Five-Year Joint Bachelor's/Master's Programs | Four-Year Joint Bachelor's/Master's Programs

The University offers a number of joint degrees to students in the College. Joint BA-MA/MS programs permit qualified students to enter upon a course of graduate study while also completing their work in the College. Applicants must have completed a significant portion of their undergraduate program before they can apply to master's level programs. Generally this means that students are admitted to candidacy for the master's degree during their fourth year in the College. During this year of graduate work, students will be billed for tuition at the graduate rate.

Interested students should discuss their plans with their College adviser and aim to complete all of their general education requirements by the end of their second year. All applicants to joint degree programs must meet with their College adviser in the Autumn Quarter of their third year.

Like all students, joint degree students must follow the enrollment status policies detailed in the Student Manual.

Any department may initiate a joint program by submitting a program proposal to the College Curriculum Committee. 

Five-Year Joint Bachelor's/Master's Programs

Five-year joint bachelor's/master's programs permit undergraduate students to begin a master’s degree program during their fourth year in the College. Successful students earn a bachelor's degree at the end of their fourth year and a master’s degree at the end of their fifth year.

Students begin the application process in the Autumn Quarter of their third year by meeting with their College adviser. Students should consult the individual five-year program to determine the exact number of credits that need to be completed by the end of the student's third year in the College.

Students pursuing joint degrees should be aware that they will be charged at the graduate tuition rate in their fourth year of study. College aid can be applied toward tuition charges in the fourth year of study but will not extend into the fifth year. Students should check with individual graduate programs to pursue the possibility of supplemental aid.

Four-Year Joint Bachelor's/Master's Programs

Four-year joint bachelor's/master's programs permit successful undergraduate students to complete a master’s degree program over their fourth year in the College. Though their admissions criteria vary, they are all highly selective programs. Interested students should discuss their plans with their College adviser and aim to complete all of their general education requirements by the end of their second year. Students planning to pursue a joint degree in the physical sciences should consult closely with their individual departments regarding course selection in their major. 

Students apply to four-year joint bachelor's/master's programs during their third year in the College. They begin the process before the end of the Autumn Quarter by meeting with both their College adviser and the joint degree program coordinator in their department of interest. They are also required to meet with the dean of students in their prospective graduate division. Students should consult the individual four-year program to determine the exact number of credits that need to be completed by the end of the student's third year in the College.

Students pursuing joint degrees typically register for nine courses in their fourth and final year of study.† In the humanities and social sciences programs, all course work will be graduate level. In the physical sciences, students will work with program advisers to develop an individualized program of course work.

Students should be aware that they will be charged at the graduate tuition rate in their fourth year of study. College aid can be applied toward tuition charges in the fourth year of study but will not cover the additional expenses associated with graduate tuition rates and fees. Students should check with individual graduate programs to pursue the possibility of supplemental aid.

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