Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's

The Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's (ABM) program allows high-performing undergraduate students at the University of West Florida an opportunity to complete the requirements for both the Bachelor's and Master's degrees at an accelerated pace. Undergraduate students in this program may apply up to 12 graduate (5000-6000 level) credit hours towards the completion of both the Bachelor’s and Master’s degree requirements.

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:
- Students must have completed a minimum of 75 credit hours in their undergraduate programs, including credits earned from advanced placement, prior to submitting the ABM Program Application.
- Transfer students must have completed a minimum of two semesters at the University of West Florida and meet in residence credit hour requirements established by the department and approved by the Graduate School.
- Students must have a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.25/4.0 and a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 in their major at the University of West Florida.
- Admission to an ABM program does not guarantee admission to the Graduate School. In addition to applying to the ABM program, students must apply directly to the Master’s program. Students who are a part of the ABM program cannot be conditionally admitted into the graduate program; they must either be fully admitted or provisionally admitted into the graduate program.

There are two separate application processes (see timeline below): (a) submission/approval of ABM Program Application (allows undergraduate student to begin taking pre-approved graduate-level courses) and (b) submission/approval of graduate admission application (officially admits student into the Master’s program).
A prospective student who meets the eligibility requirements (see Criteria for Admission to an ABM Program) must schedule a meeting with their undergraduate and graduate advisor(s) to develop a degree plan for their 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.
The prospective student must submit an ABM Program Application. The application must be approved by the advisor(s), department chair(s), and the Graduate School.
Before the student can continue to the Master’s degree, during the semester prior to undergraduate graduation, the student must submit either the standard graduate application for admission or the express admission application to the Graduate School including:
- The application processing fee (unless submitting the express admission application)
- Official copy of all non-UWF transcripts
- Any additional departmental admissions requirements
Students who are a part of the ABM program cannot be conditionally admitted into the graduate program; they must either be provisionally or fully admitted into the graduate program.

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:
- Students must have completed a minimum of 75 credit hours in their undergraduate programs, including credits earned from advanced placement, prior to submitting the ABM Program Application.
- Transfer students must have completed a minimum of two semesters at the University of West Florida and meet in-residence credit hour requirements established by the department and approved by the Graduate School.
- Students must have a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.25/4.0 and a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 in their major at the University of West Florida.
- Admission to an ABM program does not guarantee admission to the Graduate School. In addition to applying to the ABM program, students must apply directly to the Master’s program. Students who are a part of the ABM program cannot be conditionally admitted into the graduate program; they must either be fully admitted or provisionally admitted into the graduate program.

It is the responsibility of the student to recognize their eligibility status.
If a student completes the Bachelor's degree requirements with an accumulated GPA of less than 3.25/4.0, then they are 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.
A student who does not follow the approved degree plan may become ineligible to participate in the ABM program.
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).
If a student becomes ineligible to participate in the ABM program, the graduate advisor must inform the student in writing of his/her ineligibility. A copy of this letter to the student must be sent to the Graduate School.

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.

Students who are enrolled in the ABM program are not eligible for graduate assistantship positions until they complete the Bachelor’s degree.

There are two exceptions to our current UWF policies:

Current Policy: Juniors and seniors may enroll for 5000-level courses that will be included in their undergraduate program if they indicate this designation at the time of registration. Except in unusual cases, undergraduate students are restricted to 5000-level courses.
- Exception: We allow students who are enrolled in the ABM program to enroll in 5000 or 6000-level courses
Current Policy: Undergraduate students may register for up to 10 semester hours in graduate courses for graduate credit
- Exception: We allow students who are enrolled in the ABM program to complete 12 semester hours of graduate coursework.