Accelerated

Program Eligibility

Participation in the Accelerated program is equivalent to the aggregate of the BA and MA degrees, except that up to nine credits hours can be applied toward both the BA and MA requirements. Students admitted to the Accelerated degree program will maintain their undergraduate standing until a mid-program review, which will determine their eligibility to continue in the Accelerated degree program. The mid-program review is conducted the semester in which the student will complete the BA requirements (including 120 credit hours). A student is considered eligible to continue upon meeting the following minimum standards and criteria: completion of the requirements for a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, and maintenance of a minimum cumulative overall GPA of 3.25 and Communication GPA of 3.50.

Upon determination of eligibility to continue, the student is recommended for formal admission to the Graduate School. Such a recommendation must be made by the Communication Graduate Director. Upon approval of the recommendation, the office of the Dean of the Graduate School will complete the necessary procedures to admit the candidate as a graduate student for the completion of his or her program. Any students not recommended for continuation in the Accelerated degree program are eligible to complete their Bachelor's degree.

BA/MA students are not required to complete the MA program. BA/MA students are admitted, however, on the premise that they intend to complete both degrees.

Dual Credits

The BA/MA program allows students to count nine semester credits toward both the Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Master's in Communication programs. In order for credit to be double-counted, the following conditions must be met:

1. Dual credit courses are approved by the Graduate Faculty in Communication
2. Dual credit courses must be completed with a B+ or better
3. Dual credit courses must be taken for graduate credit (5000 level)
4. Dual credit courses must be offered by the UCCS Department of Communication

Degree Requirements

The BA/MA program allows students to count nine semester credits toward both the Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Master's in Communication programs. In order for credit to be double-counted, the following conditions must be met:

1. Once admitted into the Accelerated BA/MA program, (while an undergraduate student), accelerated students must complete their graduate courses with a minimum grade of 3.25 in each course. They also must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.25 in all coursework and in coursework applied to their major.
2. Issues of satisfactory academic progress and transfer credit is the responsibility of the Graduate Program Director and the Undergraduate Program Director with participation by the Communication Chair and Graduate Dean as appropriate. The two Directors are responsible for dismissing or placing on probation those students who do not maintain the minimum requirements stated above.
3. Students who drop out or are dismissed from the Accelerated program and have not yet had their mid-program review are eligible to complete their Bachelor's degree, subject to the normal rules of that program. Students who drop out or are dismissed from the Accelerated program after having had a successful mid-program review are awarded the BA. They are eligible to apply in the traditional manner to the Communication Master's program and transfer credits (subject to normal limitations) that were not used toward the Bachelor of Arts.
4. AMP Students are advised not to enroll for more than six hours of graduate level credit until all undergraduate requirements have been successfully completed. All AMP students are advised to talk COMM 5010 (Introduction to Graduate Studies) during their first year in the program

Tuition and Fees

Students are assessed tuition and fees at the undergraduate rate until the Bachelor of Arts in Communication degree is conferred. Students are assessed tuition and fees at the graduate level upon formal acceptance to the Communication Master's program, which occurs after their completion of the nine graduate credits that count toward both the BA and MA.

Application Procedure

Click here for the Accelerated Masters Program intent application

Click here for Application Procedure (https://comm.uccs.edu/application-process)

Contact Dr. Katie Sullivan at ksulliv8@uccs.edu for further questions