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If you’re currently in an undergraduate program at Chapman University, you can start working on your master’s degree while completing your bachelor’s degree by taking an accelerated (4+1) program.

These programs let you earn your master’s degree with just one additional year of coursework on top of your bachelor’s degree. (That’s where the “4+1” comes from: four years for the bachelor’s degree and one additional year for the master’s.)

Am I Eligible?

Only current Chapman sophomores and juniors are eligible to apply for accelerated programs. If you are a Chapman senior or have already graduated college, you’ll want to check our regular graduate programs.

All Grad Programs

How do Accelerated Programs Work?

Apply during your junior year. (Sophomore year for the MA in Curriculum and Instruction program.)
Start taking graduate coursework during your senior year.
Complete one additional year of graduate coursework after completing your bachelor’s degree.

Which Master’s Programs Offer an Accelerated Option at Chapman?

More than a dozen graduate programs at Chapman offer an accelerated option. Here is a list of all of them.

Ready to Apply?

Follow these steps to apply to any accelerated program at Chapman.

Step 1: Meet with your Program Coordinator

First, you'll want to schedule a meeting with the Program Coordinator of the program you’re interested in. This meeting will help you make sure you are on track academically to enroll in an accelerated program.

To schedule the meeting, get in touch with the Graduate Admission Counselor for the program. We'll help you get hold of the Program Coordinator and schedule your meeting with them.

Step 2: Apply

Use our How to Apply page to apply to the graduate program that you want to enter. (Despite what the How to Apply page says, you won’t need to pay the application fee or submit your Chapman transcripts since you are already a Chapman student.)

Deadlines

MA in Curriculum and Instruction: January 15, 2022 (to start the program in Summer 2024).
MA in Film Studies: February 1, 2022 (to start the program in Fall 2023).
All other accelerated programs: There is no specific deadline to apply. You just need to apply by the end of your junior year.

Matthew Nwerem

For Matthew, the reward of earning an accelerated master's is worth the challenge as he combines an accelerated MS in Computational and Data Sciences degree with the BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology that he earned at Chapman.

Matthew's Story

Frequently Asked Questions

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An accelerated program is a program that lets you earn a master’s degree with just one year of additional coursework after you earn your bachelor’s degree.

Accelerated programs begin while you are still earning your bachelor’s degree. During your senior year, you can take up to 12 units’ worth of graduate classes. This will allow you to earn your master’s degree in just one additional year.

You’ll save money. During your senior year, you will continue paying the set amount for undergraduate tuition without any additional charge for taking graduate classes.

You’ll save time. You’ll finish your graduate degree in just one year and enter the workforce that much sooner.

You’ll continue your education at a place you know. You won’t have to start over at a new school. You’ll already know what resources are available to you. You might even already know some of your professors in the graduate program.

You can learn more about accelerated programs by attending one of our events. You should also feel free to reach out to the Graduate Admission Counselor for any program you’re interested in.

Before the end of your junior year. (Before the end of your sophomore year for the MA in Curriculum and Instruction program.)

When you start the application process during your junior year, apply for the semester when you will actually become a grad student. In other words, apply for the semester after you complete your bachelor’s degree.

No, you must apply and be admitted to an accelerated program before you begin taking graduate classes.

Log in to your My.Chapman student portal. Then go to your application status page and “Reply to Your Offer of Admission” to accept your admission offer. Then you will be able to register for graduate classes.

When you meet with the Program Coordinator (which you need to do before you apply), you will discuss which classes you need to take.

During your senior year, you are still considered an undergraduate student even though some of your classes will be graduate classes.

Only once you have completed your bachelor’s degree and are only taking graduate classes will you fully be considered a graduate student.

Your tuition and financial aid will remain the same until you are considered a graduate student. Once you are considered a graduate student and are only taking graduate classes, your tuition and financial aid will be recalculated to match your graduate program and status.

For additional questions, contact the Graduate Financial Aid Office at gradfinaid@chapman.edu or (714) 628-2730.

Accelerated (4+1) programs allow you to take up to 12 units’ worth of graduate classes while still enrolled in your undergraduate program.

Bridge programs guarantee highly qualified Health Science undergraduate students preferential consideration for admission into graduate programs.

» Accelerated Graduate Programs

How do Accelerated Programs Work?

Which Master’s Programs Offer an Accelerated Option at Chapman?

Ready to Apply?

Step 1: Meet with your Program Coordinator

Step 2: Apply

Deadlines

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an accelerated program?

How do accelerated programs work?

What are the benefits of taking an accelerated program?

How can I learn more?

When should I apply?

What semester should I apply for?

Can I start taking graduate classes during my senior year on my own and then apply to an accelerated program?

I’ve been admitted. How do I start registering for graduate classes?

How do I know which classes I need to take?

When am I fully considered a graduate student?

How and when will my tuition and financial aid change?

What is the difference between accelerated programs and bridge programs?

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