Academically outstanding students in any undergraduate school at the University may apply for a variety of graduate programs that will enable them to graduate with both a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree in five years.
The Master's courses taken in the undergraduate years are covered under undergraduate tuition, thereby reducing the cost of the Master's program.
None of the 38 courses required for the Bachelor's degree may be counted toward a Fifth Year Program. This restriction against double-counting of courses for different degrees is one of the basic tenets that governs the recording and awarding of degrees.
The Fifth Year Programs are comprised of graduate courses above and beyond the 38 three-credit courses that must be completed in order to fulfill the Bachelor's degree requirements and must be 300 level graduate courses or above.
Fifth Year Programs are available in
- Reading/Literacy Teaching
- Elementary, Early Childhood or Secondary Teaching
- Teacher of Students with Special Needs, including mild/moderate learning disabilities, developmental disabilities, and behavior disorders
- Low Incidence Disabilities, including severe special needs, visually impaired, deaf/blindness, and multiple disabilities
- Higher Education
- Educational Research, Measurement, and Evaluation
- Developmental and Educational Psychology
There may be limited federal financial assistance for some graduate programs in Low Incidence Disabilities.
Students interested in a Fifth Year Program should consult with the Lynch School Office of Graduate Student Services, Campion 135, during the spring semester of junior year. Without proper advisement, and early acceptance into a Master's degree program, students will be unable to complete the program in five years.