Accelerated Degrees in the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences
New College offers a number of accelerated degree programs, often referred to as 4+1 programs. 4+1 programs provide top campus (ground) immersion undergraduate students in select campus (ground) immersion New College majors the flexibility to begin taking classes (up to twelve credit hours) toward their campus (ground) immersion master's degree during their senior year.
The 4+1 accelerated degree program is available in the following New College campus (ground) immersion graduate programs:
- Biological Data Science, MS
- Communication Studies, MA
- Interdisciplinary Studies, MA
- Psychology, MS
- Social Justice & Human Rights, MA
- Social Technologies, MA
Cost Savings:
- Accelerated 4+1 students pay undergraduate tuition for graduate courses taken during their senior year.
- Accelerated 4+1 students take fewer total credits between their bachelor's and master's program and pay for fewer cumulative credits to complete both programs.
Time Savings:
- Typically, Accelerated 4+1 students complete their master's program one semester earlier than full-time non-Accelerated 4+1 students.
*Cost and time savings vary based on each individual student's plan of study.
Request information on 4+1
Eligibility Requirements
- Student is enrolled in an eligible New College major. To see what undergraduate majors are eligible for the 4+1 Accelerated Programs please review the graduate program page in Degree Search.
- Student has completed 75 credit hours toward a bachelor's degree. Transfer work can count toward this 75 hours; however, one full semester of coursework at ASU must be included.
- GPA and Pre-requisites:
Biological Data Science:
3.00 GPA in last 75 hours of undergraduate coursework
Communication Studies:
3.33 GPA in last 75 hours of undergraduate coursework
Undergraduate methods completed (preferred)
Interdisciplinary Studies:
3.25 GPA in last 75 hours of undergraduate coursework
Psychology:
3.50 GPA in the last 75 hours of undergraduate coursework
Unofficial SAT or ACT scores required
Social Justice and Human Rights:
3.00 GPA in last 75 hours of undergraduate coursework
Social Techologies:
3.00 GPA in last 75 hours of undergraduate coursework
Approval Process
Step One: It is strongly recommended that any student considering the 4+1 program in the New
College investigate one or all of the following:
- Attend a New College Graduate Studies information session
- Schedule an appointment with a graduate faculty member or director to learn more
- Enroll in a course within the same discipline of your accelerated degree program of interest
- Visit the ASU Career Center to learn more about the benefits of graduate school and career outcomes
Step Two: Contact your undergraduate advisor to determine and confirm eligibility for program
Step Three: Begin the Preliminary Plan of Study (PPOS) - with your undergraduate advisor
- This document will be required during the approval process
Step Four: Meet with the graduate advisor to complete the PPOS
Step Five: Students seeking 4+1 Accelerated Degree status must submit - this Approval to Enter Graduate Courses document:
- no later than July 15 for enrollment in graduate level courses in the upcoming fall semester
- no later than December 15 for enrollment in graduate level courses in the spring semester
Psychology Only: Approval to Enter Graduate Courses document:
- Psychology, no earlier than March 1 and no later than May 31 for the upcoming fall semester.
Step Six: Email all required documents including the completed cover page in a single pdf file to NCGradAdvising@asu.edu.
- Important note: It is the responsibility of the student to contact and receive permission from the two faculty members that are listed as recommenders IN ADVANCE of submitting the completed approval document. This is a professional courtesy and expedites the decision process.
- Allow up to 10 business days for program director approval and to receive email notification of the decision.
Step Seven: Approved 4+1 students will be granted course permission overrides to enter the graduate level courses as listed in the PPOS and notified by the Graduate Academic Success Coordinator that registration for graduate courses can now be completed.
Step Eight: 4+1 Accelerated degree student registers for the graduate level courses.
Accelerated 4+1 Students
All approved 4+1 students must:
- Meet with a graduate advisor prior to each semester
- Enroll in courses according to the agreed upon preliminary program of study form
- Enroll in at least one shared course per semester (fall/spring)
- Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress
- Submit an application to the applicable master’s degree in the final semester of undergraduate coursework