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Accelerated master's

Earn both a bachelor's and master's degree in less time

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Accelerate your future


The accelerated master’s program offers highly committed undergraduate students the option to combine undergraduate degree requirements with graduate coursework, resulting in faster degree completion.

New College offers a number of accelerated master's programs in select New College majors the flexibility to begin taking classes (up to twelve credit hours) toward their master’s degree during their senior year. By combining undergraduate and graduate coursework in your senior year for shared credit, you’ll save up to an entire year of schooling and receive both degrees in as little as five years.


Learn more

Learn more about how to complete a master's degree through acceleration:
Grab pizza, treats and a drink as you review the benefits of graduate school. Through acceleration, students save time, money, and effort to achieve a master's. This is your chance to ask graduate advisors and faculty questions!  Gather all the information you need to make an informed decision about a master's program and how acceleration can maximize your future pathway.

Attend in-person information session:
If your bachelor’s degree is within New College’s  School of Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) or School of Humanities, Arts, and Cultural Studies (HArCS), click the button below to register for our February event.

Attend in-person February Information Session

If your bachelor’s degree is within New College’s  School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences (MNS) or School of Interdisciplinary Forensics (SIF), click the button below to register for our March event.

Attend in-person March Information Session

If your bachelor’s degree is online and belongs to any of New College’s four schools (SBS, HArCS, MNS, or SIF), click the button below to register for our virtual event.

Attend Webinar Info Session - Coming Soon!

Learn more about accelerated master's opportunities, formerly the 4+1 program.

Why accelerate?

Increase your competitiveness in the job market while saving time and money.


  • Pay less for overall graduate coursework by taking graduate-level courses at the undergraduate tuition price
  • Earn more money upon graduation: on average, starting salaries for people holding master’s degrees are 31% higher than those with only a bachelor’s degree
  • Cover a portion of your master’s degree with your undergraduate scholarship; some limitations may apply
  • Reduce the total amount of student loans needed for a master’s degree

  • Earn a master’s degree in one year instead of the typical two (for some programs)
  • Complete both programs faster than your peers
  • Get started on your career faster
  • Less coursework means less time and money spent

  • Advance in your career faster than your peers
  • Signal to future employers you’re a highly competitive candidate
  • Accelerate your placement into a potential PhD program
  • Enter the workforce with advanced knowledge and skills
  • Employment in jobs requiring a master's degree is expected to grow by 17% from 2016-2026

  Steps to accelerate


  1. To start the accelerated master’s process, students in eligible majors will submit a request for information form to review accelerated master’s program eligibility. Once this form is submitted, students will be contacted by graduate recruitment within 72 business hours about their eligibility and next steps.
  2. Students who are eligible and a good program fit will have a program overview form created on their behalf by their undergraduate advisor. A student’s advisor will reach out to the student if any additional information is needed. Once reviewed by the undergraduate advisor, the program overview form will be sent to the graduate advising team for completion and the student will be notified that their overview form is with the graduate advising team. There are no actions needed by the student at this time. 
  3. Once the graduate advising team has received the students program overview form, please allow 3 to 5 business days for review. The graduate advising team will reach out to the student to schedule a meeting once their program overview is completed and ready for review. 
  4. After meeting with the graduate advising team, campus students (only) can now submit the pre-application to the graduate advising team who will review your submission and send an approval decision for shared course work. Please allow 10 business days for review. Students participating in an online based accelerated master’s program can skip to step 5.
  5. Once a student has received approval and appropriate overrides, they will be notified by the graduate advising team that they can proceed with enrolling in their approved shared coursework.

Accelerated program options


New College has several accelerated master’s degree options available. You can choose a master's degree option that's from the same discipline as your undergraduate major or one from a different discipline. Review the mater's degree options below to see each programs requirements and eligible undergraduate degrees.


Program Overview

Manipulating big data, including the generation and analysis of data using statistical and computational toolsets. Students use their analytical skills in ecological, environmental, toxicological and other biological applications. The program incorporates multiple levels of experiential learning to ensure students gain critical thinking skills in addition to core competencies.
 

Campus Program Information   Online Program Information
 

Admission Requirements

GPA: 3.0 or higher
Undergraduate Credit Hours: 75 hours
 

Eligible Undergraduate Programs

Students in the following campus undergraduate programs are eligible for the campus Biological Data Science, MS or the online Biological Data Science, MS.

To participate in the campus program, student’s must be eligible for undergraduate degree completion in December (Fall).

 
Program Overview

The ability to convey ideas, change opinions and persuade behaviors are skills valued in any organization that has customers, employees, suppliers, or investors. This degree program gives you the tools to advance your career in nearly any field.
 

