BA/MS Pathways

BA/MS Pathway - Bachelor’s to Master’s Pathways (Structured and Student-Designed)

McDaniel’s bachelor’s to master’s (BA/MS) pathways provide the unique opportunity for academically qualified McDaniel students to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees in an accelerated timeframe with less cost. McDaniel created its bachelor’s to master’s pathways to meet the needs of our students, institutions and communities that continue to place a greater emphasis on advanced knowledge and professional expertise. The bachelor’s to master’s pathways allows students to gain valuable knowledge and qualifications while saving time and money to meet their career goals through the attainment of an advanced degree.

Current McDaniel undergraduate students interested in joining a BA/MS pathway will be required to apply for acceptance into a structured or student-designed BA/MS pathway. Students applying to the BA/MS pathway must have at least 64 credit hours of completed coursework at the time of application with a 2.75 cumulative GPA or higher. Students approved for a pathway may not enroll in graduate courses without 80 credit hours of completed coursework with a 2.75 cumulative GPA.

Students should apply to the pathway using the online BA/MS application here. The Graduate and Professional Studies division will forward the application for approval to both the undergraduate advisor and graduate coordinator of the graduate program of interest. After review by both advisors, the student will receive a decision notice from the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies. Upon approval, the student may register for the graduate courses outlined in the respective structured pathway or courses otherwise approved by the undergraduate advisor and graduate Program Coordinator in an unstructured pathway.

Students admitted into the BA/MS pathway can take up to 9 graduate credits which can be counted toward both the undergraduate degree and graduate degree. Tuition and fees for the graduate courses taken while an undergraduate will be part of the student’s undergraduate tuition and fee rates. Students are awarded the bachelor’s degree when all undergraduate requirements are met. Students are not required to enter the graduate program upon completion of the bachelor’s degree; however, those who intend to continue to the master’s degree will be required to officially apply to the graduate program using the online BA to MS Program - Graduate Matriculation Request form and meet all admissions requirements for the respective graduate program. The graduate degree will be awarded when the remaining graduate courses are completed with a cumulative 3.0 GPA.

BA/MS pathways are available to McDaniel undergraduates in two ways – Structured or Student-Designed.

Policy on BA/MS Pathway Requirements to Progress to the Master’s Degree:

• Students who intend to matriculate to a graduate program at the completion of their bachelor’s degree should submit the BA to MS Program - Graduate Matriculation request form the semester prior to graduation to officially apply to the respective graduate program. The form can be found here.
• Matriculation into the graduate program is contingent upon maintaining a minimum overall GPA 2.75; and a grade of B or better in the graduate courses taken while an undergraduate student.
• Students who do not successfully complete the bachelor’s degree or who do not meet the minimum GPA requirement for the respective graduate program, cannot be considered for admission unless such deficiencies are resolved. Students who do not meet the minimum GPA requirement can be considered for provisional admission decision on a case-by-case basis.
• Students may withdraw from the accelerated bachelor’s – master’s pathway at any time by informing their undergraduate advisor, Graduate Program Coordinator, and the Graduate and Professional Studies Office to that effect in writing.
• A student who does not follow the approved plan of graduate coursework may become ineligible to participate in the accelerated BA/MS pathway and courses taken may not satisfy the requirements of the undergraduate or graduate degree.
• All graduate courses completed with a grade of “B” or higher while an undergraduate student in the BA/MS pathway will be counted toward the master’s degree upon full matriculation to the graduate program. Students who do not earn a grade of “B” or better in graduate level courses may be removed from the accelerated bachelor’s to master’s program and may be required to take additional undergraduate courses to fulfill the business major requirements. Undergraduate advisors will have discretion to determine if any graduate courses taken can be used to satisfy the specialization requirements.