Combined Bachelor's/Master's Degree Program Download to print

A combined bachelor’s/master’s degree program allows exceptional Kent State University undergraduate students early admission into graduate school. Students in a combined program are able to identify and begin taking graduate-level coursework as undergraduate students.

Minimum requirements must be met for each degree earned. A student who earns a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree must complete a minimum of 150 unique credit hours (120 representing the bachelor’s degree and an additional 30 representing the master’s degree). Undergraduate requirements must be fully satisfied before a bachelor's degree will be awarded. Until that time, students continue to have undergraduate student status. Following receipt of the undergraduate degree, their status will be changed to that of graduate student.

Undergraduate students in a combined program may complete a maximum of 12 credit hours of graduate-level coursework and apply it toward their undergraduate degree. Once a student completes the undergraduate degree and enters graduate student status, the graduate-level coursework taken as an undergraduate student may be applied toward the graduate degree (i.e., courses are double counted). Double counting may occur only after the minimum 30 credit hours for the master’s degree are completed.

To be eligible for double counting, the coursework must meet the following criteria: (1) be of graduate level, (2) apply to degree requirements for the master’s degree and (3) the letter grade earned must meet minimum standards as described in the Academic Standing - Graduate policy in the University Catalog. Courses that do not earn a regular letter (A-F) grade, as well as courses given as credit by examination, are not eligible for double-counting. Under no circumstances will undergraduate-level coursework be applied toward the master’s degree.

To be eligible for a combined program, students must have junior standing (a minimum of 60 GPA hours) and must have achieved a minimum grade point average (GPA) of one of the following:

• 3.500 GPA after 60 semester hours
• 3.400 GPA after 75 semester hours
• 3.300 GPA after 90 semester hours
• 3.200 GPA after 105 semester hours

Kent State University allows for both formal and informal combined degree programs, as described below. Formal programs may have more stringent requirements than the general eligibility requirements listed above.

Formal Combined Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree Programs

A formal combined bachelor’s/master’s degree program has established admissions requirements, a curriculum and graduation requirements.

To qualify for a combined bachelor’s/master’s degree program, an undergraduate student must complete a standard online graduate application (including the application fee) and be admitted to the graduate program of interest. The student must meet all admissions requirements as established by the formal combined program. Students should consult the University Catalog for specific requirements. The student is also required to submit the Formal Combined Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree Programs form prior to the first semester of enrollment in the combined program.

The following combined programs have been formally approved by the university:

• Combined Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts degrees in Speech Pathology and Audiology
• Combined Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Business Administration degrees
• Combined Bachelor of Science degree in Fashion Merchandising and Master of Business Administration degree
• Combined Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing degrees

Informal Combined Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree Programs

An informal combined bachelor’s/master’s degree program has not been formally approved by the university, but allows undergraduate students to begin taking graduate-level coursework that may be applied to the undergraduate and/or graduate degree.

The informal program will be developed by an individual student in consultation with his/her academic advisor. It is to be developed according to the individual career interests and goals of the student and should be an integrated learning experience rather than merely the completion of a certain number of undergraduate and graduate credits. The proposed combined program requires the approval of both the undergraduate and the graduate programs involved, as well as the respective college dean(s).

To qualify for an informal combined bachelor’s/master’s degree program, an undergraduate student must complete a standard online graduate application (including the application fee) and be admitted to the graduate program of interest. The student must meet all admissions requirements as established by the master’s degree program. Students should consult the University Catalog for specific requirements. The student is also required to submit the Informal Combined Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree Plan of Study form prior to the first semester of enrollment in the combined program.