Accelerated Masters
Online undergraduate students may enroll in master’s level courses as undergraduate students, earning credit towards both their undergraduate degree and master’s degree in designated Accelerated Master’s Programs.
Students taking graduate courses must abide by the academic policies and procedures of the LBC graduate catalog for the graduate courses.
Accelerated Master’s Programs are designated master’s level program courses that undergraduate students can take to fulfill an undergraduate requirement and graduate requirement. By double dipping courses, students have the opportunity to accelerate the completion of a master’s degree because the course counts at two degree levels. LBC allows undergraduate students to take specific graduate courses in the following programs:
Biblical Studies (MA)
Christian Apologetics (MA)
Christian Care (MA)
Divinity (MDiv)
Ministry (MA)
Strategic Communication Leadership (MA)
Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MA)
Professional School Counseling (MEd)
Sport Management (MSS)
Students must meet the following criteria to participate in the accelerated master’s degree program courses.
- Undergraduate students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 at the time of beginning master’s degree courses.
- Undergraduate students must be a Junior or Senior (minimum of 60 earned credits) in order to take master’s courses. A minimum of 30 credits must be taken and earned at LBC to qualify to take graduate level courses. Life Experience Credits and transfer credits do not count towards the 30-credit minimum.
- Undergraduate students must have future course or elective requirement space in their UG curriculum to accommodate the graduate courses. Students cannot take graduate courses in addition to their undergraduate course requirements.
- Undergraduate students must receive approval from their academic advisor/coach and the dean in order to take master’s courses.
Note - Consideration for students who meet all the other criteria but who have only 30-42 credits to complete at LBC will be made on a case-by-case basis. For example, a student with 60 transfer credits + 30 LEC. In this scenario, Life Experience Credits must be approved prior to consideration.
Undergraduate students apply to take graduate level courses; they are not applying to the graduate program. Undergraduate students need to complete the Accelerated Master’s Program application form prior to enrolling in the first graduate class. The form should not be completed each time an undergraduate student takes a graduate class.
While taking graduate credits, undergraduate students will maintain undergraduate status. The graduate courses will appear on the undergraduate transcript, and the graduate course grade is calculated within the undergraduate GPA.
Undergraduate students may take no more than 12 graduate credits in total within the accelerated master’s program. The Graduate Course Equivalency document outlines the graduate courses undergraduate students may take to count towards undergraduate credits.
Graduate courses must be applied to undergraduate courses in the student’s program. Students cannot take graduate courses in addition to their undergraduate course requirements. Students are recommended to apply for and be awarded Life Experience credits prior to taking graduate courses so that they do not take unnecessary courses or do not get the full amount of aid available.
Within the 12 graduate credits applied to their program, students are assessed undergraduate tuition and fees for graduate courses, based on their student status of part-time or full-time during the fall and spring and summer terms. Students are eligible for undergraduate financial aid and scholarships. This eligibility ends when the student earns an undergraduate degree.
Once undergraduate students have completed their undergraduate program requirements they will graduate from their undergraduate program. Undergraduate students desiring to matriculate into an LBC master’s degree program must complete the LBC graduate application. Note that some master’s programs have residency requirements. Students must meet admissions criteria to be eligible for acceptance. Students may not finish an undergraduate program and start a master’s program in the same semester- (Ex. Finish BA in session 1 and start MA in session 2.)
Once matriculated into an LBC master’s degree program, the students will be billed at the graduate rate. Students who took graduate courses as undergraduate students will not be able to apply the Alumni Scholarship to the graduate program tuition. Students should check with the Financial Aid office about any other scholarship options.
Process: To apply to take graduate courses, students with their advisors should complete the following steps:
- Review student eligibility to participate by using the criteria.
- Review the Graduate Course Equivalency document to determine which graduate courses to take.
- The student should then apply through the Accelerated Master’s Program application form. Undergraduate students need to complete this form prior to enrolling in the first graduate class. The form should not be completed each time an undergraduate student takes a graduate class.
- Upon approval to participate, the advisor emails the Registrar’s Office to register the student for the graduate courses.