Accelerated Bachelors Masters
Program
The Graduate College
Outreach Program
Accelerated Bachelors Masters
Program
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Program Background/Intention
Eligibility
150 Distinct Hours
Processes
Financial Aid Issues
Program Combinations
5 Year Degree Possibilities
Program Background/Intention
The ABM program was started in 1999 to give
qualified undergraduate students the
opportunity to begin a graduate degree in their
senior year and simultaneously satisfy some
remaining requirements for their bachelors
degree.
Program Combinations
• There is no official list of program
combinations.
• Graduate program admission criteria may
determine (ex. MSW accrediting requires an
earned bachelor’s for all applicants) matching
combinations.
• Appropriateness of graduate courses counting
in undergraduate program need to be
considered.
5 Year Degree Possibilities
• With proper student advisement and planning
you can create a pipeline from an undergraduate
program into a graduate program.
• Key is working with students early to ensure they
take correct courses and keep GPA high.
• If your program lays out the “pipeline plan”
clearly it could be a recruitment tool for both
your undergraduate and graduate programs.
• Make sure all of your faculty and advisors are
aware so they can advise students.
Eligibility
• Have completed at least 18 hours of coursework at
Kennesaw State.
• Have a KSU undergrad GPA of 3.5 or better.
• Be within 30 semester hours of graduation.
• Have written permission of the chair of the department
of the undergraduate major to use the graduate level
courses as acceptable substitutes to fulfill related
requirements of the bachelor’s degree (students must
satisfy all prerequisites for those graduate courses).
• Meet all requirements for admission into the specified
graduate program (except for receipt of the
undergraduate degree).
150 Distinct Hours
• SACS requires that students have a minimum of
120 hours in their undergrad degree and a
minimum of 30 hours in their graduate degree for
a combined 150 “distinct” hours between the
two degrees.
• For most (typical UG-123 and GR-36 = 159) that
will leave 9 hours that can count in both
programs, however it will not work for all
combinations and hours may be limited for some
students.
Process
• Student completes application (which includes Dual
Credit form) indicating courses to count in both
programs.
• Student gets approval from undergraduate degree
department chair and graduate program director.
• Student submits all graduate program admission
requirements.
• Completed application to Graduate Admissions with
application fee.
• The Graduate College will have final approval and will
notify the student.
Financial Aid Issues
• Student remains an undergraduate in Banner and
is charged undergraduate tuition for all courses
until bachelor’s degree graduation.
• Financial Aid will not cover graduate courses for
undergraduates. Financial Aid will usually want
verification that the graduate courses are
counting in the undergrad program. Dual credit
form satisfies this.
• Premium price programs are very difficult to work
with in ABM program since student remains an
undergraduate until graduation.
More Info
• Website with link to application:
http://graduate.kennesaw.edu/admissions/res
ources/abm.php
• Contact: David or Nikki