Accelerated Graduate Enrollment (AGRADE)
Our AGRADE program provides the opportunity for top students to enroll simultaneously in an undergraduate and graduate program. Students can apply a maximum of 16 credits towards both an undergraduate and a graduate degree in the student's major field. Students electing AGRADE programs can accelerate time of completion for the master's degree. Some students can expect to complete the bachelor's and master's degrees in five years of full-time study.
Students can apply for an AGRADE program during the semester that they earn 90 credits toward an undergraduate degree typically during the junior year. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.3 and final approval from their major program area.
Overview
The College of Education's Accelerated Graduate Enrollment (AGRADE) program enables qualified seniors in the College of Education to enroll simultaneously in the undergraduate and graduate programs of the College and apply a maximum of 16 credits towards both an undergraduate and graduate degree in the student's major field.
Students who elect the AGRADE program may expect to complete the bachelor's and master's degrees in an accelerated time frame, with some programs completed in five years of full-time study. This allows students to save both time and money as they pursue their undergraduate and graduate degrees, making the most of their experiences at Wayne State.
Contact
For more details about the AGRADE program, students should contact the undergraduate advisor of their major program area or the office of Academic Services at askcoe@wayne.edu or 313-577-1601.
Program outline
Eligibility
AGRADE applicants must be in progress for 90+ credits, and have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.30 or better. Applicants are also expected to have performed at a superior level in the major, as determined by the program area.
AGRADE credits
Students may elect a minimum of three and a maximum of 16 AGRADE credits. These will be used to complete the baccalaureate degree as well as to serve as the beginning of graduate study. AGRADE eligible courses must be completed with grades of "B" or better. Upon formal admission to a master's degree program, AGRADE courses are treated as if they were graduate credits transferred from a graduate program at another university, and are added to the graduate transcript after completion of the first semester in the master's program. The remaining graduate credits required for the master's degree will be earned in the usual manner following formal admission to the graduate program.
Administrative "home"
The college's AGRADE program is administered by the office of Academic Services of the College of Education. Academic Services accepts students to the AGRADE program upon recommendations from the program areas and processes all necessary forms to make sure that students receive credit for the graduate level AGRADE courses completed within the bachelor's degree. Program areas will also monitor the progress of AGRADE students, and advise them about coursework and when to apply for their graduate program of choice.
Advisors and students who have questions about the AGRADE program can contact the office of Academic Services at askcoe@wayne.edu or 313-577-1601.
Time of application
Students can apply for an AGRADE program during the semester that they earn 90 credits toward an undergraduate degree - typically during the junior year. Students should consult with their undergraduate advisor in their major program area to seek advice about the appropriate time to apply for AGRADE.
Additional information
- Program area participation in AGRADE
Some program areas of the College may choose not to participate in the AGRADE program, as it is up to the individual program areas whether to accept AGRADE students. For more information about active AGRADE programs in the College of Education, students and advisors can contact askcoe@wayne.edu or 313-577-1601.
- Application procedures
Students should consult their undergraduate advisor to find out about how and when to apply for AGRADE and submit the Graduate School application. Many program areas will require that AGRADE applicants submit all of the application materials required for normal graduate admission. Specific details of the normal admissions procedures can be found in the Wayne State University Graduate Bulletin or the office of Academic Services in the College of Education.
For program areas in which the GRE is required for admission to a master's program, it is expected that this exam will be taken at the normal time (i.e., as students finish their undergraduate degrees and apply for their master's only year). Admission into AGRADE status does not require receipt of GRE scores.
- Plan of Work
Once a student is accepted into AGRADE, the student and the graduate advisor should complete a plan of work that designates which graduate courses will be taken during the student's undergraduate program. The master's plan of work will designate the type of master's degree being chosen (Plan A, B or C) and the courses that the student will complete during their master's program (both during AGRADE as an undergraduate and as a master's student upon graduation from their undergraduate program).
- AGRADE registration
Registration for approved AGRADE coursework is no different from normal registration procedures. If any approved courses are at the 7000 or 8000 levels, the student may have to obtain a registration override from the program area and should consult with their undergraduate advisor. If a student enrolls in upper-division courses in which both undergraduate and graduate students participate, AGRADE students will be held to the course standards required of the graduate students.
- Receipt of bachelor's degree
AGRADE students will receive their bachelor's degree at the normal time after they have completed all undergraduate requirements and have applied for graduation. Students should work with the undergraduate advisor in their major program area to ensure completion of the undergraduate degree.
- Tuition
Graduate courses taken as part of the AGRADE program carry undergraduate tuition. This is a major benefit of AGRADE enrollment. Once students graduate from their Bachelor's program, they will pay graduate level tuition for the remainder of their master's degree programs.
- Transfer of courses
Because grades of "B-", "C" and "D" are treated differently at the graduate and undergraduate levels, only those AGRADE-approved courses in which the student subsequently earns a "B" or higher will transfer to the graduate transcript. Graduate courses will be transferred to the student's graduate transcripts upon completion of the first semester in the master's program.
- Advising
Students accepted into AGRADE status will be assigned a graduate advisor in their major program area. They will also retain their undergraduate advisor while they are finishing up their bachelor's degree.
- AGRADE attribute
Upon acceptance into the AGRADE program, an AGRADE attribute will be added to the student's record for the duration of their undergraduate program.
- Graduate School application
AGRADE students should consult with their undergraduate advisor to discuss when to submit the Graduate School application. Students can begin the master's program as soon as the semester after the bachelor's degree will be awarded. Official acceptance to the graduate program is required in order to complete the remaining courses needed for the master's degree.
Students have six-years to complete the master's degree, starting from the completion of the first AGRADE course being used towards the degree.
- Retroactivity
Courses already on the student's transcript at the time of application cannot be approved for AGRADE status. Courses completed prior to the completion of 90 credits cannot be approved for AGRADE status. Courses completed before a 3.30+ overall GPA is reached cannot be approved for AGRADE status. Students who have already completed the baccalaureate degree are not eligible for AGRADE status.