degree requirements?

A: Yes.

Q: What about my financial aid?

A: Bright Futures and/or Florida Prepay will pay the undergraduate tuition rate for graduate courses; you have to pay the difference between undergraduate and graduate course costs.

Q: Why would I want to pay additional tuition to enroll in graduate courses?

A: If you continue in graduate school you will have saved the tuition costs for the (depending on your major) graduate credits taken as an undergraduate. The graduate course costs were partially paid by your undergraduate financial aid.
 
Q: How do I declare my interest in an Accelerated graduate program?

A: Contact your undergraduate adviser and complete an Accelerated Graduate Program Interest Form.

Q: When will my degrees be conferred?

A: Usually the undergraduate degree is awarded first, then the masters. However, both degrees may be awarded simultaneously. A small portion of the accelerated programs map directly to the master’s degree.

Q: What if I have an interest in a combined degree program that is not on the list? What do I do?

A: Currently, only the programs listed participate in the accelerated model.

Q.  What's the difference between the Accelerated Degree Program Interest Form and the Accelerated Degree Program Application Form?

A.  The Accelerated Degree Program Interest Form is used to express the student's interest in participating in an Accelerated Degree Program.  It is not a guarantee of admission into the program, but it's approval allows for the undergraduate student to enroll in graduate courses that may, if approved for the Accelerated Degree Program, be applied to both the undergraduate and graduate degrees.  In the event a student is not approved for the Accelerated Degree Program, the graduate coursework is typically approved to be applied toward the undergraduate degree.

The Accelerated Degree Program Application Form is used to formally apply to the Accelerated Degree Program.  Since the student is already admitted and enrolled in the undergraduate degree, the Application form is primarily for admission into the graduate degree program.  The approval of the Application results in the coding of the student as an Accelerated Degree Program participant, allowing for application of graduate coursework to both the undergraduate and graduate degrees. 

Q.   What is the Accelerated Degree Program Withdrawal
Form?

A.  The Accelerated Degree Program Withdrawal Form allows the student to withdraw from the Accelerated Degree Program, but does not signify that the student has withdrawn from the undergraduate degree program.  If a student withdraws from the Accelerated Degree Program, but has met the requirements of the undergraduate degree, he may submit an application to receive that degree.