Accelerated Masters Programs & Senior Permission

1. Accelerated Masters Programs & Senior Permission Michael Edwards Coordinator of Graduate Admissions

2. Getting a Head Start • Why encourage students to pursue the Accelerated Option? • Why encourage students to pursue Senior Permission? • Can students be Accelerated Masters students and pursue Senior Permission? • Who should be applying to the Accelerated Masters Program and Senior Permission?

3. Quiz • What are the requirements to be an Accelerated Masters applicant? • Which semester should an Accelerated Masters applicant select on the application? • Every Accelerated Masters program offers the same number of credits to be earned? • How late can an applicant apply to the Accelerated Masters Program? • All approvals must be completed prior to the end of the Change of Schedule Period for the course(s).

4. Quiz • Are the accelerated masters program admission requirements the same as the admission requirements of the traditional masters program? • Should a student enroll in the undergraduate equivalent of the class before being admitted? • Can the Accelerated Masters Program be used retroactively? • Are Accelerated applicants a Graduate Student?

5. Quiz • Can an Accelerated Masters student take any graduate course in the program? • “Students admitted into an approved Accelerated Masters Degree Program may have a limited number of 600-level or higher courses counted toward both the undergraduate and graduate degree”. -- Academic Regulations (http://www.missouristate.edu/policy/Op3_04_4_AcceleratedMasters.htm) • Not all Accelerated Masters Programs are the same: “If accepted, graduate courses chosen from CHM 602, CHM 607, CHM 642, CHM 652 and CHM 675 may be counted towards both the undergraduate and graduate degrees, with a maximum of 12 credit hours counted towards both the undergraduate and graduate degrees”. • Does it matter if a student is in the system as an Accelerated or Traditional applicant? • Who can be an Accelerated applicant? • MSU, Evangel, Drury, SBU (MAcc)

6. 30 Accelerated Masters Programs Program | Credits Program | Credits

7. Scenarios

8. Scholarships Accelerated Masters Program Senior Permission • MSU General Scholarship • Scenario: Applicant applies for Spring 2014 as Accelerated applicant. Some scholarships may not be available as they are given for an Academic year. • Undergraduate scholarships will not cover the graduate course work.

9. Subtle Differences in admission Reqs Accelerated Masters Program Traditional Masters Program • Submission of GRE or MAT scores prior to the beginning of the second semester of course work.  For information on these tests, please see the "Admission to Graduate Study" section of the Missouri State University Graduate Catalog. • Junior standing with a cumulative GPA of 3.25. • Major in the School of Communication Studies or the equivalent, having completed 15 hours in the major department, including at least six hours at the 300-level or above, with a GPA in the major of 3.50 or better. • A letter of recommendation by a faculty member in the School of Communication Studies. • A personal statement of no more than 2 pages addressing the applicant's qualifications for the Accelerated program and the role the program plays in the applicant's personal and professional goals. • Date for first consideration for applications: March 1. • The applicant must submit scores for either the General Record Examination (GRE) OR the Millers Analogy Test (MAT) prior to the beginning of their second semester of course work.  For information on these tests, please see the “Admission to Graduate Study” section of the Missouri State University Graduate Catalog. • The student must have attained a GPA of at least 3.00 on a 4.00 scale for the last 60 credits of academic work or at least a GPA of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale for the last 60 credits of academic work and a score of 153 or above on the verbal section of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and a score of 140 or above on the quantitative section of the GRE or a score on the MAT in the 50th percentile or higher. • Students who do not meet the normal admission requirements, but who show an indication of high promise, will be considered for probationary admission.  Probationary conditions will be defined by the Graduate Director.  All other University and Graduate College requirements for admission to a degree program will also apply.  Please refer to the requirements given in this catalog.

10. Graduate Assistantships Accelerated Masters Program Senior Permission • Available. • Must meet all regular GA requirements. • Graduate College Evaluation more intense. • Still restricted to two years as a GA. • Not possible.

11. Academic Eligibility Accelerated Masters Program Senior Permission • After 60+ hours earned (Junior status) • Must have already earned 60 hours. Cannot have 45 hours, but be in 15+ of classes and apply. They need to wait. • Must be accepted into Graduate Program. • After 90+ hours earned. (Senior status) • GPA of 3.00 on last 60 hours

12. Maximum Credit Accelerated Masters Program Senior Permission • A maximum of 12 though this is program dependent. • Communication: • History • Project Management: • Global Studies: • A maximum of 12 credits of graduate course work may be earned.

13. Semester Restrictions Accelerated Masters Program Senior Permission • University overload policy applies. • Eligible students are limited to a maximum of 9 credit hours of graduate level courses and a maximum of 15 credit hours of graduate and undergraduate courses combined during a semester.

14. Registration Accelerated Masters Program Senior Permission • Be Accepted into Accelerated Masters Program. • Mixed-Credit Form: Receive written approval: • Department Head • Program Director • Graduate College • Graduate College will take the document to Registrar’s Office after evaluation. • Complete Senior Permission for Graduate Form: • Receive written approval: • Department Head • Graduate College • Graduate College will take the document to Registrar’s Office after evaluation.

15. Financial Aid Accelerated Masters Program Senior Permission • Classes are counted toward both undergraduate and graduate so financial aid is available for all accelerated classes. • Graduate hours do not receive financial aid and do not count toward full-time undergraduate status.

16. Forms Accelerated Masters Program Senior Permission • Completing the Mixed-Credit Form: • Only after the applicant has been admitted. • Do not sign and turn in the mixed-credit form • Always check that the applicant meets GPA requirement before signing. • Graduate College will evaluate the GPA and deny the applicant.

19. Problems? • Wrong semester chosen? What then? • Email GraduateAdmissions@missouristate.edu • Full Name • Date of Birth • Statement specifying change requested. • Graduate Admissions Contact: 836-5331

20. PowerPoint & Forms • http://graduate.missouristate.edu/facultystaff/DirectorInformation.htm • 1. Go to: http://graduate.missouristate.edu. • 2. Click on Faculty and Staff (on the left) • 3. Click Program Director Information link. • PowerPoint, Senior Permission and Accelerated Masters Program forms available.

21. Questions • Discussion?