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GTD Accelerated Master’s Program

Accelerated bachelor’s/master’s degree program


GTD 4+1 Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s (4+1) Degree Program

Available only to undergraduate students in the School for the Future of Innovation in Society and students in the BS in technological entrepreneurship and management in the Polytechnic School

The accelerated bachelor’s/master’s degree program allows undergraduate students in the School for the Future of Innovation in Society and the BS in technological entrepreneurship and management in the Polytechnic School to start master’s level coursework toward their Global Technology and Development MS degree as an undergraduate student, and complete both degrees in five years. They will be able to share 12 hours across both programs. This means that accelerated master’s students will be able to complete the bachelor’s/master’s program with 138 hours instead of 150 hours.

In this program, students will earn a bachelor’s degree in one of the programs listed below and a global technology and development MS degree (GTD).

What are the benefits of the accelerated master’s program?

Students with a master’s degree have a competitive edge in the marketplace and increase their earning potential. Students enrolled in the accelerated master’s program will also save time because they will earn a master’s degree in just one year, saving on tuition. Finally, students will learn qualitative and quantitative methods to investigate how science and technology have shaped and reflect social values in preparation for careers in public service, business, policy and academia.

Pursuing an accelerated degree program

Undergraduate students enrolled in one of the three undergraduate programs listed above may begin the application process to the accelerated bachelor’s/master’s degree program by submitting an Accelerated Program Pre-Application form no later than the early spring term of their junior year. 

Students are eligible to submit the pre-application when

  • they have completed at least 75 semester hours in their undergraduate degree. 
  • have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or better on a 4.0 grading scale

Students with an approved pre-application and who have successfully completed 90 credit hours of coursework toward their undergraduate degree program with a 3.2 GPA may:

  • take 12 credit hours of shared coursework during the fall and spring terms of their senior year.
  • submit a full online Graduate Admissions Application for the Master of Science in global technology and development found on the Graduate College website during the first semester of their senior year for consideration for graduate admission for the following year. The student must apply and pay the application fee for the term and year they plan to start their GTD  graduate career. Please answer the question on the application indicating that you are applying for the accelerated program and specify your undergraduate program. 

For official university reporting purposes, students will be considered undergraduates until awarded their bachelor’s degrees.

GTD application process

Students must meet all admission criteria established by the academic unit and the Graduate College, except the completion of the baccalaureate degree. Graduate admissions will be considered for the fall and spring semesters. The program chair for the MS in Global Technology and Development and the undergraduate faculty director for the School for the Future of Innovation in Society/BS in Technological Entrepreneurship and Management jointly review students for admission to the accelerated program, bases on the recommendations of the GTD admissions committee.

The following supporting documents must be submitted with the online Graduate College application for the Master of Science in global technology and development: 

  • Resume/CV
  • Personal statement of interest
  • Transcripts for all universities and colleges outside ASU
  • Two letters of recommendation

The Graduate College processes the application, and once the file is complete, it will be released to the academic unit for a recommendation. The application then goes through the GTD admissions review. A personal interview with the Admissions Committee, a member of the Admissions Committee, or the Program Director may be required if additional information is needed to determine eligibility for admissions to the program. 

Degree requirements

  • After successfully completing 90 undergraduate credit hours, the student will take up to 12 hours of the GTD degree coursework during the fall and spring terms of the senior year
  • Of the 12 credit hours taken as an undergraduate for the master’s degree, at least six hours must be 500-level or above, and a maximum of six hours may be 400-level
  • Course requirements are the same as the regular GTD program
  • You must complete the bachelor’s degree before admission to the GTD graduate program may begin
  • Once the student completes the undergraduate degree and begins the graduate portion of their career, they are considered a regular master’s student and GTD program requirements apply
  • An undergraduate honors’ thesis may not be substituted for the master’s applied project
  • Satisfactory academic progress requirements for the GTD accelerated master’s program will follow the ones currently set up for GTD graduate students 

Academic progress

Satisfactory academic progress requirements to remain in the accelerated bachelor’s/master’s degree program are outlined below. Students must complete all requirements for the bachelor’s degree in their major and the requirements for the MS in global technology and development.

Continued participation in the accelerated degree program is contingent on, but not limited to, the student completing their undergraduate degree with a minimum GPA of 3.2 prior to starting their graduate career in GTD.

After completion of the bachelor’s degree, the student is admitted into the master’s program. All accelerated students at the master’s level are expected to make systematic progress toward completing their degree. This progress includes meeting the conditions listed below and achieving the benchmarks and requirements set by the individual degree program. If a student fails to meet the requirements and/or benchmarks of their degree program, the student may be withdrawn from their program based on recommendations submitted by the academic unit to the Graduate College.

To be considered as making satisfactory progress toward the master’s degree objective, a student must:

  • Remain continuously enrolled in the degree program
  • Maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher in all classes included in the master’s Program of Study
  • Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in all classes on their transcript numbered 500 or above
  • Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • Not have more than two incomplete grades within a 12 month period
  • Make timely progress through coursework and the applied project
  • Selection of an applied project faculty mentor
  • Completion and filing of the plan of study
  • Completion and submittal of the applied project proposal
  • Successful completion of the applied project
  • Submission of the Report of Final Master’s Culminating Experience form
  • Meet the stated time limit for graduation from the degree program as shown on the Graduate College website.

Contact

If you have questions or would like more information on the accelerated master’s degree program or the application process, please contact:

Elisha Thompson
Undergraduate Coordinator
School for the Future of Innovation in Society

Wendi Taylor
GTD Academic Advisor
School for the Future of Innovation in Society