Earn an Accelerated Master's Degree at the University of Mississippi
Learn how the Accelerated Master's Degree Program at the University of Mississippi can help advanced undergraduate students get a head start on their graduate degrees.
What is an Accelerated Master's Degree? A Head Start on Graduate Studies at UM.
The Accelerated Master's Degree Program at the University of Mississippi offers our advanced undergraduates the opportunity to begin earning credit towards a graduate degree while they complete the final requirements for their undergraduate degree.
- Participating in the Accelerated Master's Degree can save students time and money as they complete their advanced degree.
- Interested undergraduates should contact the Graduate Program Coordinator to discuss the process of participating in the specific Acceleerated Master's Degree opportunity.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can decide to discontinue your participation in the Accelereated Master's Degree Program at any time.
- If you decide not to attend graduate school, the courses will still show up on your transcript with a special designation marking which courses you completed for graduate credit.
It is important to note that many graduate schools have limits on the number and type of graduate credit hours that can be transferred in for credit.
It is important to talk with your Undergraduate Advisor and map out your plans (talk to them about your current degree plan and how these courses would fit into that plan).
Before you can take courses as part of the Accelerated Master's Degree Program, you will need to have permission from your Undergraduate Advisor and be accepted into the Accelerated Master's Degree Program by obtaining approval from the Graduate Program Coordinator for chosen area of study.
Students must have at least a 3.0 GPA and must complete 90 undergraduate credit hours before they can be part of the Accelerated Master's Degree Program.
- Some disciplines have additional criteria for participating in their Accelerated Master's Degree Program (click on the link for the program that interests you above).
- Each area of graduate study has its own Graduate Program Coordinator. These individuals, along with the faculty, oversee the process of allowing undergraduates to participate in their Accelereated Master's Degree Program and must approve the form you will use to pick your courses.
Until the Graduate School has that form, approved by your Undergraduate Advisor and the Graduate Program Coordinator, you will not be able to enroll in courses for graduate credit as part of the Accelerated Master's Degree Program.
Undergraduate students will pay undergraduate tuition rates for courses they take as part of the Accelerated Master's Degree Program.
- In many cases, your scholarships may apply towards courses taken for graduate credit while you complete your undergraduate degree.
- However, it is important to understand that some Accelereated Master's Degree Program courses may not count towards the minimum requirements for financial aid. We strongly encourage students to contact the Office of Financial Aid to learn more.
UM undergraduates who participate in the Accelerated Master's Degree Program will still apply to the graduate program during their senior year of study following the application procedures of the program.
- Students should contact the Graduate Program Coordinator for more details about the application process.
- Participation in an Accelerated Master's Degree Program does not guarantee admission to the Graduate School or any graduate program.
Programs are working to be sure that students who are successful in an Accelerated Master's Degree Program would be competitive as graduate program applicants.
Once an undergraduate student at UM completes their bachelor’s degree and they are accepted into a graduate program, they become a graduate student.
Students then pay tuition at the graduate student rate and are eligible for support offered to graduate students in their program. Please see our information about financial aid.