Baylor’s Accelerated Undergraduate & Graduate Degrees

Many colleges and departments within Baylor University offer accelerated degree programs, sometimes referred to as "Accelerated degrees." These programs allow a student to earn both a bachelor's and master's degree in five years rather than six. However, please note that gaining admission to a particular college within Baylor does not automatically guarantee your admission to its Accelerated degree(s). In other words, you often must apply to them separately. Students typically start preparing for the Accelerated degrees admissions process during their junior year of college. See below for the specific areas of study in which Baylor offers these Accelerated degrees.

Bachelor of Arts for Select Majors*/Master of Arts in Museum Studies

For undergraduate students majoring in American Studies, Anthropology, Art and Art History, History, Journalism, or Museum Studies who want to apply their undergraduate knowledge to museum work, the department offers a accelerated bachelor’s and master’s degree. Click here for more information.

Bachelor of Arts in Classics/Master of Arts in Classics

The Accelerated B.A./M.A. in Classics allows students to graduate within a year of their originally scheduled undergraduate graduation. For full admission into the program, applicants must meet with the Graduate Program Director. They must show active progress toward earning a B.A. in Classics, Greek or Latin, maintain GPA and GRE scores indicative of success in the program and write a personal statement explaining their reasons for seeking the degree. Check the graduate catalog for more information on these requirements.

Bachelor of Arts in Communication/Master of Arts in Communication

The Accelerated B.A./M.A. in Communication allows students to graduate within a year of their originally scheduled undergraduate graduation with a degree in Communication. For full admission into the program, applicants must have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher, a major GPA of 3.4 or higher, hold senior status and have completed 24 Communication hours. Check the graduate catalog for more information on the requirements.

Bachelor of Business Administration/Master of Accountancy

The Accelerated B.B.A./M.Acc. allows students to graduate within a year of their originally scheduled baccalaureate graduation. Up to seven semester hours of undergraduate electives are waived for up to seven semester hours of graduate business electives. For full admission into the program, applicants must be accepted into the Master of Accountancy program during their senior year. Applicants must also meet with the Director of Graduate Accounting Programs to determine if the M.Acc. is the right path for them. Check the graduate catalog for more information on the requirements of the program.

Bachelor of Business Administration/Master of Science in Economics

The Accelerated B.B.A./M.S. in Economics may allow students to graduate within a year of their originally scheduled baccalaureate graduation. The program provides flexibility in course scheduling and more efficient use of financial aid. The Master of Science in Economics concurrent with the B.B.A. requires students to write a thesis. For full admission, the Business School considers the applicant’s prior undergraduate record, their GRE scores and two letters of recommendation from professors in economics or related disciplines. Check the graduate catalog for more information on the requirements of the program.

Bachelor of Business Administration/Master of Taxation

The Accelerated B.B.A./M.Tax. allows students with a major in Accounting to graduate within a year of their originally scheduled undergraduate graduation. Up to seven semester hours of undergraduate electives are waived for up to seven semester hours of graduate business electives. For full admission into the program, applicants must be accepted into the Master of Taxation program during their senior year. Applicants must also meet with the Director of Graduate Accounting Programs to determine if the M.Tax. is the right path for them. Check the graduate catalog for more information on the requirements of the program.

Bachelor of Science in Biology/Master of Science in the Biology of Global Health

Undergraduate students nearing completion of their B.S. in Biology can pursue an accelerated M.S. in the Biology of Global Health. The five-year Accelerated B.S./M.S. degree in Biology of Global Health is a collaboration with the Baylor College of Medicine (B.C.M.) National School of Tropical Medicine (N.S.T.M.). Pre-health students will have two tracks of specialization – a B.S./M.S. with all coursework at Baylor’s Waco campus and a B.S./M.S. with a certificate in Tropical Health and Biotechnology that requires coursework from the N.S.T.M. at B.C.M. in Houston.

Bachelor of Social Work/Master of Social Work (BSW-MSW)

Undergraduate students earning their BSW degree at Baylor are candidates for the 5th year program, or an "accelerated degree”. Eligible BSW students can earn their BSW and MSW degrees in just 5 years, instead of 6. If a student meets eligibility requirements for the 5th year program (also known as Advanced Standing), they are not required to complete a separate application to Baylor’s MSW program. Eligibility requirements include: 3.0 overall GPA, earned grade of "B" or better in all social work courses, and a recommendation of the Practicum Education Office. Your MSW year can be completed in Waco or online. Click here to learn more about the 5th year program and important dates.

Bachelor of Science in Education/Master of Science in (Sport Pedagogy)

Students in Baylor’s All-Level Physical Education (ALPE) program have the opportunity to obtain a B.S. in Education, an M.S. in Sport Pedagogy and the Texas Teaching Certification in five years of full-time study. Undergraduate ALPE students with 90 undergraduate hours and a 3.0 GPA are eligible to apply to the Accelerated B.S.Ed./M.S. in Sport Pedagogy program at the end of their junior year. For more information about application requirements, click here.

Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health Science/Master of Public Health

Undergraduate B.S. in Environmental Health Science students can apply to the Accelerated B.S./M.P.H. in Environmental Health Science program at the end of their junior year. This five-year joint degree program enables qualified students to obtain a B.S. in Environmental Health Science and an M.P.H. in Environmental Health Science in a minimum of five years of full-time study. Applicants are required to take the GRE before being admitted into the program, and they must meet all requirements for entry into the Baylor Graduate School as an MPH student. For more information, click here.

Bachelor of Science in Public Health/Master of Public Health

Undergraduate B.S.P.H. students must officially apply for this accelerated degree program during their junior year. Admitted students begin taking M.P.H.-level courses during their "senior" year of the B.S.P.H. program while also finishing up some of their BSPH requirements. For more information, click here.

Bachelor of Science in Statistics/Master of Science in Statistics

The Accelerated B.S./M.S. in Statistics program, also called the Professional Master of Science program, combines the traditional 36-hour B.S. degree with a 30-hour M.S. degree, enabling a student to graduate in five years. For more information, click here.

Bachelor of Science/Master of Athletic Training

The Accelerated B.S./Master of Athletic Training program allows for students to graduate within a year of their originally scheduled undergraduate graduation. Students majoring in Health Science Studies can apply for this program once they have completed 89 credit hours. For full admission, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, complete 32 credit hours of applicable prerequisites, receive a “C” or better in all prerequisite coursework, complete at least 100 observation hours, submit a signed copy of the written technical standards and have a current CPR/AED certification. Click here for more information on Baylor’s Master of Athletic Training program.

Masters Degrees in Engineering

The School of Engineering and Computer Science offers several accelerated degree programs for students nearing the completion of their bachelor’s degrees. These accelerated degree tracks allow students to apply up to six semester hours toward the degree requirements for both their bachelor’s degree and their chosen master’s degree. Students can thus complete their master’s degree in a shorter amount of time. For more information on these programs, visit the Accelerated Degrees webpage on the School of Engineering and Computer Science website.

Baylor offers the following Accelerated degree programs in engineering:

Baylor’s Accelerated Undergraduate & Graduate Degrees

Undergraduate Admissions