Program Information
 

Admission Requirements

GPA: 3.33 or higher
Undergraduate Credit Hours: 75 hours
Courses: It is preferred that students have completed an undergraduate methods course prior to applying
 

Eligible Undergraduate Programs

Students in the following campus undergraduate programs are eligible for the campus Communication Studies, MA.

 
Program Overview

Leveraging your love of literature and depth of language with a degree that fine tunes your analytical and critical thinking skills. Complete your degree in one or two years, combining the individualized attention provided by small, in-person classes with the flexibility of online instruction.
 

Program Information
 

Admission Requirements

GPA: 3.0 or higher
Undergraduate Credit Hours: 75 hours
 

Eligible Undergraduate Programs

Students in the following campus undergraduate programs are eligible for the campus English, MA.

Program Overview

Designed to give students and working professionals an understanding of psychological theory and empirical research findings as they relate to human behavior, cognition, emotion and attitudes. The coursework is designed to help students learn about the various roles of psychologists in society today and discover which they might like to pursue through careers in education, social service, for-profit and nonprofit organizations, or management, or through additional graduate training.
 

Program Information
 

Admission Requirements

GPA: 3.0 or higher
Undergraduate Credit Hours: 75 hours
 

Eligible Undergraduate Programs

Students in the following campus or online undergraduate programs are eligible for the online Psychology, MS.

Program Overview

The MS program in psychology with a concentration in industrial and organizational psychology educates students to be well-versed in workplace empowerment strategies and interventions that are transformational and can lead to the optimal well-being and performance of individuals within organizations.

The core coursework uses concepts in psychology to emphasize training and development, professional motivation, decision-making, justice and leadership. Students engage in a rigorous curriculum that fosters advanced writing skills, and critical thinking and analytical skills to promote competence in understanding theoretical, methodological and statistical frameworks within psychology and industrial and organizational psychology research.
 

Program Information
 

Admission Requirements

GPA: 3.0 or higher
Undergraduate Credit Hours: 75 hours
 

Eligible Undergraduate Programs

Students in the following campus or online undergraduate programs are eligible for the online Psychology (Industrial and Organizational Psychology), MS.

Program Overview

Designed to give students and working professionals an understanding in psychology with a concentration in positive psychology allows you to apply psychological concepts to promote individual flourishing and satisfaction with life.  Students will gain the foundational knowledge and skills of a traditional psychology program, while focusing your studies on topics central to the field of positive psychology, such as optimism, gratitude, coping mechanisms, resilience and mindfulness.
 

Program Information
 

Admission Requirements

GPA: 3.0 or higher
Undergraduate Credit Hours: 75 hours
 

Eligible Undergraduate Programs

Students in the following campus or online undergraduate programs are eligible for the online Psychology (Positive Psychology), MS.

Program Overview

The MS program in psychology with a concentration in sport psychology prepares students to apply knowledge and skills to work toward the health and achievements of individuals in a sport setting along with more harmonious, equitable and inclusive societies.

Through an interdisciplinary lens including psychology, communication and health, the core coursework emphasizes multiple theoretical perspectives and applications of sport psychology, culture and diversity in sports, and cultural significance of sport fandom. Electives provide students with the flexibility to focus on areas important to their professional interests. The faculty in the sport psychology concentration are committed to providing an engaging curriculum that fosters advanced writing skills, critical thinking and analytical skills, and promotes competence in understanding theoretical, methodological and statistical frameworks within psychology and sport psychology research.


 Program Information
 

Admission Requirements

GPA: 3.0 or higher
Undergraduate Credit Hours: 75 hours
 

Eligible Undergraduate Programs

Students in the following campus or online undergraduate programs are eligible for the campus Psychology (Sport Psychology), MS.

 
Program Overview

Around our communities and around the world people can be oppressed or exploited for any reason and sometimes no reason at all. You can gain hands-on experience with advocates and aid workers to better understand the problems to work toward solutions.
 

Campus Program Information   Online Program Information 
 

Admission Requirements

GPA: 3.0 or higher
Undergraduate Credit Hours: 75 hours
 

Eligible Undergraduate Programs

Students in the following campus undergraduate programs are eligible for the campus Social Justice and Human Rights, MA.


*Note: Students in the campus Social Justice and Human Rights, BA program are eligible to participate in the Social Justice and Human Rights, MA program via campus or online. Students in the online Social Justice and Human Rights, BA are eligible to participate in the Social Justice and Human Rights, MA program online.

 
Program Overview

The master’s degree in social data science is your ticket to understanding data science and social theory. You'll learn how data-driven approaches affect organizations and society as a whole. This knowledge will guide you as you seek to explain the practical, ethical and social dimensions of the issues of data in society.
 

Program Information
 

Admission Requirements

GPA: 3.0 or higher
Undergraduate Credit Hours: 75 hours
 

Eligible Undergraduate Programs

Students in the following campus undergraduate programs are eligible for the online Social Data Science, MA.

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