Accelerated Master's Program (AMP)

The Graduate College offers exceptional undergraduate students in selected majors the opportunity to earn both a bachelor's degree and master's degree in as few as 5 years. The Accelerated Master's Program (AMP) is for the top undergraduates in participating majors who plan to continue in a graduate program in the same, or closely related, UA discipline. To determine if this is an option in your major, see the list of currently approved AMPs.

The Graduate College has established minimum AMP admission requirements; however, departments may set additional or more stringent requirements. Interested students should check with the department offering the AMP regarding the graduate program admission criteria.

Additionally, undergraduates should become familiar with the general AMP degree and tuition policies prior to applying to the Graduate College.

Degree and Tuition Policies

Students will be considered undergraduates until they complete their undergraduate requirements, which should be no later than the end of the fourth year. Students entering with Advanced Placement Credit or who attend summer school would likely graduate with their bachelor's degree in the 3rd year. Students must take at least 12 of their graduate credits while in graduate status. In other words,

• During years 1-3 (or approximately 0-90 credits) students will be taking undergraduate coursework and charged at the undergraduate rate.

• Once admitted to AMP, during the senior (or transition year), they may take up to 12 units of graduate coursework which may apply toward both the bachelor's and the master's degrees. Students will be charged at the undergraduate rate and retain eligibility for undergraduate scholarships.

• Students classified as seniors who have not yet completed a bachelor's degree may enroll in 500-level courses following the Gradute Credit for Seniors Policy. Courses numbered at the 600, 700 and 900 levels are not open to undergraduates.

• After completion of all baccalaureate requirements, students will be granted graduate status, be charged at the graduate rate, and be eligible for graduate assistantships. The student won't be eligible to graduate nor will they be eligible for assistantships until all baccalaureate requirements are completed. While an undergraduate, students are required to keep their graduate coursework cumulative GPA at 3.0 or higher to be admitted to the master's program.

• Should a student have completed 12 graduate credits, but not yet completed the undergraduate degree, they will be considered graduate for financial aid and tuition purposes with a graduate career in UAccess. They will no longer be eligible for undergraduate scholarships, nor will they be eligible for graduate assistantships.

• At least 12 graduate credits must be taken while in graduate status, after completing all requirements for the bachelor's degree.

• Students should be encouraged to complete their undergraduate requirements as soon as possible, but not later than one semester before earning their master's degree. Students finishing their undergraduate requirements later than one semester before earning their master's will no longer be eligible for undergraduate scholarships or for graduate assistantships.  Neither degree will be awarded until all undergraduate degree requirements have been completed.

Admission Requirements

Programs will select from among a qualified pool, based on the following criteria. Individual programs may have more stringent or additional requirements:

1. Completion of a minimum of 75 undergraduate credit hours will be required at the time of application; a minimum of 90 undergraduate credit hours will be required at the time of entry into the AMP. If the student's GPA falls below 3.30 at the time s/he has completed 90 units, the student will not be admitted into the program. Courses taken for audit may not be included in the total number of units counted for eligibility or admission.
2. Completion of at least 12 earned units of undergraduate course work in the major at the UA. 
3. Units still graded Incomplete, units graded Pass/Fail or units taken as audit will not count toward the requirement of the 12 undergraduate units in the major. 
4. Completion or near completion of general education requirements.
5. Submission of a graduate application and payment of a graduate application fee. 
6. Demonstration of the maturity necessary for success in an accelerated, highly competitive program. 
7. Expectation to complete the undergraduate degree within four years. The undergraduate degree requirements must be completed before the student is eligible to have the Master's degree awarded.