Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees

UF has developed a program for undergraduate students that allows those who qualify academically to obtain both a bachelor’s and master’s degree. Minimum qualifications for many programs include a 3.2 GPA and an 1100 GRE for admission to Graduate School.

Combined-degree programs allow students to get a head start on their graduate education by taking graduate courses throughout the junior and senior undergraduate years. In most programs, 12 credit hours of graduate work will also count toward an undergraduate degree, thus reducing the time it takes to get both degrees. Able students should consult their departmental adviser to determine whether the department offers combined degree programs and whether they qualify.

The following list provides some advantages of a combined-degree program:

• Qualified students can obtain an undergraduate and a graduate degree in much less time than two separate degrees.
• The cost of both degrees is reduced, since at least 12 credits apply toward both degrees.
• Students have time to decide whether to pursue further graduate or professional study.
• Students’ marketability is greatly enhanced; many professions now require a master’s degree for entry-level positions.
• Program provides continuity between undergraduate and graduate studies.

There are a number of financial considerations students should keep in mind. The Bright Futures Scholarship Program will fund graduate tuition at the undergraduate level – students are responsible for paying the difference between undergraduate and graduate tuitions.

Florida PrePaid College Tuition Program participants will receive funding for the first 120 credit hours. The program will fund graduate courses taken toward the undergraduate degree at the undergraduate level. Financial aid may be available to assist with the graduate degree portion of the program.

The Graduate Catalog can provide additional information. A list of combined-degree programs is available on ISIS, which also provides a timeline and an application form (www.isis.ufl.edu/cdp1.html).

New programs are being developed; refer to department Web sites for additional combined degrees.

Advanced Standing

Credit by Examination

A student may participate in several credit-by-examination programs to earn credit toward a degree. The following guidelines apply to all credit by examination:

• A maximum of 30 semester hours may be granted by combining AICE, AP, IB and CLEP credit.
• Students beginning in the fall or spring term must have taken the exams (AICE, AP, IB, CLEP) and have their scores reported to the university before enrolling or, at the latest, before the end of the first term of enrollment at UF.
• Students who begin in the summer must have taken the exam(s) and had the scores reported before the end of their first fall term.

If the student submits appropriate scores, UF will grant credit and post approximate course equivalencies to the student’s UF transcript (course equivalency charts for AICE, AP, IB and CLEP scores are published at the end of this section. Equivalent courses earned by examination generally fulfill the same requirements that the UF course fulfills.

Information on General Education and the Writing and Math Requirement (Gordon Rule) credit is listed in the course equivalency charts published at the end of this section.

• Advanced International Certificate of Education Program (AICE)

Students completing AICE examinations should submit to UF official scores as evidence of completion of a college-level course taken in high school. Students’ scores will be evaluated and, if they meet minimum requirements, the student will receive credit for approximate UF course equivalencies that will appear on the student’s UF transcript. The AICE Score-Course Equivalency Chart at the end of this section indicates the approximate UF course equivalencies that will appear on the student’s UF transcript, and the appropriate General Education and Writing and Math requirement credit students will earn.

• Advanced Placement Program (AP)

Students completing AP examinations should submit to UF official scores as evidence of completion of a college-level course taken in high school. The AP Score-Course Equivalency chart at the end of this section indicates the approximate UF course equivalencies that will appear on the student’s UF transcript, and the appropriate General Education and Writing and Math requirement credit students will earn.

Scores of 3 or higher on AP French, German, Latin and Spanish fulfill the foreign language proficiency requirement of College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the College of Journalism, and B.A. programs in the College of Fine Arts.

• International Baccalaureate Program (IB)

Students completing IB examinations should submit to UF official scores as evidence of completion of a college-level course taken in high school. Students receiving the IB diploma may receive credit for scores of 4 or higher on both higher-level and standard-level examinations. Students who do not receive the IB diploma will receive credit for scores of 5 or higher on higher- level examinations only. The IB Score-Course Equivalency chart at the end of this section indicates the approximate UF course equivalencies that will appear on the student’s UF transcript, and the appropriate General Education and Writing and Math requirement credit students will earn.

Scores of 4 or higher in IB French B, German B, Classical Latin and Spanish B fulfill the foreign language proficiency requirement of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the College of Journalism and B.A. programs in the College of Fine Arts, regardless of whether the student has earned the IB diploma.

• College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

CLEP examinations cover material that is taught in introductory-level courses at many colleges and universities. For a list of CLEP examinations, credit earned and UF course equivalencies, refer to the charts at the end of this section. The CLEP Web site provides information on the examinations: www.collegeboard.com/clep

Credit will be awarded only once for the same subject, whether from credit by examination, dual enrollment, transfer credit, or UF course credit. UF course credit takes precedence over all other forms of credit for the same course. Credit awarded for acceptable dual-enrollment or transfer courses takes precedence over credit by examination. If duplicate credit exists among AICE, AP, IB or CLEP, the exam yielding the most credit will be awarded.