Seniors

Students in their senior year, with a 3.0 or better GPA, may enroll in 5000-level courses satisfying undergraduate degree requirements within their department with the permission of the course instructor and the Department Head. Should the student become a graduate student, these courses may not be used on the Plan of Study for a graduate degree.

Dual Student Status

Seniors in a bachelor's degree, who have a GPA of 3.0 or better may be eligible for Dual Status during the final semester of their undergraduate degree. To obtain this status, students must file an application for the master's degree and the Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Degree and Course Designation Request (for obtaining Dual Status) (https://graduateschool.vt.edu/content/dam/graduateschool_vt_edu/forms/Accelerated_UG-GR_Degree_and_Course_Designation_Request.pdf ). The department reviews the student for master's acceptance and, if this is recommended, indicates on the Admission Analysis form that the student will be accepted for Dual Status for the final semester of the undergraduate degree. This acceptance must  occur prior to the final semester of the undergraduate degree. Graduate coursework taken during the semester of dual registration may only be designated for use in the graduate degree when it is not used to meet bachelor's degree requirements (i.e., each course taken during the final semester is specified as being for either the bachelor's or the master's degree). A grade of B or higher must be earned in each Dual course to be placed on the graduate transcript.

 Combined Student Status (Architecture Only)

This status is reserved for qualified students in the bachelor of architecture program who: (a) are within 24 semester hours of graduation; (b) are proceeding toward the two-year master's program in architecture; and (c) have at least a 3.0 GPA for the last two years (60 credit hours) of undergraduate studies. Combined students are permitted to take graduate courses.

Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Degree Programs

In accordance with the policy of the Commission on Graduate and Professional Studies and Policies for accelerated undergraduate/graduate degree programs, "each graduate degree program wishing to offer one or more accelerated undergraduate/graduate degree programs must submit a written description of their program to the Graduate School for review and approval before students may be admitted hereto."

Consistent with Graduate School policy, the standards for each program must meet the minimum requirements but can exceed these (e.g., GPA, fewer courses to be double counted).  These regulations include the following:

• Students must be accepted into the program prior to the beginning of the semester in which they would enroll in courses to be used on the accelerated program. 
  
• Students qualifying for the program must be in the last 12 months of their undergraduate degree.
  
• A minimum GPA of 3.3 is required at the time of acceptance to the program
  
• Once completion of the undergraduate degree has been verified, students accepted into this accelerated program will be classified as regular graduate students.
• A maximum of 12 credits of graded coursework may be used in the program.
• No more than 6 of the double-counted credits may be at the 4000 level; all others must be offered for graduate credit.
• A grade of B or higher must be earned in each course to be double counted.
• Courses must not be taken pass-fail if a graded option is available.

Programs that intend to accept students into an accelerated graduate program must submit a proposal to the Graduate School that includes the following:

• Accelerated program(s) to be offered.  These can include programs designed for VT students as well as non-VT students from U.S. institutions or in partnership with international institutions.
• Graduate degrees included - master's or doctoral degrees, or both.
• Admission criteria and application materials required, including but not necessarily limited to student status, minimum GPA requirement, statement of motivation and career objectives, student's experience and qualifications as reflected in a resume, a portfolio, and/or letters of reference.
• The number of credits to be double counted towards undergraduate and graduate degrees.
• Process for identifying potential students and faculty advisors, and for mentoring during program.
• Tentative listing of courses that the department expects to be used for graduate plans of study for students in the program.
• Other conditions or aspects of the proposed program as appropriate.