Accelerated Programs

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Accelerated Program to Graduate Programs
Advanced Track Graduate Programs

An accelerated graduate program for the purposes of this guideline, is a graduate program at a Regental institution that allows a student to count courses for undergraduate and graduate credit simultaneously.

SD Board of Regents Policy 2:8 - Level and Numbering of and Enrollment in Courses governs the transfer of courses between the undergraduate and graduate program.

Undergraduate students who have successfully completed ninety (90) credit hours may register for up to twelve (12) graduate credit hours at the 500 or 600 level with the approval of the Graduate Dean serving as designee for the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Such permission does not constitute admission to the USD Graduate School or graduate program as a degree-seeking student.

Moreover, undergraduate students who qualify for and are admitted to a graduate program through a South Dakota Board of Regents approved, fast-track or accelerated graduate program may register for graduate-level (500, 600, and 700) courses and these credit hours may apply to both undergraduate and graduate degree requirements.

SD Board of Regents Policy 2:5 - Transfer of Credit requires the Board of Regents to approve accelerated programs involving the transfer of thirteen (13) or more credits up to a total of twenty-five (25) total transfer credit hours at the accepting institution. In other words, an institution may create an accelerated program of one (1) to twelve (12) hours without Board approval.

An advanced track graduate program for the purposes of this guideline, is a graduate program that if a student has the corresponding conferred undergraduate degree can start further along into the program. Conversely, students without the corresponding conferred undergraduate degree will start in a standard track and will be required to take pre-requisite or foundational courses as they did not meet those competencies with an undergraduate program.

Advantages of Accelerated Graduate Programs:

Save money and reduce expenses towards tuition and fees by counting graduate courses for both graduate and undergraduate degrees*
Increase early opportunities to obtain work experiences and be competitive and marketable
Strengthen ties with faculty from undergraduate courses
Increase life-long earning potential
Have opportunities to gain advanced knowledge and skills by taking graduate-level classes early
Save time by completing a bachelor’s and master’s, up to a year early in comparison to pursuing these degrees separately
Save time for admittance to doctoral or professional degrees for which a prior master’s degree is required
Students admitted to accelerated graduate programs are eligible to apply for graduate assistantships
Save money and time by avoiding requirements of standardized tests (GRE, GMAT, etc.)**
* Applicable to all but two [MBA and MPA (Professional Accountancy)] fast-track programs
** Applicable to select accelerated/fast track programs

Advantages of Advanced Track Graduate Programs:

Save money and reduce expenses towards tuition and fees by not having to take additional pre-requisite and foundation courses
Increase early opportunities to obtain work experiences and be competitive and marketable
Increase life-long earning potential
Save time by starting a graduate program at an advanced level, requiring fewer courses to complete the degree

Accelerated Program to Graduate Programs:

♦ Programs do not double count courses for undergraduate and graduate degrees however there are additional benefits for the student and/or accelerated benefits at the graduate program level.

