/Institutions/Messiah-College/json/2018-2019/Graduate-Catalog-local.json

/Institutions/Messiah-College/json/2018-2019/Graduate-Catalog.json

Concurrent, Dual, & Subsequent Degrees

Concurrent Degrees

Concurrent degrees occur when a student is enrolled in two graduate degrees of the same level at the same time, which are not arranged by the College as a dual degree program. The following criteria apply:

• Students must apply separately to both programs and admission decisions are made independently.
• Students are responsible to correspond with advisors in both programs and track progress toward graduation. They must establish a plan of study for degree completion with both academic advisors.
• Students complete all requirements for both degree programs.
• Students complete all requirements for each program, including maintaining a 3.0 GPA in each program.
• Students may be approved to use the same course(s) to meet requirements in each program under the following parameters:
  • For degrees requiring 30-60 credits, a maximum of six (6) credits may be shared between the degrees.
  • For degrees requiring more than 60 credits, a maximum of nine (9) credits may be shared.
  • When one degree requires more than 60 credits, and the other requires 60 credits or less, the maximum number of credits that may be shared is six (6).
• The cumulative GPA is calculated and based on all graduate credits earned at Messiah College.
• Students are not required to earn both degrees in the same academic year.
• Completion of both degrees results in two degree citations on the academic transcript. Students are issued a diploma for each degree earned.

Dual Degree

Dual degrees are formal programs of study created by the College where students complete two different existing graduate degrees of the same level at the same time. The following criteria apply:

• Dual degrees require further study than either degree alone, but less than if the degrees are pursued separately. The total number of credits is reduced no more than 25% to establish requirements for the dual degrees.
  • Reductions may be achieved by sharing a course(s) between the two programs, course substitutions, or waivers due to complimentary content of coursework.
  • Program objectives for each degree must be maintained when establishing potential reductions.
• Students apply specifically to the dual degree program, and both directors of the dual degree program make admission decisions. A student may be eligible for admission to the standard degree program if he/she is not admitted for the dual degree.
• Students are responsible to correspond with advisors in both programs to track progress toward graduation.
• Students complete all requirements as outlined by the College for the dual degree.
• The cumulative GPA is calculated and based on all graduate credits earned at Messiah College.
• The awarding of both degrees occurs simultaneously at the time all requirements are successfully completed. Students are not eligible for one degree until both degrees are finished.

Completion of both degrees results in two degree citations on the academic transcript. Students are issued a diploma for each degree earned.

Subsequent Degree

A subsequent degree is awarded when a student completes an additional graduate degree of the same level at Messiah College after completing the first graduate degree. The following criteria apply:

• Students must apply to the succeeding degree program and admission decisions are made independent of previous admission decisions.
• Students complete all requirements for the subsequent degree.
• Students may be approved to use a course(s) from the previous Messiah graduate degree to meet requirements in the subsequent degree with the following parameters:
  • For degrees requiring 30-60 credits, a maximum of six (6) credits may be shared between the degrees.
  • For degrees requiring more than 60 credits, a maximum of nine (9) credits may be shared.
  • When one degree requires more than 60 credits, and the other requires 60 credits or less, the maximum number of credits that may be shared is six (6).
• Courses applied from a previous degree to the subsequent degree must be completed within the last seven (7) years of matriculation to the subsequent degree.
• The cumulative GPA is calculated and based on all graduate credits earned at Messiah College.
• Completion of the subsequent degree results in two degree citations on the academic transcript. Students are issued a diploma for each degree earned.