Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's (ABM) Degree Program
REG 02.25.11
Graduate School
Authority: Dean of the Graduate School
History: First Issued: June 1, 2002. Last Revised: February 13, 2008. Additional History Information .
Additional References: Graduate Administrative Handbook 3.18
Contact Info: Dean of the Graduate School (919) 515-7956.
1. Introduction
The Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's (ABM) degree program allows undergraduate students at NC State an opportunity to complete the requirements for both the Bachelor's and Master's degrees at an accelerated pace. These undergraduate students may double count up to 12 credit hours and obtain a non-thesis Master's degree in the same field within 12 months of completing the Bachelor's degree or obtain a thesis based Master's degree in the same field within 18 months of completing the Bachelor's degree.
2. Establishing an ABM Program
2.1 Process
Prior to admission of any student into the ABM degree program, the program must be developed by the department/program and college and approved by the Administrative Board of the Graduate School and the Dean of the Graduate School.
2.2 Sponsorship
The same department or program that awards the Bachelor's degree must sponsor the Master's degree. This does not preclude Master's degrees in interdisciplinary graduate programs in which the sponsoring department participates, nor acceptance of the student in a closely related field, if the department granting the graduate degree recommends admission to the Graduate School.
3. Application to the ABM Program
3.1 A prospective student who meets the eligibility requirements (see Criteria for Admission) must set up a meeting with his/her Coordinator of Undergraduate Programs and Director of Graduate Programs to develop Plans of Work for his/her Bachelor's and Master's degree programs.
3.2 The prospective student must be given a copy of these guidelines.
3.3 Before admission to an ABM program can be finalized, students must submit the standard application for admission to the Graduate School including:
3.3.1 an application
3.3.2 application fee
3.3.3 a copy of all transcripts
3.3.4 a Plan of Graduate Work, signed by the prospective student, the Coordinator of Undergraduate and Director of Graduate Programs
3.4 The Plan of Graduate Work for the Master's degree must clearly indicate:
3.4.1 the courses (a maximum of 12 graduate credit hours) that will be double counted for both Bachelor's and Master's degrees,
3.4.2 the graduate courses (a maximum of 6 additional graduate credit hours) that are taken as an undergraduate student at NC State and that will not be counted towards the Bachelor's degree,
3.4.3 the courses that will be taken after matriculating into the graduate program, and
3.4.4 the graduation date for the Master's degree that meets the time limit for the ABM program (i.e. obtaining a non-thesis Master's degree in the same field within 12 months of completing the Bachelor's degree or obtaining a thesis based Master's degree in the same field within 18 months of completing the Bachelor's degree). Any changes to the ABM Plan of Graduate Work must be submitted in writing and approved by the Director of Graduate Programs and by the Dean of the Graduate School.
4. Criteria for Admission to the ABM Program
4.1 Permission to pursue an ABM degree program does not guarantee admission to the Graduate School. Admission is contingent on meeting the following eligibility requirements at the time of entering the graduate program:
4.1.1 Students must have completed a minimum of seventy-five (75) and a maximum of ninety-six (96) credit hours in their undergraduate programs, including credits earned from advanced placement.
4.1.2 Transfer students must have completed a minimum of two semesters as a full-time student at NC State, a minimum of 24 hours.
4.1.3 Students must have a minimum accumulated grade point average (GPA) of 3.5/4.0 at NC State.
5. Requirements for Participation and Graduation
5.1 Students must complete the Bachelor's degree prior to entering the Master's program. Students in the ABM may not elect to by-pass the Bachelor's degree.
5.2 Students must receive a grade of B (3.0/4.0) or better in the double counted graduate level courses. Courses with a grade of B- or below cannot be double counted between the two degrees.
5.3 No more than twelve (12) hours of graduate work may be counted towards the requirements of both degrees.
5.4 Students must complete the Master's degree within 12 months from the completion of the Bachelor's degree for a non-thesis Master's degree and within 18 months for Master's programs requiring a thesis. If the Master's program is not completed within these time limits, none of the courses can be double counted.
6. Continuing Eligibility
6.1 It is the responsibility of the student to recognize his/her eligibility status.
6.2 If a student completes the Bachelor's degree requirements with an accumulated GPA of less than 3.5/4.0, then he/she is no longer eligible to double count credit hours and is automatically terminated from the ABM program. Individual departments may have higher requirements and failure to meet these requirements will make a student ineligible to participate in the ABM program.
6.3 A student who does not follow the approved Plan of Graduate Work may become ineligible to participate in the ABM program.
6.4 A student who is ineligible to participate in (or withdraws from) the ABM program cannot double count any courses for both Bachelor's and Master's degrees.
6.5 If a student becomes ineligible to participate in the ABM degree program, the Director of Graduate Programs must inform the student in writing of his/her ineligibility. A copy of this letter to the student must be sent to the Graduate School.
7. Withdrawal
A student may at any time withdraw from an approved ABM program by informing the Directors of Undergraduate and Graduate programs in writing. A copy of this request to withdraw must be sent to the Graduate School for approval.
