Graduate Admissions

Accelerated Bachelor's - Master's Programs

The Accelerated Bachelor's - Master's (ABM) program allows high-performing UWF students the opportunity to complete the requirements for both the bachelor's and master's degrees at an accelerated pace and at a lower cost than pursuing the degrees separately. It does so by allowing these exceptional students to apply up to twelve (12) graduate (5000-6000 level) hours towards the completion of both the bachelor's and master's degrees.

1. Current ABM Programs ▼
   - Master of Science in Criminal Justice
   
   Other programs are currently under development
2. Criteria for Admission ▼
   Admission to the ABM program, which allows undergraduate students to begin taking approved graduate courses, is contingent on meeting the following eligibility requirements at the time of entering the ABM program:

   1. 1) Students must have completed a minimum of seventy-five (75) semester hours in their undergraduate programs, including credits earned from advanced placement, prior to submitting the ABM Program Application.
   
   
   2. 2) Transfer students must have completed a minimum of 24 semester hours and at least two semesters at the University of West Florida.
   
   
   3. 3) Students must have a minimum overall undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.25 and a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 in their major.
   
   
   4. 4) Admission to an ABM program does not guarantee admission to the Graduate School. In addition, students must apply directly to the master's program. Students who are a part of the ABM program cannot be provisionally or conditionally admitted into the graduate program; they must be fully admitted into the graduate program.
3. How to Apply for Admission to the ABM Program ▼
   There are two separate application processes: (1) submission/approval of ABM Program Application (allows undergraduate student to begin taking pre-approved graduate-level courses) and (2) submission/approval of graduate admission application (officially admits student into the master's program).

   
   
   1. 1) A prospective student who meets the eligibility requirements must schedule a meeting with his/her undergraduate advisor and graduate advisor to develop a degree plan for his/her bachelor's and master's degree programs. The degree plans must clearly indicate the courses (a maximum of 12 graduate semester hours at either the 5000 or 6000 level) that will be applied to both the bachelor's and master's degrees. Undergraduate courses cannot be used to meet graduate degree requirements.
   
   
   2. 2) The prospective student must submit an ABM Program Application. The application must be approved by the department chair(s) and a copy must be submitted to the Graduate School.
   
   
   3. 3) Before the student can persist to the Master's degree, during the semester prior to undergraduate graduation, students must submit the standard graduate application for admission to the Graduate School including:
   
   
   • Application Checklist
   • A graduate admission application (or express admission application)
   • An application processing fee (unless submitting the express admission application)
   • An official copy of all non-UWF transcripts
   • An acceptable graduate admission test score
   • Departmental admission requirements (unless submitting the express admission application)
   
   
   4. 4) Students must meet all Graduate School and department regular admission requirements.
4. Requirements for Participation and Graduation ▼
   
   

   1. 1) Students must complete the bachelor's degree prior to entering the master's program. Students in the ABM may not elect to by-pass the bachelor's degree.
   
   
   2. 2) Students must receive a grade of 'B' or better in each of the graduate level courses that are being applied to both degrees. Courses with a grade of 'B-' or below cannot be applied to the master's degree.
   
   
   3. 3) No more than twelve (12) hours of graduate work (5000-6000 level) may be counted towards the bachelor's degree.
   
   
   4. 4) Students in non-thesis programs must complete all master's degree requirements and obtain the master's degree within 18 months of completing the bachelor's degree. Students in thesis or extended hour programs (36 s.h. or more) must complete all master's degree requirements and obtain the master's degree within 24 months of completing the bachelor's degree. If the master's program is not completed within this time limit, the student is no longer eligible to apply the credit hours towards both degrees (i.e., the student can only apply the credit hours either towards completion of the bachelor's degree or to include in a future master's degree) and is automatically terminated from the ABM program.
   
   
   Continuing Eligibility ▼
   
   
   1. 1) It is the responsibility of the student to recognize his/her eligibility status.
   
   
   2. 2) If a student completes the bachelor's degree requirements with an accumulated GPA of less than 3.25, then he/she is no longer eligible to apply the credit hours towards both degrees (i.e., the student can only apply the credit hours either towards completion of the bachelor's degree or to include in a future master's degree) and is automatically terminated from the ABM program. Individual departments may have higher requirements and failure to meet these requirements will make a student ineligible to participate in the ABM program.
   
   
   3. 3) A student who does not follow the approved degree plan may become ineligible to participate in the ABM program.
   
   
   4. 4) A student who is ineligible to continue participating in or withdraws from the ABM program cannot apply any courses towards both degrees (i.e., the student can only apply the 12 graduate-level credit hours either towards completion of the bachelor's degree or to include in a future master's degree).
   
   
5. Withdrawal from the ABM Program ▼
   A student may at any time withdraw from an approved ABM program by informing the undergraduate and graduate advisor(s) in writing. A student who withdraws from the ABM program without finishing cannot use any completed graduate courses in future master's degrees at the University of West Florida if the courses are used towards the completion of the undergraduate degree.
   
6. Graduate Assistantship Eligibility ▼
   Students who are enrolled in the ABM program are not eligible for graduate assistantship positions until they complete the bachelor's degree.