Undergraduate Program	Graduate Program	Credit hours that apply to both the Undergraduate and Graduate Degrees
Accounting (B.B.A.)	Accountancy (Professional Accountancy), M.P.A.	♦ 0 credit hours double count. This allows students to begin taking master’s level courses before completing the undergraduate degree. After the undergraduate program is completed, 30 hours of graduate work is expected towards the M.P.A. [The minimum number of credits to achieve both degrees is 150 credit hours. In addition, the program enables students to meet the 150-hour educational requirement to sit for the CPA exam in most states, although requirements vary by state.]
Biology (B.S.)	Biology, M.S. non-thesis only-no specialization	12 credit hours
Biology (B.S.)	Biology, M.S. non-thesis only with Conservation and Biodiversity specialization	12 credit hours
Biology (B.S.) with Human Dynamics specialization only	Physical Therapy, D.P.T.	29 credit hours
Biomedical Engineering (B.S.)	Biomedical Engineering, M.S.	12 credit hours
B.B.A. Programs: Accounting (B.B.A.) Business Administration (B.B.A.) Economics (B.B.A.) Finance (B.B.A.) Health Services Administration (B.B.A.) Human Resource Management (B.B.A.) Innovation and Entrepreneurship (B.B.A.) Management (B.B.A.) Operational Analytics (B.B.A.)	M.B.A. Programs: Business Administration, M.B.A. - no specialization Business Administration, M.B.A. - Business Analytics specialization Business Administration, M.B.A. - Finance specialization Business Administration, M.B.A. - Health Services Administration specialization Business Administration, M.B.A. - Marketing specialization Business Administration, M.B.A. - Operations and Supply Chain Management specialization	♦ 0 credit hours double count. This allows students to begin taking master’s level courses before completing the undergraduate degree. After the undergraduate program is completed 33-39 credits of graduate coursework is expected to complete the M.B.A. (dependent upon specialization).
Chemistry Programs: Chemistry-American Chemical Society (ACS) Approved Chemistry specialization (B.S.) Chemistry-Chemistry Coordinate specialization (B.S.)	Chemistry, M.S.	12 credit hours
Computer Science (B.A., B.S.)	Computer Science, M.S. (non-specialization or Informatics or Artificial Intelligence specializations)	12 credit hours
K-12 English as a New Language Minor	Elementary Education, M.A. with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learners specialization	12 credit hours
K-12 English as a New Language Minor	Elementary Education, M.A. with Reading Specialist/Literacy Coach specialization	12 credit hours
K-12 English as a New Language Minor	Secondary Education, M.A. with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learners specialization	12 credit hours
English (B.A., B.S.)	English, M.A. non-thesis only with Literature specialization [4+1 program]	12 credit hours
Health Sciences (B.S.) with Clinical Studies specialization	Occupational Therapy, O.T.D.	20 credit hours (new fall 2021)
Law, J.D. 3+3 program is available with any undergraduate bachelor’s program	Law, J.D. [3+3 program, 3 plus 3 program]	30 credit hours
Neuroscience (B.S.) with Cognitive Neuroscience specialization only	Occupational Therapy, O.T.D.	20 credit hours
Kinesiology and Sport Management (B.S.) with Exercise Science specialization only	Occupational Therapy, O.T.D.	20 credit hours
Physics (B.S.)	Physics, M.S. thesis with Analytics for Large Datasets specialization	12 credit hours
Psychology (B.A., B.S.)	Psychology, M.A. non-thesis only with Human Factors specialization	12 credit hours
Public Administration, M.P.A. accelerated program is by invitation only for high achieving undergraduate students in the following programs: Criminal Justice Studies (B.A., B.S.) International Studies (B.A.) Legal Studies (B.A., B.S.) Political Science (B.A., B.S.)	Public Administration, M.P.A.	12 credit hours
Sociology (B.S. Only)	Social Work, M.S.W.	24 credit hours (new fall 2022)
Special Education, M.A. with Advanced Specialist in Disabilities specialization from any B.S.Ed. Program: Elementary & Special Education (B.S.Ed.) Elementary Education & Early Childhood (B.S.Ed.) Elementary Education & Kindergarten Education (B.S.Ed.) Elementary Education (B.S.Ed.) Secondary Education-Biology Education specialization (B.S.Ed.) Secondary Education-English Education specialization (B.S.Ed.) Secondary Education-History Education specialization (B.S.Ed.) Secondary Education-Mathematics Education specialization (B.S.Ed.) Secondary Education-Physical Education specialization (B.S.Ed.) Secondary Education-Spanish Education specialization (B.S.Ed.) Secondary Education/Special Education (B.S.Ed.)	Special Education, M.A. with Advanced Specialist in Disabilities specialization only	12 credit hours
Sustainability (B.A./B.S.)	Sustainability, M.S. thesis and non-thesis	12 credit hours

Advanced Track Graduate Programs:

Undergraduate Program	Graduate Program	Credit hours that apply to both the Undergraduate and Graduate Degrees
Accounting (B.B.A.)	Accountancy (Professional Accountancy), M.P.A.	♦ 0 credit hours double count. For individuals who qualify an advanced track 30 credit hours is offered. [Traditional M.P.A. without an approved business undergraduate program will take the standard 54 credit hour track.]
Addiction Counseling and Prevention (B.S.)	Addiction Counseling and Prevention, M.A., no specialization	♦ 0 credit hours double count. For individuals who qualify an advanced track of 33 credit hours is offered and is dependent upon the applicant’s addiction credentials and academic background. [Traditional M.A. will take the standard 45 credit hour track.]
Addiction Counseling and Prevention (B.S.)	Addiction Counseling and Prevention, M.A. with Co-Occurring specialization	♦ 0 credit hours double count. For individuals who qualify an advanced track of 33 credit hours is offered and is dependent upon the applicant’s addiction credentials and academic background. [Traditional M.A. will take the standard 45 credit hour track.]
B.B.A. Programs: Accounting (B.B.A.) Business Administration (B.B.A.) Economics (B.B.A.) Finance (B.B.A.) Health Services Administration (B.B.A.) Human Resource Management (B.B.A.) Innovation and Entrepreneurship (B.B.A.) Management (B.B.A.) Operational Analytics (B.B.A.)	M.B.A. Programs: Business Administration, M.B.A. - no specialization Business Administration, M.B.A. - Business Analytics specialization Business Administration, M.B.A. - Finance specialization Business Administration, M.B.A. - Health Services Administration specialization Business Administration, M.B.A. - Marketing specialization Business Administration, M.B.A. - Operations and Supply Chain Management specialization	♦ 0 credit hours double count. For individuals who qualify an advanced track 33-39 credit hours is offered (dependent upon specialization). [Traditional M.B.A. without an approved business undergraduate program will take the standard 51-57 credit hour track.]
Communication Sciences and Disorders (B.A., B.S.)	Speech-Language Pathology, M.A.	♦ 0 credit hours double count. For individuals who hold a baccalaureate degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders BA/BS, a 60 credit hour Advanced Standing Track concentration curriculum is offered. [Traditional Speech-Language Pathology M.A. will take the standard 78 credit hour track.]
Social Work (B.S.)	Social Work, M.S.W. (Advanced Track)	♦ 0 credit hours double count. For individuals who hold a baccalaureate degree in Social Work (e.g. BSW/BSSW) from a CSWE-accredited program, a 36 credit hour Advanced Standing Track concentration curriculum is offered. [Traditional M.S.W. without CSWE-accredited undergraduate program will take the standard 60 credit hour track.]