Steps to Degree

The undergraduate degree is conferred before the student’s admission to the graduate portion of the ADP. If you are not sure which model your program follows, check the Accelerated Degree Graduate Coursework Plan form for your major.

Applying to the Undergraduate Portion of the Accelerated Degree Program (ADP)

• Contact your academic unit and/or undergraduate college before or during your junior year.
• You will need to follow the application procedures and deadlines established by the academic unit and undergraduate college in order to be admitted to the accelerated degree program (ADP) and changed to the undergraduate accelerated major code.

After Admission to the Undergraduate Portion of the ADP

• You must meet all requirements and deadlines for the master’s degree outlined in the Graduate College Bulletin.
• Work with your undergraduate college advisor and graduate liaison to complete the Accelerated Degree Graduate Coursework Plan form. This form is used to plan the hours that will count toward both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
  • All shared courses must carry graduate credit and be applicable to both the bachelor’s degree requirements and master’s degree requirements.
  • Coursework completed prior to admission to the undergraduate portion of the ADP cannot be considered for shared coursework credit.

Applying to the Graduate Portion of the ADP

• Apply to the graduate portion during the final semester of the bachelor’s degree by submitting the online Addition or Change of Program application through the Office of Graduate Admissions.
  • The term of admission must be the semester after completion of the bachelor’s degree. You may not skip a fall or spring semester between the degrees.
  • If you do not complete the bachelor’s degree as intended, your admission to the graduate portion of the ADP will not be valid, you will remain in the undergraduate portion, and you will need to reapply to the graduate portion.

Planning Your Program of Study

• See the Non-Thesis Master's Degree, Thesis Master's Degree, or Coursework-Only Master's Degree menu above for your remaining steps toward graduation.
  

Congratulations!

ADMISSION TO THE GRADUATE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

• All students who intend to pursue a graduate certificate must apply to the program through the Office of Admissions.
  • You may either be admitted solely into a graduate certificate program, or you may apply to add a graduate certificate while enrolled in a graduate degree program. Students enrolled in a graduate degree program must apply to add the graduate certificate program by submitting the online Addition or Change of Program application.
  • If you are not currently enrolled in a graduate degree program, you will only apply for admission to the graduate certificate program.

COMPLETING COURSEWORK FOR THE GRADUATE CERTIFICATE

• After admission to the program, consult your academic unit for coursework advising.
  • All courses must be taken at OU. No transfer credit is permitted.
  • No course substitutions are permitted.
  • Coursework applied to the certificate cannot be more than five years old at the time the certificate is awarded.
  • You must earn a GPA of 3.00 or higher on all coursework applied to the certificate.
• For information on applying graduate certificate coursework to a graduate degree, please see the Graduate College Bulletin.

PREPARING TO GRADUATE

• Before or during the semester you plan to finish your certificate coursework, file a Graduate Certificate Program Report (GCPR) in the Graduate College.
  • The GCPR is due no later than the first Monday in October for fall certificate clearance, the first Monday in March for spring certificate clearance, and the first Monday in July for summer certificate clearance.
  • Graduate certificates are not awarded retroactively.

• If there are any changes to the coursework listed on your approved GCPR, contact your academic unit promptly. Changes must be endorsed by your graduate liaison and submitted in writing to the Graduate College. Your graduate certificate cannot be issued if the Graduate College is not notified of changes to your GCPR.
• At the end of the semester during which all requirements are met, the Office of Academic Records will issue you the graduate certificate and record its completion on your official transcript.
  • Students who receive only a graduate certificate without completing a degree program do not participate in convocation, commencement, or any other graduation ceremonies.

Congratulations!

• Deadlines: October 15 for spring (decision anticipated by December 15) and March 15 (decision anticipated by May 15) for fall admission. These deadlines are designed to allow time for a meeting with the IPP subcommittee and revisions of application materials if requested.
  • Students who hold a master’s degree will be eligible to apply for the IPP during the second semester and before the end of the third semester in the home unit.
  • Students who do not hold a master’s degree will be eligible to apply during the fourth semester and no later than the end of the fifth semester.
    
• Deviations from the timeline above will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• After submission of the application, the student will meet with the IPP subcommittee of the Graduate Council, which is the body that evaluates the application. This meeting will allow the IPP subcommittee to learn more about the student's research plans and provide the student with feedback. The chair and/or co-chair of the student's proposed doctoral committee should attend the meeting. The subcommittee will have read the submitted materials, but the student is welcome to give a 5-10 minute presentation about their project if they wish.