Get Your Degree Faster.
The School of Continuing & Professional Studies has a range of courses and programs shaped to fit each student's schedule and goals. Students may choose from the options below, and, as they browse the semester's course listings, they can also search under "8-Week" and "Intersession" courses.
Accelerated Master's Degree Program
The Accelerated Master's Degree Program allows Arts & Sciences day students to count their graduate-level course work (completed as an undergraduate) toward a master's degree. With careful planning, some of this course work can be incorporated into a student's undergraduate course of study, be covered by their regular undergraduate tuition, and lead to an AB earned in normal time with an accompanying master's in an additional one or two extra semesters of study.
Note: School of Continuing & Professional Studies undergraduate students interested in an accelerated master's should consider our Combined Bachelor's & Master's Degree program.
Only current Arts & Sciences undergraduates who are earning an AB are eligible for this Accelerated Master's Degree program. The accelerated master's program option applies to the following master's degree programs:
ACTRAC
Students wanting to advance more quickly toward their degree can do so with the Accelerated Track program (ACTRAC).
Eligible School of Continuing & Professional Studies (CAPS) students may enroll in courses that carry the ACTRAC option. By completing additional course work prescribed by the instructor, students earn 4 credits for each ACTRAC course rather than the usual 3 credits. By taking ACTRAC courses, students can reduce the total number of courses they must take before they graduate.
Program Requirements
Eligible students must meet the following qualifications:
- Be admitted to a CAPS undergraduate degree program
- Have successfully completed at least 12 credits in CAPS
- Have completed an English composition course at CAPS with a grade of B or better
- Have a 3.0 minimum grade point average
- Have written approval from a CAPS student success navigator (advisor)
Once approved, students register and pay for 4 credits for each ACTRAC course. The ACTRAC option must be chosen at the beginning of the semester, and it is not available to Washington University day students.
The "extra credit" work is determined by the instructor and will normally include extra reading, writing and research.
Combined Bachelor's & Master's Degree
The Combined Bachelor's & Master's Degree Program in the School of Continuing & Professional Studies (CAPS) is designed for students who wish to pursue rigorous and accelerated study that will lead to both a Bachelor of Science and either a Master of Arts or Master of Science in areas of study for which there are degree programs at CAPS.