SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

MBA/MSM/MSSF Bridge Programs:

An accelerated/bridge program refers to an academic pathway designed to allow undergraduate students the opportunity to begin pursuing their master’s degree while still completing their undergraduate degree. This proposal serves as the official document governing the accelerated/bridge program.

Admission requirements:

• Students interested in the bridge to master's program degree should have completed at least 90 credit hours before applying.
• Students should have completed at least one semester at IU.
• Undergraduate minimum GPA at time of application 3.0 or higher.
• Submit an optional personal statement indicating why they are interested in the Bridge MS program.

Number of credits double counting between UGRD and GRAD degrees:

9 credits with a B- or better in each course. All prerequisites listed below must be completed with a B or better to take the corresponding graduate course.

Courses available to double count. Select 3 courses from the list below:

Additional courses may be added to this list with the faculty committee’s approval.

MBA:

• BUSE-A 505 Strategic Cost Management – prerequisite: A201, F501 or equivalent
• BUSE-A 506 Managerial Economics – prerequisite: E201 or F503 or equivalent (This course can be used to replace E321)
• BUSE-A 507 Modeling and Simulations – prerequisite: E270 or F505 or equivalent (This course can be used to replace K352)
• BUSE-A 508 Leadership & Organizational Behavior – prerequisite (This course can be used to replace BUS-W320)

MSSF:

• BUSE-A 505 Strategic Cost Management – prerequisite: A201, F501 or equivalent
• BUSE-A 507 Modeling and Simulations - prerequisite: E270 or F505 or equivalent (This course can be used to replace K352)
• BUSE-C 522 Financial Management - prerequisite: F301, F502 or equivalent

MSM:

• BUSE-A 500 Speaking the Language of Business (prerequisite for those not in a business undergraduate program)
• BUSE-A 508 Leadership & Organizational Behavior (This course can be used to replace BUS- W320)
• BUSE-B 511 Business Communications
• BUSE-E548 Organizational Change Management (This course can be used to replace BUS-W430)

All 500-level graduate coursework listed above and approved by the faculty committee will count towards electives in the student’s undergraduate degree, unless they take a course stipulated above that counts for a required undergraduate course. The information below is true of all bridge programs and is not negotiable between programs.

University student status: Once admitted into the bridge program, students are still considered undergraduates at the university. They will not become official master’s students until their undergraduate degree is conferred. This means students will continue to pay undergraduate tuition and be eligible for undergraduate financial aid. Once their undergraduate degree is conferred, students will then be officially admitted into the graduate program with an official graduate record at the university.

Students not in the School of Business: Students getting an undergraduate degree in an area besides business must take the required foundations courses, specified undergraduate equivalents or prerequisites specified above.

Requirement term: Bridge students will follow the master’s curriculum for the term in which they are admitted to the accelerated program. For example, if a student is admitted to the bridge program in their undergraduate senior year and begins master’s coursework in fall 2023 as an undergraduate, they will follow the master’s degree requirements in place as of fall 2023.

Advising agreement: Once a student begins graduate coursework, they will be assigned to a graduate advisor. Bridge students will meet with both their undergraduate and graduate advisors while taking master’s coursework in the undergraduate career. Once the bachelor’s degree has been conferred, students will work solely with their graduate advisor. The admissions team will be responsible for assigning a graduate advisor and letting both the undergraduate and graduate advisors know about the student’s accelerated status.

Registering in graduate coursework as an undergraduate student: Students taking master’s coursework while still an undergraduate student will need to be assigned permission to enroll in their graduate courses. The student’s graduate advisor will assign permission for enrollment.

Updating the undergraduate Academic Advisement Report (AAR) to reflect graduate coursework in degree requirements: The student’s undergraduate academic advisor will communicate to their school’s records department regarding the substitutions needed on the AAR to complete undergraduate degree requirements. This is subject to change with the adoption of new student advisement and records systems.

Applying for graduation: Students must follow the normal graduation application process and deadlines for their undergraduate degrees. Once their bachelor’s degree coursework and requirements are completed (including the master’s coursework counting towards their undergraduate degree), they will graduate with their bachelor’s degree. Students will then continue into the master’s program and will apply to graduate for their master’s degree following the normal graduation application process/timeline for that program.

Leaves of absence: Students who are accepted into the bridge program must follow the timelines outlined below regarding leaves of absence: Once the bachelor’s degree is conferred, students have 7 years to complete the master’s program. If the student does not complete the master’s program within 7 years, they forfeit their admission into the bridge program and must reapply to the master’s program. Exceptions to this forfeiture may be permitted based on extenuating circumstances and approval of the dean. The graduate credits taken in the student’s undergraduate career will no longer double count (if being used towards the undergraduate degree requirements), and substitutions for the master’s program will be discussed. If there are no suitable substitutions, course requirements can be waived in the master’s program, but the total credit count must still be met. For example, if a required master’s course was taken during the undergraduate career and can no longer count in the graduate career, a student can be waived of the required course based on the previous enrollment and will make up the credits needed for degree completion by taking extra elective credits.

Grade requirements: Undergraduate degree courses have a lower grade threshold than graduate degree courses. Students in the bridge program must meet the graduate grade requirement to count the courses towards their master’s program. If a student does not meet the required graduate grade requirement but does meet the required undergraduate grade requirement, the student can count the course towards their undergraduate program but will not be allowed to use the course towards their master’s program. If it is not a master’s-required course, the student will not be required to retake the course, only to make up the credits needed to meet the requirement. If the course is required, the student will have to retake the course to meet their master’s degree requirements (while still being able to use the first attempt towards their undergraduate degree if applicable).