Dual Degrees/Double Majors Download to print

UNDERGRADUATE DUAL DEGREES / DOUBLE MAJORS

In certain cases, students may be able to complete the requirements for more than one academic major through either a double major or a dual-degree program of study. A double-major program of study combines two major fields of study within the same degree program. Students completing a double major are awarded a single degree with two majors. Students pursuing a double major for a bachelor’s degree must complete a minimum 120 semester hours.

A dual degree combines two majors from distinct degree programs. Any combination of major fields of study involving undergraduate degree programs in more than one college is a dual degree even if both degrees bear the same title. Students completing a dual degree are awarded two distinct degrees. Students pursuing a dual degree at the baccalaureate level must complete a minimum of 140 total semester hours. Students pursuing concurrent associate degrees must successfully complete all the requirements for both and a minimum of 15 credit hours beyond those required for the primary degree. Because of the similarity in program requirements, the Associate of Arts and the Associate of Science degrees may not be earned concurrently; nor may either be awarded as an additional degree when one or the other has been previously conferred.

Certain major combinations are not appropriate and are not permitted by the colleges. Students interested in a double major or dual degree must consult the offices of the appropriate colleges and/or campus to determine whether the desired combination of majors is permitted. Students seeking concurrent associate degrees must be in good academic standing and enrolled officially for a first, or primary, associate degree. If the combination is permitted, the college offices will assist the students in formally declaring the degrees/majors and will provide the students with major sheets for both of the degrees/majors showing the course requirements to be satisfied for both majors. The students must complete all requirements for both degrees/majors.

Students who hold an associate, bachelor’s or graduate degree and wish to pursue an associate degree may do so by successfully completing all program and residency requirements, in addition to a minimum 15 semester hours.

Students are required to file a graduation application for each degree/major program of study. Students must officially declare any degree/major in time to meet the graduation application deadline for the semester in which they expect to complete the program of study.

GRADUATE DUAL DEGREES

Graduate dual degree programs allow students to simultaneously pursue two graduate degrees at the same level (two master’s degrees or two doctoral degrees).* Rather than sequentially completing first one degree and then the other, the amount of time required to complete both sets of degree requirements may be reduced by completing the programs in a coordinated way. “Combined” degree programs allow students to simultaneously pursue two degrees at different levels (see policy on Combined Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree Program in the University Catalog for details).

Coursework common to both programs must constitute a well-planned and meaningful part of each program. A minimum of 60 percent of the total credit hours required for each degree program must be unique to that degree program. The percentage of unique hours that must be completed in each degree program may vary from the 60 percent minimum only when the graduate dual degree program has been formally approved by the university.

Graduate credit transferred from another institution is limited to a maximum of 12 credit hours across both degree programs.

The maximum time limits for completing degree requirements and graduation apply to each degree individually (six years from the term of first attendance to complete each master’s; 10 years from the term of first attendance to complete each doctoral degree beyond the bachelor’s; and nine years from the term of first attendance to complete each doctoral degree beyond the master’s).

Kent State University allows for both informal and formal dual degree programs, as described below.

Informal Dual Graduate Degree Programs

Students may simultaneously pursue two degrees at the same level from different programs through an informal dual degree program (those that have not received official university approval).  Informal dual degree programs offer students the flexibility to double-count some coursework, given that the two programs in question approve the arrangements. A minimum of 60% of total hours required for each degree must be unique to that degree, after which some courses may be double-counted.

Admission

An applicant who is not currently a graduate student at Kent State University must submit an application and an application fee for each program.

Students who are currently enrolled in one graduate program at Kent State University must submit an application and an application fee for the second program. Application to the second program must be made no later than the end of the student’s second semester in the first program.

Requirements

The student and advisor(s) must plan an integrated course of study. The plan must be approved by both programs and filed with the respective college(s) no later than the end of the student’s second semester in the first program.

Culminating experiences (e.g. capstone courses, theses, dissertations, applied projects) and comprehensive examinations cannot be shared.

Formal Dual Graduate Degree Programs

A formal dual degree program is one that has been officially approved by the university. It has one curriculum established by two programs resulting in the completion of two graduate degrees at the same level. The following programs have been formally approved by the university:

• Master of Architecture / Master of Business Administration
• Master of Architecture / Master of Urban Design
• Master of Arts in Communication Studies / Master of Business Administration
• Master of Arts in Translation / Master of Business Administration
• Master of Business Administration / Master of Science in Nursing
• Master of Business Administration / Master of Library and Information Science
• Master of Education in Instructional Technology / Master of Library and Information and Information Science (School Library concentration for both)

Admission

An applicant who is not currently a graduate student at Kent State University submits one application and one application fee. The applicant selects the primary program of interest on the application and indicates a concentration in the formal dual degree program that the applicant wishes to pursue (i.e., the second degree program). Both programs must offer admission to the applicant before admission into the dual degree program is granted.

Students who are currently enrolled in one graduate program must submit an application and an application fee for the second program, indicating on the application that the intent is to complete both degrees rather than to transfer from the first to the second program. Application to the second program must be made no later than the end of the student’s second semester in the first program.

* This policy does not apply to dual concentrations. Students should see program coordinator if they are interested in completing dual concentrations.