Dual Degree Policy

Purpose

To promote graduate education and reduce the time and cost related to the earning of degrees, McNeese State University provides select dual degree opportunities for academically qualified undergraduates to earn graduate credit while completing a bachelor’s degree, accelerating the time it takes to complete both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Policy

1. A dual (or combined) degree program is a formal plan of study for completing both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree at an accelerated pace.
2. Dual degree programs are established through the University’s curriculum and course development process.
3. Course and degree requirements for the dual degree program must be the same as for the separate and distinct bachelor’s and master’s degree programs.
4. The dual degree program should total 150 credit hours or more. Exceptions to this requirement may only be made with appropriate justification and approval of the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, the Graduate Council, and the Academic Advisory Council.
5. Up to 12 graduate credit hours can be earned during the final 30 credit hours of the bachelor’s degree.
6. Up to six graduate credit hours can be used to satisfy both bachelor’s and master’s degree requirements, provided grades of C or better are earned.
   • Academic programs can set higher grade requirements.
7. Acceptance of a student into a dual degree program constitutes acceptance into Graduate School.
8. To apply for acceptance into a dual degree program, a student must:
   • Have an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.2 or higher;
   • Meet all requirements set forth by the academic department, which may include, but are not limited to, a higher GPA, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, and essays or writing samples;
   • Submit a completed dual degree program application form to the academic department, once 60 credit hours have been earned toward the bachelor’s degree.
9. Once accepted into a dual degree program, a student:
   • Can enroll in up to 12 graduate credit hours during the final 30 credit hours of the bachelor’s degree;
   • Must graduate with the bachelor’s degree once all requirements for that degree are met;
   • Is classified as an undergraduate student and is charged undergraduate tuition and fees until the bachelor’s degree is awarded;
   • Is classified as a graduate student and is charged graduate tuition and fees after the bachelor’s degree is awarded;
   • Can continue enrolling in graduate coursework provided an overall graduate GPA of 3.0 and an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.2 are maintained; and
   • Is not required to complete a graduate application for admission to the master’s degree program provided enrollment after the awarding of the bachelor’s degree is continuous during fall and spring semesters.
10. Eligibility for financial assistance is based on the level of the student and course level, and financial assistance does not typically cover graduate-level courses taken by undergraduate students or vice versa. Students are encouraged to discuss their financial assistance eligibility with Student Central prior to applying for a dual degree program.

Communication

This policy is distributed via the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, the Graduate Council, the Academic Advisory Council, and the University Policies webpage.