Bachelor's to Master's Programs

Earn Two Degrees in as Little as Five Years

Note: A course with a Pass/No Credit election cannot be applied to the university's Bachelor's to Master's Program.

In order to encourage outstanding UMass Lowell undergraduate degree students to continue their studies towards an advanced degree, qualified students may transition to the the Bachelor’s to Master’s Degree Option (Bachelor's to Master's programs include the Fast Track to Teaching and other B2M programs).

This option carries distinct benefits. No graduate application is required for UMass Lowell's Bachelor's to Master's programs. In addition, many departments offer course credit benefits. (For detailed information regarding specific course credit benefits, please see the Graduate Coordinator in the respective master’s degree granting department.)

The transcripts of the students who declare their intention to transition to master's programs will be reviewed by the graduate coordinator to ensure the GPA and prerequisite requirements are met. Students should also provide one letter of recommendation to support their transition to the master's program. Refer to the Bachelor's to Master's page for more information.

Eligibility

Any UMass Lowell undergraduate junior or senior with a grade point average of 3.000 or better may apply to a Master’s degree program at UMass Lowell under the Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s Degree Option. However, to be accepted into this option the following minimum conditions must be met (individual departments may have more stringent requirements):

  1. The student must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.000 or above at the time the baccalaureate degree is conferred in order to maintain eligibility for this option.
  2. The student must apply for and receive his/her baccalaureate degree before matriculating into the graduate program.
  3. Once accepted, a student is expected to begin his/her graduate studies in the semester immediately following conferral of the baccalaureate degree unless the student submits a written request for deferral. A student is allowed to defer for a maximum of one year from the date of acceptance. For example, if accepted for the Spring 2024 semester, an individual can defer to either the Fall 2024 or Spring 2025 semesters. A student defers acceptance by submitting a written request to the Office of Graduate Admissions. All deferral requests must specify which semester the student wishes to enroll. A student who is accepted into the Bachelor’s to Master’s, who opts not to enroll in at least one course within the graduate department to which they have been accepted in the semester immediately following conferral of the bachelor’s degree and who does not submit a deferral request, forfeits his/her rights to benefits under this program. Should the student decide to begin their studies at a later time they will be required to apply to the graduate program and submit all required admission materials.

Course Credits

The graduate degree granting department may allow course credit benefits; however, the following requirements apply:

  1. Any graduate courses taken by a baccalaureate degree student that are credited towards the Master’s degree must have been obtained with a grade of B or better.
  2. A graduate level course used to fulfill both an undergraduate degree requirement and a undergraduate minor requirement is also eligible to be used in the Master's, but only up to the maximum number allowed for the specific Master's degree.
  3. Only courses of 5000 level or higher may count toward the Master’s degree.
  4. Transfer credit is not accepted for graduate certificates. The Bachelor's to Master's program benefits do not include credits toward a graduate certificate.
  5. As defined by the graduate degree granting department, a maximum of 12 graduate credits (5000 level or above) may be used for the master’s degree as follows:
    • for programs requiring fewer than 33 credits, a maximum of up to six credits of graduate (5000 level or higher) courses may be used by a student in the Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Degree Option for both the graduate and undergraduate degrees; or,
    • for programs requiring 33-35 credits, at the discretion of the affected department, a maximum of up to nine credits of graduate (5000 level or higher) courses may be used by a student in the Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Degree Option for both the graduate and undergraduate degrees; or,
    • for programs requiring 36 or more credits, at the discretion of the affected department, a maximum of up to twelve credits of graduate (5000 level or higher) courses may be used by a student in the Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s Degree Option for both the graduate and undergraduate degrees.
  6. For students not eligible to double count, up to 12 credits may be transferred provided these graduate credits were taken in excess of the university minimum of 120 baccalaureate degree credits and meet transfer credit rules.
  7. Students must petition to have specific courses (5000 level or above) taken during their undergraduate career apply towards their graduate degree via a Graduate Academic Petition.
  8. A course with a Pass/No Credit election cannot be applied to the University's Bachelor's to Master's Program.

How to Transition to Bachelor's to Master's Programs

Undergraduate students are requested to apply to transition by submitting the application for transition found on the Undergraduate Bachelor's to Master's page. Students normally apply to transition in the second semester of their third year as an undergraduate (up until the last day of classes in their final semester before graduation).

Francis College of Engineering Expanded Bachelor's to Master's Policy

The Francis College of Engineering participates in the UMass Lowell Bachelors to Master’s Program and expands this benefit to applicants from other ABET-accredited engineering programs. All applicants from ABET-accredited institutions who meet the UMass Lowell BS/MS admissions criteria may transfer (double count) eligible graduate-level credits taken for the completion of their undergraduate degree program at their home institution to their UMass Lowell (UML) master’s degree program. The maximum number of credits to be transferred will be the same as are allowed by UMass Lowell Francis students who graduate from the College of Engineering. Additionally, all Bachelors to Master’s rules and regulations, including minimum grade requirements, must be met.

Eligibility

Applicants for this expanded program must have a minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.000 in appropriate engineering majors from other ABET-accredited institutions. As with current admissions policy in Engineering, the GRE may be waived for applicants meeting these criteria (minimum GPA from ABET-accredited engineering program).

Double Counting

Consistent with the current transfer policy, only graduate courses with grades of “B” or better may transfer. Also consistent with current policy, each department decides whether a course from another institution may or may not fulfill a departmental program requirement.

Updated 11/2/23