Accelerated “Combined” Graduate Degree Program Policy

I. Purpose

St. Mary’s University offers combined undergraduate-graduate degree programs to provide qualified students with the opportunity to complete both degrees in a streamlined, cost- effective manner. This policy outlines the structure, eligibility requirements, credit guidelines, and administrative procedures to ensure program integrity, compliance with accreditation standards, and a positive student experience.

II. Definitions

• Accelerated Graduate Degree Program: A structured academic pathway allowing undergraduate students to begin graduate coursework while completing their undergraduate degree.
• Double-Counted Credits: Graduate-level credit hours that fulfill both undergraduate and graduate degree requirements.
• Graduate Standing: Status granted upon conferral of the undergraduate degree, allowing continued enrollment in the graduate program.

III.  Policy Overview

1. Accelerated graduate degree programs must maintain the academic integrity of both degrees and ensure compliance with SACSCOC Standard 9.2, which requires at least 30 semester credit hours for a master’s degree.
2. No more than one-third of a graduate program’s required credit hours may be double- counted toward undergraduate degree requirements.

• For a 30-hour graduate program: up to 10 hours may be double-counted.
• For a 36-hour graduate program: up to 12 hours may be double-counted.

C. Double-counted credit hours must:

• Be 5000-level or higher.
• Be approved in advance by both the undergraduate academic advisor and the graduate program director.
• Typically apply toward undergraduate electives. Courses that fulfill core undergraduate competencies may be used with written justification.¹

D. Undergraduate courses cannot be applied toward graduate program requirements.

^{1 _{Please note that “core requirements” refers to required courses for a major and not the University’s Core curriculum.}}

IV. Eligibility Requirements

To be admitted into an accelerated graduate degree program, a student must:

1. Be a full-time undergraduate student with a minimum of 75 completed credit hours.²
2. Have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
3. Be formally accepted into the graduate program.

^{2 _{Students may apply to an accelerated graduate program when the combination of completed undergraduate credit hours and currently enrolled undergraduate credit hours equal or exceed 75 credit hours.}}

V. Application and Advising Process

1. Students must submit an Accelerated Graduate Degree Program Application by the end of their junior year.
2. Required materials include current academic transcripts and program-specific documentation.
3. Students must meet with both their undergraduate academic advisor and the graduate program director to:

• Review degree plans.
• Identify double-counted courses.
• Complete a written justification for any graduate courses applied to undergraduate core requirements.

VI. Academic Requirements and Monitoring

1. Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA in all graduate-level coursework.
2. Students who complete all undergraduate requirements before reaching the limit of double- counted credits will graduate with the undergraduate degree and transition to full graduate status.
3. Students enrolled in an accelerated graduate degree program will be coded accordingly in Banner.
4. Progress reviews will occur each semester, coordinated by the undergraduate advisor and graduate program director.

VII. Financial Aid and Tuition

1. Students in accelerated graduate programs remain eligible for undergraduate financial aid if they:
   • Take more undergraduate than graduate hours in a given semester,
   • Do not exceed 15 total graduate hours while classified as undergraduates, and
   • Have not yet earned their undergraduate degree.³
2. Upon conferral of the undergraduate degree, students are classified as graduate students and will be charged graduate tuition rates. They may then apply for graduate-level financial aid.

^{3 _{It is understood to retain undergraduate classification, an undergraduate student in an accelerated graduate degree program may not take more than 12 graduate credit hours in any one semester.}}

VIII. Program Oversight and Review

1. Each accelerated graduate degree plan must be approved by the Academic Council and reviewed regularly according to the program’s scheduled graduate program review.
2. The Provost’s Office will:

• Monitor enrollment in accelerated graduate degree programs,
• Track student success (retention, time-to-degree, post-graduation outcomes),
• Report findings to university leadership.

IX. Exceptions and Appeals

1. Requests for exceptions to the accelerated graduate degree policy must be submitted in writing and will be reviewed by the academic dean of the relevant graduate program.
2. Students may appeal decisions related to combined degree eligibility, course approval, or credit application to the academic dean.

X. Roles and Responsibilities

Role	Responsibilities
Undergraduate Advisor	Guide students on undergrad requirements; vet and approve double- counted credits
Graduate Program Director	Approve graduate coursework and ensure program academic standards are met
Student	Meet academic standards; apply and follow through with advising requirements
Provost’s Office	Monitor and report program metrics and effectiveness

XI. Resources and Contacts

• Forms:
  • Accelerated Graduate Degree Program Application (available in Gateway)

• Policies Referenced:
  • Graduate Transfer Credit Policy
  • Undergraduate and Graduate Academic Policies

• Contacts:
  • Office of Undergraduate Advising: 210-431-3736
  • Graduate Admissions: 210-436-3126

Appendix

Sample Credit Structure for Accelerated Graduate Degrees

Graduate Program Total Hours	Maximum Double-Counted Hours	Minimum In-Residence Hours (per policy)
30	10	21
36	12	24

Effective Date: This policy is effective on the date of Executive Council approval May 6, 2025 and applies to all new and currently enrolled students who meet the eligibility criteria.